Monday, December 7, 1801.
The first session of the Seventh Congress of the United States commenced this day, conformably to the constitution, and the Senate assembled at the Capitol in the City of Washington.
PRESENT:
Theodore Foster, from Rhode Island.
Nathaniel Chipman, from Vermont.
William Hill Wells and Samuel White, from Delaware.
John E. Howard, from Maryland.
Stevens Thompson Mason and Wilson Cary Nicholas, from Virginia.
Abraham Baldwin, from Georgia.
Joseph Anderson and William Cooke, from Tennessee.
Stephen R. Bradley, appointed a Senator by the State of Vermont, for the remainder of the term for which their late Senator, Elijah Paine, was appointed; John Breckenridge, appointed a Senator by the State of Kentucky; Christopher Ellery, appointed a Senator by the State of Rhode Island, for the remainder of the term for which their late Senator, Ray Greene, was appointed; James Jackson, appointed a Senator by the State of Georgia; George Logan, appointed a Senator by the Executive of the State of Pennsylvania, in the place of their late Senator, Peter Muhlenberg, resigned; Simeon Olcott, appointed a Senator by the State of New Hampshire, for the remainder of the term for which their late Senator, Samuel Livermore, was appointed; Uriah Tracy, appointed a Senator by the State of Connecticut; and Robert Wright, appointed a Senator by the State of Maryland, severally produced their credentials, and took their seats in the Senate.
The Vice President being absent, the Senate proceeded to the election of a President, pro tempore, as the constitution provides; and Abraham Baldwin was chosen.
The President administered the oath, as the law prescribes, to Mr. Bradley, Mr. Breckenridge, Mr. Ellery, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Olcott, Mr. Tracy, and Mr. Wright, and the affirmation to Mr. Logan.
Ordered, That the Secretary wait on the President of the United States and acquaint him that a quorum of the Senate is assembled, and that, in the absence of the Vice President, they have elected Abraham Baldwin, President of the Senate, pro tempore.
Ordered, That the Secretary acquaint the House of Representatives that a quorum of the Senate is assembled and ready to proceed to business, and that, in the absence of the Vice President, they have elected Abraham Baldwin, President of the Senate, pro tempore.
A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that a quorum of the House is assembled, and have elected Nathaniel Macon their Speaker, and are ready to proceed to business.
Ordered, That Messrs. Anderson and Jackson be a committee on the part of the Senate, together with such committee as the House of Representatives may appoint on their part, to wait on the President of the United States and notify him that a quorum of the two Houses is assembled, and ready to receive any communications that he may be pleased to make to them.
A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that the House agree to the resolution of the Senate for the appointment of a joint committee to wait on the President of the United States, and have appointed a committee on their part.
Mr. Anderson reported, from the joint committee, that they had waited on the President of the United States and acquainted him that a quorum of both Houses is assembled, and that the President of the United States informed the committee that he would make a communication to them by message to-morrow.