Thursday, December 6.
Richard Stockton, from the State of New Jersey, and Joseph Anderson, from the State of Tennessee, severally attended.
The Vice President being absent, the Senate proceeded to the election of a President pro tempore, as the constitution provides, and John Laurance was chosen.
The credentials of Daniel Smith, appointed Senator by the Executive of the State of Tennessee, in place of Andrew Jackson, resigned, were read, and the oath was, by the President, administered to him, as the law provides.
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 John Laurance, 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 John Laurance, 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 that they have appointed a joint committee on their part, together with such committee as the Senate may appoint on theirs, 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.
The Senate took into consideration the message from the House of Representatives, and
Resolved, That they do concur therein, and that Messrs. Read and Paine be of the joint committee on the part of the Senate.
The return of service on the summons to William Blount, made by the Sergeant-at-arms, pursuant, to the resolution of the Senate of the first of March last, was read.
Mr. Read reported, from the joint committee appointed for that purpose, that they had waited on the President of the United States, and had notified him that a quorum of the two Houses of Congress were assembled, and the President of the United States acquainted the committee that he would meet the two Houses on Saturday next at 12 o'clock, in the Chamber of the House of Representatives.