A message was received from the Senate, informing the House that a quorum of members of that body is assembled, and the Vice President being absent, they have proceeded to the choice of a President pro tempore, and that Henry Tazewell has been duly elected.
Ordered, That a message be sent to the Senate to inform that body that a quorum of this House is assembled, and have elected Jonathan Dayton their Speaker; and that the Clerk of this House do go with the message.
Another message from the Senate was received, informing this House that they have appointed a committee on their part, to act jointly with such committee as may be appointed by this House, to wait on the President of the United States, to inform him that a quorum of the two Houses is assembled, and ready to receive any communication he may think proper to make to them.
Ordered, That Mr. Madison, Mr. Sedgwick, and Mr. Sitgreaves, be appointed a committee on the part of this House, for the purpose expressed in the message of the Senate.
Petitions from sundry persons, praying to be appointed to the offices of Sergeant-at-Arms and Doorkeeper, were presented to the House and read: Whereupon,
The House proceeded, by ballot, to the choice of a Sergeant-at-Arms, Doorkeeper, and Assistant Doorkeeper; and, upon examining the ballots, a majority of the votes of the whole House was found in favor of Joseph Wheaton, as Sergeant-at-Arms, Thomas Claxton, as Doorkeeper, and Thomas Dunn, as Assistant Doorkeeper.
Ordered, That the said Joseph Wheaton, Thomas Claxton, and Thomas Dunn, do severally give their attendance accordingly.
Mr. Madison, from the joint committee appointed 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 communication he may think proper to make to them, reported that the committee had, according to order, performed that service, and that the President signified to them that he would make a communication to both Houses of Congress to-morrow, at 12 o'clock, in the Representatives' Chamber.
Tuesday, December 8.
Several other members, to wit: from Maryland, Samuel Smith; from Virginia, Richard Brent; and from Georgia, John Milledge, appeared, produced their credentials, and took their seats in the House; the oath to support the Constitution of the United States being first administered to them by Mr. Speaker, according to law.