Mr. Nicholas asked whether it had heretofore been usual, in the case of a new House, to swear the members before the choice of a Speaker?
The Speaker replied that it had not.
Mr. Nicholas said, that though, on first thought, he was favorable to administering the oath at the present time, yet this precedent inclined him to think such a step improper.
The Speaker waived the question.
The members present not being sufficient to form a quorum, the Speaker adjourned the body till to-morrow.
Tuesday, November 18.
Several other members, to wit: from Connecticut, Elizur Goodrich, William Edmond, and Roger Griswold; from New York, William Cooper and Lucas Elmendorph; from New Jersey, James H. Imlay and Franklin Davenport; from Pennsylvania, Robert Waln; from Maryland, Samuel Smith; from Virginia, Henry Lee, Thomas Evans, and John Trigg; from North Carolina, Richard Dobbs Spaight, and Joseph Dickson; and from Georgia, Benjamin Taliaferro, appeared and took their seats in the House.
And a quorum, consisting of a majority of the whole number, being present,
The oath to support the Constitution of the United States, as prescribed by the act, entitled "An act to regulate the time and manner of administering certain oaths," was administered by the Speaker to John C. Smith, a new member, who appeared and took his seat in the House yesterday.
Ordered, That a message be sent to the Senate to inform them that a quorum of this House is assembled, and ready to proceed to business; and that the Clerk of this House do go with said message.