The Vice President being absent, the Senate proceeded to the election of a President pro tem., as the constitution provides; and the Hon. John Gaillard was elected.
Ordered, That the Secretary wait on the President of the United States, and acquaint him that the Senate have, in the absence of the Vice President, elected the Hon. John Gaillard, President of the Senate pro tempore.
Ordered, That the Secretary make a like communication to the House of Representatives.
Wednesday, April 18.
National Bank.
The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the bill making provision for the establishment of a National Bank.
On motion, by Mr. Hillhouse, to strike out the first section of the bill, the Senate was equally divided—yeas 15, nays 15, as follows:
Yeas.—Messrs. Brent, Champlin, German, Gilman, Goodrich, Hillhouse, Horsey, Lloyd, Meigs, Pickering, Pope, Reed, Smith of New York, Tait, and Whiteside.
Nays.—Messrs, Anderson, Bayard, Bradley, Clay, Condit, Crawford, Franklin, Gaillard, Giles, Gregg, Lambert, Leib, Smith of Maryland, Sumter, and Turner.
So the question was lost.