Extra session U. S. Senate.
Mr. Hale introduced a resolution appointing Mr. Foote presiding officer of the special session, which was adopted, and Mr. Foote, with a few remarks, took the chair.
Mr. Wilson moved that a committee of two be appointed to wait upon the President and inform him of the election of Hon. Mr. Foote as presiding officer of the Senate, which motion was agreed to, and Messrs. Wilson and Bright were appointed to discharge that duty.
Mr. Wade presented to the Senate the credentials of Hon. John Sherman, U. S. Senator elect from Ohio.
Mr. Sherman having taken the usual oath to support the Constitution--
Mr. Simmons rose to a personal explanation, relative to the misunderstanding between him and Mr. Clingman.
[This arose from the Senate report in the Baltimore Sun a few days since, referring to the legality of Mr. Clingman's election by the North Carolina Legislature.]
Mr. Hale moved to take up the resolution introduced by him a few days since, that the Senate proceed to election for Sergeant-at-Arms, Doorkeeper and Assistant Doorkeeper, on Saturday, at two o'clock.
Mr. Bright moved the postponement of the subject till the first Monday in December.
The yeas and nays were then called on the motion to take up the resolution, resulting — yeas 28, nays 13.
The resolution being before the Senate, Mr. Bright moved the postponement of the consideration of the resolution till the first Monday in December; on which the yeas were 19, nays 28.
Mr. Breckinridge moved its postponement till Monday next, at 2 o'clock P. M. He desired to say that during his service as Presiding Officer there had been but one discharge. and that was where the party was actually guilty of dishonesty. None of the Senators were aware of the political principles of any of its officers, and he hoped that if they were to be removed, it would be postponed till December, so that they could obtain employment for themselves elsewhere, in the meantime.
The debate continued at some length, showing some disgusting, as well as humorous, scenes on the part of office-seekers.
Mr. Nesmith said he was at the Post-Office Department on business, when an Illinoisan mistook him for somebody else, and, patting him on the shoulders, said, ‘"we got that little office for you all right."’ This relation caused much laughter.
The Republicans vainly pressed the Senate to go into an election of officers; but their purpose was defeated by the minority, who will continue the Parliamentary war and prevent them from carrying their proscription into the Senate, contrary to past usages.
After a short Executive session, the Senate adjourned.
