read, and the king's answer is declared by the clerk in Norman-French. If the king consent to a public bill, the clerk declares, Le roy le veut (the king wills it). If the king consent to a private bill, the clerk declares, Soit fait comme il désiré (be it as it is desired). If the king refuse his assent, the clerk declares, Le roy avisara (the king will advise upon it). CHAPTER XXXIV. LEGISLATIVE JOURNALS. If the presiding 1. On the day prescribed by the constitution, members appear in their respective chambers. officer has been elected or holds over, he takes the chair and calls the body to order. If there be no presiding officer, the clerk of the last house calls the members to order. The secretary of state then administers to the members the oath of office prescribed by the constitution. One of the members offers, and the house adopts, the fol lowing resolution: "Resolved, That the house now proceed to choose a speaker; that the list of members be called, and that each, as his name is called, rise in his place and openly nominate the person whom he desires for speaker." The member receiving the majority of the votes cast, as the list of members is called, is declared to be duly elected. Two members are appointed to conduct him to the chair. On being conducted to the chair, he delivers a short address. A clerk, sergeant-at-arms, doorkeeper, and in whose presence is it given? By whom is the answer declared? In what language? If the king consent to a public bill, what does the clerk declare? If he consent to a private bill, what does the clerk declare? If the king refuses his assent, what does the clerk declare? 1. When do members of legislative bodies appear in their respective chambers? By whom are they called to order? Who generally administers the oath of office? What is the usual mode of electing a speaker? Who is declared elected? What is generally his first act on being conducted to the chair? What other officers are elected? After and assistant-doorkeepers are elected in the same way. The following resolutions are then offered and adopted, and orders made: Resolved, That a committee of two be appointed by the speaker to wait upon his excellency the governor, and inform him that this house is organized and ready to proceed to business." "Ordered, That Mr. Monroe and Mr. Townsend be such committee." Resolved, That a committee of two be appointed by the speaker to wait upon the honorable the Senate, and inform that body that the house is organized and ready to proceed to business." Ordered, That Mr. Bradford and Mr. Graham be such committee." "Mr. Monroe, from the committee to wait upon the governor and inform him that the house is organized and ready to proceed to business, reported, that the committee had discharged their duty; and that his excellency was pleased to say that he would forthwith communicate with the house by message."" The private secretary of the governor then enters the house and delivers to the speaker the message of the governor, which is read by the clerk of the house. At the conclusion of the reading of the message, the following resolution is generally adopted: "Resolved, That the message be committed to a committee of the whole house, and that ten times the usual number be printed for the use of the members of this house, and three hundred and fifty for the use of his excellency the governor." "On motion, the house then adjourned." 2. All proceedings in legislative bodies are entered in the journal, except when in committee of the whole. We will now journalize some of the proceedings described in the last chapter, in order that the reader may see the mode of recording such transactions. "STATE OF NEW YORK, SENATE CHAMBER, IN THE CITY OF ALBANY, "The Senate met pursuant to adjournment." "Prayer by the Rev. Dr. Potter." all the officers are chosen, what resolution is offered? What order is made? What report does the committee make? By whom does the gov ernor send his message to each house? By whom is the message read? What resolution is offered at the conclusion of the reading of the message! 2. What proceedings are entered in the journal? How is the journal "The journal of yesterday was read and approved. "Mr. Stanton presented the 'petition of,' which was referred to the committee on the judiciary. "Mr. Babcock, from the committee on the judiciary, to which was referred the bill entitled, 'An act to exempt from execution the homestead of a householder having a family,' reported the same for the consideration of the senate, which was committed to a committee of the whole. "A message was received from the governor in the words following: TO THE SENATE: STATE OF NEW YORK, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, I have this day approved and signed the bill, entitled 'An act to authorize the Delaware Plank road Company to change the location of a portion of their road.” HAMILTON FISH. "Mr. Cross gave notice that he would at an early day ask leave to introduce A bill to incorporate the Oswego Hospital.' "In pursuance of previous notice, Mr. Beekman asked for and obtained leave to introduce a bill entitled, 'An act to revise and condense into one, the several acts relating to the harbor-masters of the port of New York,' which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the the second time, and referred to the committee on commerce and navigation. "On motion of Mr. Upham, "Resolved, That the canal commissioners report to the senate what action has been had by them, in relation to the supply of water for the Erie Canal, between Tonawanda and Montezuma. "The bill entitled, 'An act to reorganize and regulate the common-schools and the board of education, in the city of Brooklyn,' was read a third time and passed, a majority of all the members elected to the Senate voting in favor there of each day commenced? What is generally the first act? What is the first order of business? What record is made of the presentation of petitions and remonstrances? What record is made of the reports of standing committees? When a message is received from the governor, what record is made? What record is made of notices and introduction of bills? What record is made of the introduction of resolutions? What of, and three-fifths of all the members elected to the Senate being present on the final passage thereof, as follows: (here follow the names of all the senators voting on the bill.) "Ordered, That the clerk deliver said bill to the Assembly, and request their concurrence therein. "The Senate then resolved itself into a committee of the whole upon the bill entitled, 'An act to repeal certain parts of the Revised Statutes exempting property of ministers of the gospel from taxation,' and after some time spent thereon, Mr. Cook, from the said committee, reported in favor of the passage of the same with amendments, which report was agreed to, and said bill ordered to be engrossed for a third reading. "On motion of Mr. Carroll the Senate then adjourned until 10 o'clock to-morrow morning." CHAPTER XXXV. REVISED STATUTES. 1. EACH State in the Union has consolidated and arranged in appropriate chapters, titles, and sections the several statutes of the State. These statutes, thus arranged, are known as the Revised Statutes of the State. Changes may be made in these statutes by subsequent laws, and after many years the statutes may need a further revision. The Revised Statutes of some of the States are extended to more than two thousand pages, and of all the States to more than fifty thousand pages. It has already been seen that there is a great similarity record is made of the third reading of bills? What order is made? What record is made of the discussion of bills in committee of the whole? 1. How has each State arranged its statutes? What are these statutes thus arranged called? Can any of the statutes be changed by subsequent statutes? How extensive are these statutes? Is there great similarity in the constitutions of the several States? Is there any sim in the constitutions of the several States. It may here be remarked that there is as great similarity in the laws founded upon the constitutions, as in the constitutions themselves. There is also in many instances a striking resemblance between these statutes and the existing statutes in England. I shall, in the following pages, give as full description of these statutes as the limits of this work will admit. 2. A minute description of every point, line, direction, and distance in the boundary of the State is minutely described in the Revised Statutes. Such description sometimes extends through several pages. It is then declared that the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the State extends to all places within the boundaries thereof; but the extent of such jurisdiction, over places which have been ceded to the United States for forts, arsenals, dock-yards, lighthouses, hospitals, etc., shall be qualified by the terms of such cession. It is made the duty of the governor and of all the subordinate officers of the State, to maintain and defend its sovereignty and jurisdiction. 3. In Massachusetts, about forty places have been ceded to the United States for similar purposes to those above mentioned. In New York, about fifty places have been ceded for like purposes. The cession of these places to the United States does not generally prevent the execution, within their boundaries, of any process, civil or criminal, under the authority of the State, except so far as such process may affect the real or personal property of the United States therein. The boundaries of all these places are minutely described. ilarity between the statutes of the several States? What other body of laws do they resemble, in many instances? What will be given in the following pages? 2. What is first described in the statutes of most of the States? What is then declared? How is the sovereignty and jurisdiction of the State over places ceded to the United States qualified? What is made the duty of the governor and all subordinate officers of the State? 3. How many places are ceded to the United States in the State of Massachusetts? How many in New York? What does the cession of these places not prevent? |