occurrence, without producing incalculable mischief. What was intended as the medicine of the constitution in extreme cases, cannot be frequently used without changing its character, and sooner or later, produciug incurable disorder. Every election by the House of Representatives is calculated to lessen the force of that security which is derived from the distinct and separate character of the Legislative and Executive functions, and while it ex poses each to temptations adverse to their efficiency as organs of the con stitution and laws, its tendency will be to unite both in resisting the will of the People, and thus give a direction to the Government anti-republican and dangerous. All history tells us that a free people should be watchful of delegated power, and should never acquiesce in a practice which will diminish their control over it. This obligation, so universal in iis applicatiou to all the principles of a republic, is peculiarly so in ours, where the formation of parties founded on sectional interests is so much fostered by the extent of our territory. These interests, represented by candidates for the Presidency, are constantly prone, in the zeal of party and selfish objects, to generate influences unmindful of the general good, and forgetful of the restraints which the great body of the people would enforce, if they were, in no contingency, to loose the right of expressing their will. The experience of our country, from the formation of the Government to the present day, demonstrates that the people cannot too soon adopt some stronger safeguard for their right to elect the highest officers known to the constitution, than is contained in that sacred instrument as it now stands. It is my duty to call ihe particular attention of Congress to the present condition of the District of Columbia. From whatever cause the great depression has arisen which yow exists in the pecuniary concerns of this District, it is proper that its situation should be fully understood, and such relief or remedies provided as are covsistent with the powers of Congress. I earnestly recommend the extension of every political right to the citizens of the District which their true interests require, and which does not conflict with the provisions of the constitution. It is believed that the laws for the government of the District require revisal and amnendment, and that much good may be done by modifying the penal code, so as to give uniformity to its provisions. Your attention is also invited to thu defects which exist in the Judicial System of the Uniled States.-As at present organized, the States of the Union derive unequal advantages froin the Federal Judiciary, which have been so often pointed out that I deem it unnecessary to repeat them here. It is hoped that the present Congress will extend to all the States that equality in respect to the benefits of the laws of the Union which can only be secured by the uniformity and efficiency of the Judicial System. With these observations on the topics of general interest which are deemed worthy of your consideration, I leave them to your care, trusting that the Legislative measures they call for will be met as the wants and the best interests of our beloved couutry demand. ANDREW JACKSON. WASNINGTON, 7th December, 1835. THE CONGRESS, The Congress of the United States consists of the Senate and House of Representatives ; the former composed of forty-eight in number, the latter of two hundred and forty-three, of whom three are delegates. There are two Senators from each State. They were originally divided into three classes, and one third of them are re-chosen every second year for the term of six years. They are chosen by the Legislatures of the States. When a new State is admitted into the Union, the Secretary of the Senate puts into the ballot-box two numbers, upon paper of equal size, one of which is drawn out by each of the two Senators from the new State: the Senate having determined, by a previous order, to which class each Senator so drawing the one or the other pumber shall belong. The Senate have upon all nominations by the President of the United States, a voice of advice and consent, or otherwise ; in which case it sits with closed doors. The journal of its proceedings is then secret. They bave also a vote in the ratification of treaties; in which case it is indispensable that two-thirds of the should consent. The Senate is also a court for the trial of high crimes and misdemeanors, upoo impeachments by the House of Representatives. No person can be a Senator who has not attained the age of thirty years, and been vine years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not when elected, be au inbabitant of that State for which he shall be chosen. The Vice President of the United States is, by the constitution, the President of the Senate, in which body he has only a casting vote, which is given in case of an equal division of the votes of the Senators. The Vice President of the United States, when he acts as President of the Senate, receives no addition to his pay as Vice President, which is 185,000 per annum. In his absence a President pro lempore is chosen, who during the period of his services, receives $10 per diem for every day he attends. The Senate is the only perpetual body in the federal government. The perpetuity, however, belongs to it only in its character of Senale, the individual members, being renewed, as stated, by successive thirds, biennially The House of Representatives is composed of niembers chosen every second year by the People of the several States; and the electors in each State must have the qualifications requisite for electors of the inost numerous branch of the State Legislature. Representatives are apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, which are determined by adding to the whole numbor of free persons, including those bound to service, for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three-fifths of all other persons. An enumeration of the inhabitants of the United States must be made every ten years. The first enumeration was made in 1790, the fifth in 1830. No person can be a Representative who has not attained the age of twenty-five years, and been seven years a citizen of the United States, and who shall not, wben elected, be an inhabitant of the State in which be shall be chosen. When vacancies happen in the representation from any State, it is made the duty of the executive authority thereof, to issue writs of election, to fill such vacancies. The Speaker of the House of Representatives is chosen by a majority of the members of the House, for the term of the Congress to which he belongs as a member of the House. His privileges are the same as those of any other member; and his compensation in $16 per diem. Each Senator and Representative receives, for his services, $8 per diem, during the period of his attendance in the Senate or House; and in case of sickness, this compensation is continued. The same allowance is made to each, for every 20 mniles of the usual road in going to, and returning from the Seat of Government. The Congress must assemble at least once in every year, on the first Monday in December, if not otherwise provided by law. The President of the United States may convene them at any time upon giving forty days notice. Neither House can adjourn for more than three days without the crosent of the other, nor to any other place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting. In case of disagreement about the time, the President of the United States may adjourn them to such tine as he thinks proper. The Senate and House each form their own rules, and are respectively, judges of their own election, The times, places, and manner of holding elections for Senators and Representatives, is prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may, at any time by law, make or alter such regulatious, except as to the places of choosing Senators, Both Senators and Representatives are, in all cases except treason, felony, and breach of the peace, privileged froin arrest during their attendance at the session of their respective Houses, and in going to or returning from, the same; and for any speech or debate in either House, they cannot be questioned in any other place. Bills for raising revenue inust originate in the House ; and the House, solely, has the power of im ; peachment. No member of Congress can, during the time for which he was elected, be appointed to any civil office under the authority of the United States, which shall have been created, or the emoluments whereof shall have been increased, during such time ; and no person holding any office under the United States, can be a miember of either House during his continuance in office ; nor can he be concerned either directly or indirectly, in whole, or in part, in any contract, &c. with the United States. The President and Secretary of the Senate, and Speaker and Clerk of the House of Representatives, have the privilege of franking letters and packets, not exceeding two ounces in weight, during the year; and each Senator, Representative, and Delegate in Congress, may frank letters and packets, of not more than two ounces in weight, and all documents printed by order of either House, from the period of sixty days before he takes his seat in Congress, until the cominencement of the next Congress The officers of the Senate and of the House of Representatives are elected at the first session of each Congress. The Librarian is appointed by the President, but before he can enter upon the duties of his office, he is required to give a bond, which must be approved by the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives. The term of his service is not limited by law. SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES. First Session, Twenty-Fourth Congress. (Senators marked with a Star were not members of the Twenty-Third Congress.) MARTIN VAN BUREN, of New York, Vice President of the United States, and President of the Senate. SENATORS WITH THE EXPIRATION OF THE TERM OF SERVICE OP EACH. From Maine. North Carolina. Ether Shepley, Saco........... 1839 W. P. Mangum, Hillsborough..1837 John Ruggles, Thomaston......1841 Bedford Brown, Milton.. ...... 1841 New Hampshire. South Carolina. Isaac Hill, Concord ............1837 William C. Preston, Columbia.1837 *Henry Hubbard, Charlestown. 1841 John C. Calboun, Pendleton .... 1841 Massachuselis. Georgia. Daniel Webster, Boston.......1839 Alfred Cuthbert, Eatonton.....1337 *John Davis, Worcester....... 1841 John P. King, Augusta ........... 1841 Rhode Island. Kentucky. Asher Robbins, Newport...... 1839 Henry Clay, Lexington......... 1837 Nehemiah R. Knight, Prov’nce.1841 *John J.Crittenden, Frankfort, 1841 Connecticut. Tennessee. Gideon Tomlinson, Fairfield.. 1837 Felix Grundy, Nashville .......1839 *John M. Niles, Hartford, (1) 1839 Hugh L. White, Knoxville..... 1841 Vermont. Ohio. Samuel Prentiss, Montpelier...1837 Thomas Ewing, Lancaster.....1837 Benjamin Swift, St. Albans...,1839Thomas Morris, Bethel........1839 New York. Louisiana. Silas Wright, jun. Canton..... 1837 Alexander Porter, N. Orleans..1837 N. P. Tallmadge, Poughkeep'e 1839 Vacant (3).... ..1841 New Jersey. Indiana. Samuel L. Southard, Trenton.. 1839 William Hendricks, Madison..1837 *Garret D. Wall, Burlington.. 1841 John Tipton, Logansport.......1839 Pennsylrania. Mississippi. James Buchanan, Lancaster... 1837 John Black, Mouroe........... 1839 Samuel McKean, Burlington...1839 Vacant (4)........... 1841 Delaware, Illinois. Arnold Naudain, Wilmington.. 1839 Vacant (5)............. .1837 John M. Clayton, Dover...... ...1841 John M. Robinson, Carmi......1841 Maryland. Alabama. R.H. Goldsborough, Easton,(2)1837 Gabriel Moore, Huntsville..... 1837 Joseph Kent, Bladensburg....,1839 William R. King, Selma....... 1841 Virginia. Missouri. John Tyler, Glocester c. h.....1839 Lewis F. Linn, St. Louis......1837 Benj. W. Leigh, Richmond....1841 Thomas H. Benton, St. Louis., 1839 (1) In place of Nathan Smith, deceased. To fill vacancy occasioned by resignation of Ezekiel F. Chambers, (3) Occasioned by the resignation of Charles Gayarre. () Successor to Mr. Poindexter has not been appointed. (6) Occasioned by the death of Elias K. Kane, ...... { 6 Joseph Hall, Camden, Waldo, and Kennebec, { HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Congress; showing the Congressional Districts in each State; the Counties repre- Note.-The Post Office of each Representative, follows immediately after his name, Committees 1 * John Fairfield, Saco, York. District of Columbia. 2 Francis 0. J. Smith, Portland, Cumberland, Ways and Means. except three towns. 3. * Jeremiah Bailey, Wiscasset, Lincoln, ex- Agriculture. cept four towns. Expend. P. Olice. 4 G. Evans, Gardiner, Kennebec, west of Ken- Invalid Pensions. nebec river, except four towns, Somerset, west of Kennebec river, and one town in Lincoln. 5 Moses Mason, Jr. Oxford, part of Cumberland, Public Expenditures. Lincoln, Kennebec. Exp. Nary Depl. east of Kennebec Accounts. 7 L. Jarvis, Ellsworth, Hancock, and Washington. Nuval Affairs. 8 Gorham Parks, Bangor, Penobscol, Somerset, Foreigo Affairs, east of Kennebec river. NEW HAMPSHIRE.--Elected by General Ticket. 1 Benning M. Bean, Moultonborough, Strafford. Agricolture. Elections. 2 Robert Burns, Hebron, Graflon. Exp. Post Office. 3 Franklin Pierce, Hillsborough, Hillsborough. Judiciary. 4 * Samuel Cushman, Portsmouth, Rockingham. Commerce. 5 * Joseph Weeks, Richmond, Cheshire. Public Expenditures. MASSACHUSETTS. 1 *Abbott Lawrence, Boston, Suffolk. Ways and Means. 2 Stephen C. Philips, Salem, Essex, and Suffolk. Commerce. 3 * Caleb Cushing, Newburyport, Essex, and Foreign Affairs. Middlesex. 4 * Samuel Hoar, Concord, Middlesex. Invalid Pensions. 5 Levi Lincoln, Worcester, Worcester. Public Lands. 6 George Greugell, Jr., Greenfield, Franklin. Claims. n George N. Briggs, Lawesboro, Berkshire. Post Office, 8 * William B. Calhoun, Springfield, Hamden, Militia. Hampshire, and Worcester. Expend. State Dept. 9 William Jackson, Newton, Middlesex, Norfolk, Roads and Canals. and Worcester. 10 • Nathaniel B. Borden, Fall River, Bristol, and Territories. Plymouth. 11 Johu Reed, Yarmouth, Barnstable, Nantucket, Naval Affairs. Dukes, and Bristol. 12 J. Q. Adams, Quincy, Vorfolk, and Plymouth. Manufactures. { |