Randolph, of New Jersey, then offered a protest, signed by himself and his colleagues, against their exclusion, as illegal and unconstitutional; and, amidst much confusion, the entering the protest on the journal was vehemently opposed, and the motion was rejected by one hundred and seventeen votes to one hundred and fourteen.

A motion was then made that a select Committee of seven be appointed, to whom all the papers relative to the contest for seats from New Jersey should be referred for their report, which was carried. On a motion to reconsider this vote, the House adjourned.

On the thirteenth, the first subject was a motion to amend the journal, which described the protest as a paper purporting to be a protest, instead of inserting the paper itself. This motion was opposed, and was laid on the table by one hundred and fifteen votes to fifty-one. The motion to reconsider was then carried.

Mr. Wise then moved that Messrs. J. B. Ayscrigg, Maxwell, Halsted, Stratton, and Yorke, are entitled to their seats, which he afterwards modified with this addition, "leaving the question of contested election to be afterwards decided by the House;" and on the question being taken, there were one hundred and seventeen in favor of it, and one hundred and seventeen against it — so it was not adopted.

A resolution was then offered that the House procced to elect a Speaker, which gave rise to an angry debate; but a motion was then made by Mr. Proffit, who had voted with the majority on the call of the previous question, with a view to propose that, in the election of Speaker, the New Jersey members were entitled to vote; which motion was debated until the House adjourned.

The next day-the fourteenth- the House pro

ceeded to the choice of a Speaker, when, after repeated ballotings by the two parties-by the Whigs for John Bell, of Tennessee, and by the Democrats for J.W. Jones, of Virginia - neither having obtained a majority, and the question having been again made to count the votes of the members from New Jersey, the balloting was renewed; but no choice having been made after the sixth ballot, the House then adjourned.

On Monday, the sixteenth, after five more ballotings, Mr. R. M. T. Hunter, of Virginia, was elected by one hundred and nineteen votes, one hundred and fifteen being necessary to a choice. This choice was effected by the votes of the Whigs, and the States Rights party of the South, to which Mr. Hunter was considered to belong.

The right of the New Jersey members was again made the subject of discussion, but before any vote was taken on it, the House adjourned.

The same discussion was renewed on the following day, and, after a motion to refer the papers relative to the election to the Committee on Elections, the House adjourned.

The nineteenth of December was passed in the same way, with the same result.

On the twentieth, a resolution was offered, that the Representatives advise and request the Speaker to administer the oath required by law to the five members from New Jersey who have produced credentials of their election; and the vote on it was ayes one hundred and twelve, noes one hundred and sixteen-so the motion was rejected, and the House adjourned.

The following day was spent in choosing a Clerk, and other officers, when Hugh A. Garland receiving a majority of the votes (one hundred and eighteen), was elected Clerk.

On the twenty-second, the election of a public printer gave rise to much debate; but before any vote was taken, the House adjourned.

The day after, three weeks and a day since the two Houses met, the President's opening message was received.

The controversy respecting the New Jersey members was looked at by the Whig party with great feeling, as an outrage on the rights of a sovereign State, and on those of their own party there having never before been any question that the persons who had the certificate of the State Executive should be entitled to their seats in the first instance, until they were found, on an investigation by the House, to be, on some account, illegal.

The President adverted to the ravages of fire and disease, from which some portions of the country had suffered, and to the consolation of an exuberant harvest.

The foreign relations of the country remain nearly as they were, thanks to the pacific, just, and forbearing policy adopted by the Government. The project for the settlement of the north-eastern policy had been favorably received by Great Britain; and he is persuaded that she has the same desire as the United States for the early and amicable settlement of the controversy.

He had also called attention to another unsettled point in our boundary- the line from the entrance of Lake Superior to the most north-western point of the Lake of the Woods. The Commissioners under the treaty of Ghent differed on this point, and their differences were to be submitted to some friendly sovereign or State.

As the disturbances in Canada have been settled, they will not be likely again to prove the source of border

contentions between the two countries. The misguided sympathy of many of our citizens had been severely rebuked by public sentiment. But it had been otherwise in Canada: the hostility which had been there evinced towards our people and institutions, and the disregard of our rights occasionally manifested there, have been applauded by the people, and even by some of the subordinate local authorities of the Provinces. He looks forward to the time when all the transactions which have been the subject of complaint by the two Governments will be examined, and the proper satisfaction given where it is due.

With the other Powers of Europe we have an entire good understanding.

The convention for the settlement of our claims with Mexico has not yet been ratified; but she had offered an explanation, which had been received, and a new convention had been agreed on.

The new Republic of Texas has shown a desire to cultivate our friendship.

Notwithstanding the difficulties arising from the bank suspension, the financial operations of the Government have been very successful. The nineteen millions of treasury-notes have been so punctually redeemed as to leave less than the original ten millions outstanding at one time. Most of these are due next year, and, with proper economy, may be then redeemed. This policy he earnestly inculcates, especially when the revenue is diminishing, by reason of the Compromise act. The financial operations of his Administration are then reviewed, by way of showing the difficulties he had to encounter.

The pre-emption law, in favor of settlers on the public lands, has been so far successful, and a graduation law is again recommended.

The attempt to conclude the war with the Florida Indians had been unsuccessful; regardless of their engagements, they have again committed acts of treachery and murder. The plan of operations suggested by the Secretary of War is recommended to their consideration. Some suggestions are made concerning both the army and navy.

The abuse of the American flag in the slave-trade he notices as requiring legislative provision. Favorable accounts are received from the exploring expedition.

Legislative provisions relating to the post-office are suggested, especially concerning the transportation of the mail on railroads, and in steamboats.

A reform in the organization of the Federal Circuit Courts is suggested as necessary by the increase of business, and its unequal distribution.

The subject of the safe keeping and disbursement of the public money is again pressed on their notice, the custody of which is now very unsafe.

He speaks of the efforts made by the officers of the Government to collect and disburse the revenue; of the success that has attended those efforts, in collecting sixty-six millions of dollars without the loss (exclusive of the defalcations of the collector of New York) of more than sixty thousand dollars; and adds, that "the desired legislation of Congress is alone wanting to insure," in these financial operations, "the highest security and facility." He relied on the example of other nations, and says that, in twenty-two out of twenty-seven foreign Governments, the public moneys are in the charge of public officers.

The dissolution of all connection between the Government and the banks, which he had advised, and which had been favorably received by the public, is still fur