WEDNESDAY, March 4, 1789.
This being the day for the meeting of the new Congress, the following
members of the Senate appeared and took their seats:[3]
From New Hampshire, JOHN LANGDON and PAINE WINGATE.
From Massachusetts, CALEB STRONG.
From Connecticut, WILLIAM S. JOHNSON and OLIVER ELLSWORTH.
From Pennsylvania, WILLIAM MACLAY and ROBERT MORRIS.
From Georgia, WILLIAM FEW.
The members present not being a quorum, they adjourned from day to day,
until
WEDNESDAY, March 11.
When the same members being present as on the 4th instant, it was agreed
that a circular should be written to the absent members, requesting
their immediate attendance.
THURSDAY, March 12.
No additional members appearing, the members present adjourned from day
to day, until
WEDNESDAY, March 18.
When no additional members appearing, it was agreed that another
circular should be written to eight of the nearest absent members,
particularly desiring their attendance, in order to form a quorum.
THURSDAY, March 19.
WILLIAM PATERSON, from New Jersey, appeared and took his seat.
FRIDAY, March 20.
No additional member appeared.
SATURDAY, March 21.
RICHARD BASSETT, from Delaware, appeared and took his seat.
A sufficient number of members to form a quorum not appearing, the
members present adjourned from day to day, until
SATURDAY, March 28.
JONATHAN ELMER, from New Jersey, appeared and took his seat.
No other member appearing, an adjournment took place from day to day,
until
MONDAY, April 6.
RICHARD HENRY LEE, from Virginia, then appearing, took his seat and
formed a quorum of the whole Senators of the United States.
The credentials of the members present being read and ordered to be
filed, the Senate proceeded, by ballot, to the choice of a President for
the sole purpose of opening and counting the votes for President of the
United States.
JOHN LANGDON was elected.
_Ordered_, That Mr. ELLSWORTH inform the House of Representatives that a
quorum of the Senate is formed; that a President is elected for the sole
purpose of opening the certificates, and counting the votes of the
electors of the several States, in the choice of a President and Vice
President of the United States; and that the Senate is now ready, in the
Senate Chamber, to proceed in the presence of the House, to discharge
that duty; and that the Senate have appointed one of their members to
sit at the clerk's table, to make a list of the votes as they shall be
declared; submitting it to the wisdom of the House to appoint one or
more of their members for the like purpose.
Mr. ELLSWORTH reported that he had delivered the message; and Mr.
BOUDINOT, from the House of Representatives, informed the Senate that
the House is ready forthwith to meet them, to attend the opening and
counting of the votes of the electors of the President and Vice
President of the United States.
The Speaker and the members of the House of Representatives attended in
the Senate Chamber; and the President elected for the purpose of
counting the votes, declared that the Senate and House of
Representatives had met, and that he, in their presence, had opened and
counted the votes of the electors for President and Vice President of
the United States, which were as follows:
[Transcriber's Note: Legend Created to make table fit.]
A = George Washington, Esq.
B = John Adams, Esq.
C = Samuel Huntingdon, Esq.
D = John Jay, Esq.
E = John Hancock, Esq.
F = Robert H. Harrison, Esq.
G = George Clinton, Esq.
H = John Rutledge, Esq.
I = John Milton, Esq.
J = James Armstrong, Esq.
K = Edward Telfair, Esq.
L = Benjamin Lincoln, Esq.