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in generalities than to undertake the humble but honest task of specification - The two Houses of the Legislature of last year were organized in the accustomed manner by choosing their presiding officers - sixteen Senators being five more than a quorum were declared duly elected - There is much reason to believe that the minority of the House & Eight members of the Senate from motives of which it does not become us to speak but of which the people will judge had determined that the vacancies in the Senate should not be filled the votes for Governor counted, & Councillors chosen, Twenty five days of the session having been consumed & repeated motions having been made by members of the minority of the House to adjourn without day - the House proposed a meeting of the members of the House & such Senators as had been elected for the purpose of filling the vacancies in the Senate - A meeting was had in the mode proposed, Eight members of the Senate joining with the members of the House in filling the vacancies - It is admitted the mode of proceeding on this occasion was not according to the usage that had obtained before this time - It had been customary for the Senate after it had become organized to declare that certain vacancies existed in that body & to notify the House thereof & request a meeting of the two Branches to fill such vacancies - All these things the Senate of last year neglected to do till more than twenty five days of the session had passed away when the House believed the exigency of the case required a departure from usage if it could be done consistently with the provisions of the Constitution The course above mentioned was then adopted by the House for the purpose of filling the vacancies in the Senate & this course it is believed is in strict accordance with the letter as well as the spirit of the Constitution - The Constitution provides that "in case the full number of Senators to be elected from each district shall not have been so elected the members of the House of Representatives & such Senators as shall have been elected shall" in the manner prescribed by the Constitution "elect by joint ballot the number of Senators required" - The provision is not that the two Branches as such shall meet & fill the vacancies but the members of the House & such Senators as have been elected shall meet for this purpose - If the Constitution had provided that