On motion of Mr. AbbottResolved. That the Senate will go into executive session at 12 o'clock (noon,) on Wednesday of each week, until otherwise ordered. Mr. Willard offered the following preamble and resolutions: Whereas, The present rebellion has been attended by the captivity of many of our gallant officers and soldiers, while engaged in defending our institutions; and whereas the Government, from motives of public policy, have hitherto abstained from exercising the practice of exchanging prisoners, which usually prevails among nations engaged in public war; and whereas the principles of humanity require all christian nations to mitigate, as far as practicable, the evils incident to a state of hostilities, whether originating in insurrection, or war between separate nations; therefore, Resolved, (if the Assembly concur,) That should the President of the United States find it consistent with the public interest to inaugurate a general system of mutual exchange of prisoners with the persons now in rebellion, under the name of the Confederate States, it would meet the approbation of this Legislature, and the people of this State; and we earnestly hope that the President, with his known sympathy for those who have been captured while imperiling their lives in the cause of their coun try, and his kind regard for their families and friends, will direct his earliest attention to this subject; and we confidently trust that he will find the claims of humanity not inconsistent with the dictates of justice and policy. Resolved, That his Excellency the Governor, be requested to transmit to his Excellency the President, a copy of the foregoing preamble and resolution. Ordered, That said resolution be laid on the table. The President presented a communication from the Court of General Sessions of the Peace, of the city of New York, enclosing a presentment by the grand jury in relation to concert saloons in said city, which was laid on the table and ordered printed. (See Dec. No. 2.) On motion of Mr. Munroe Resolved, That the Clerk furnish a copy of the Red Book for 1861, to each Senator who may wish for one. On motion of Mr. Truman, the Senate adjourned. FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 1862. The Senate met pursuant to adjournment. Prayer by Rev. Dr. Wyckoff. On motion of Mr. Truman, the Senate adjourned until Monday evening at 7 o'clock. MONDAY, JANUARY 13, 1862, HALF-PAST 7 O'CLOCK, P. M. The Senate met pursuant to adjournment. Prayer by Rev. Mr. Arthur. The journals of Thursday and Friday, were read and approved. Mr. Bell presented a petition of Henry Spicer and other supervisors and citizens of Jefferson county, for the passage of an act to amend the Revised Statutes in relation to the tax on dogs, which was read and referred to the committee on the judiciary, when appointed. Mr. Clark presented resolutions of the board of supervisors of Cortland county, asking the State to assume its share of the National tax, which was read and referred to the committee on finance, when appointed. Mr. Sanford presented two petitions from citizens of Onondaga county, in relation to rebuilding the bridge across the Oneida river, at Caughdenoy, which were read and referred to the committee on roads and bridges, when appointed. Mr. Low presented a petition of Wm. Bricury and others, for an act confirming the title of said Bricury to certain lands, and releasing the interest of the State therein, which was read and referred to the committee on the judiciary, when appointed. Mr. Hardin presented a petition of citizens of Little Falls, for an act to secure the better application of funds to relieve the poor of the town of Little Falls, which was read and referred to the committee on poor laws, when appointed. The President presented the report of the Auditor of the Canal Department, containing a digest of the claims considered by the Canal Board during the years 1860 and 1861, which was laid on the table and ordered printed. (See Doc. No. 7.) Also, the annual report of the Inspectors of State Prisons for 1861, which was laid on the table and ordered printed. (See Doc. No. 9.) Also, the report of the Commissioners of the Land Office, relative to New York harbor encroachments, which was laid on the table and ordered printed. (See Doc. No. 10.) Mr. Farrar presented the 13th annual report of the Managers of the Western House of Refuge, which was laid on the table and ordered printed. (See Doc. No. 3.) Mr. Henderson gave notice that he would, at an early day, ask leave to introduce a bill to authorize the Brooklyn Central and Jamaica railroad company to extend its track from Jamaica to Hempstead. Mr. Cornell gave notice that he would, at an early day, ask leave to introduce a bill to legalize certain acts of the common council of New York, in relation to raising moneys for the relief of families of volunteers. Mr. Truman gave notice that he would, at an carly day, ask leave to introduce a bill in relation to insurance companies. Mr. Pruyn gave notice that he would, at an early day, ask leave to introduce a bill to amend an act entitled "An act in relation to the punishment of crimes in certain cases, passed April 11, 1855." Mr. Sanford gave notice that he would, at an early day, ask leave to introduce a bill to repeal chapter 217 of the Laws of 1860, entitled "An act to authorize the town of Hannibal, in the county of Oswego, to purchase a farm and erect thereon a town poorhouse." Also, a bill to authorize the rebuilding of the bridge across the Oneida river at Caughdenoy. Mr. Woodruff gave notice that he would, at an early day, ask leave to introduce a bill to prohibit bank officers from acting as notaries public. Mr. Robertson gave notice that he would, at an early day, ask leave to introduce a bill in relation to School District No. 6, of the town of Yonkers, Westchester county. Mr. Bell gave notice that he would, at an early day, ask leave to introduce a bill to legalize the appointment of Messrs. Grennel, Thompson and Rundell, justices of the peace in the town of Adams, in the county of Jefferson. Mr. Low gave notice that he would, at an early day, ask leave to introduce a bill confirming the title of Wm. Bricury to certain lands, and releasing the interest of the State therein. Mr. Hardin gave notice that he would, at an early day, ask leave to introduce a bill to secure the better application of funds to relieve the poor of the town of Little Falls, Herkimer county. In pursuance of previous notice, Mr. Truman asked and obtained leave to introduce a bill entitled "An act to provide for the extension of the Chemung canal from its present termination, at or near the village of Binghamton, to the North Branch canal, at the State line," which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time and referred to the committee on canals, when appointed. In pursuance of previous notice, Mr. Bell asked and obtained leave to introduce a bill entitled "An act to amend title 1, part 1, chapter 13 of the Revised Statutes, in relation to property exempt from taxation," which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time, and referred to the committee on the judiciary, when appointed. By unanimous consent, Mr. Woodruff asked and obtained leave to introduce a bill entitled "An act prohibiting bank officers acting as notaries public," which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time, and referred to the committee on the judiciary, when appointed. By unanimous consent, Mr. Pruyn asked and obtained leave to introduce a bill entitled "An act to amend an act entitled 'An act in relation to the punishment of crimes in certain cases,' passed April 11, 1856," which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time, and referred to the committee on the judiciary, when appointed. In pursuance of previous notice, Mr. Robertson asked and obtained leave to introduce a bill entitled "An act to preserve the public peace and order in public places of amusement in the city of New York," which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time, and referred to the committee on the incorporation of cities and villages, when appointed. In pursuance of previous notice, Mr. Munroe asked and obtained leave to introduce a bill entitled "An act to reorganize the State Asylum for Idiots, and to provide for the government and management thereof," which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time, and referred to the committee on charitable and religious societies, when appointed. Mr. Pruyn offered the following resolution: Resolved, (if the Assembly concur,) That the Legislature will on the twenty-third day of January instant, proceed to the choice of a Superintendent of Public Instruction, to fill the vacancy now existing in that office, and for the full term thereafter; and also, of a Regent of the University, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Gerrit Y. Lansing. Ordered, That said resolution be laid on the table. On motion of Mr. Truman Resolved, That the finance committee be increased to five members. Resolved, That 250 copies of the 13th annual report of the Managers of the Western House of Refuge, be printed for the use of the Senate, and 1,000 copies for the use of the managers of said institution. Ordered, That said resolution be referred to the committee on public printing, when appointed. Mr. Robertson offered the following resolution: Resolved, That 1,000 copies of the report of the Inspectors of State Prisons, be printed for the use of the Senate, and 1,000 copies for the use of the Inspectors. Ordered, That said resolution be referred to the committee on public printing, when appointed. Mr. Hardin offered the following resolution: Resolved, That 1,000 extra copies of the annual report of the Superintendent of the Banking Department, be published for the use of the Senate. Ordered, That said resolution be referred to the committee on public' printing, when appointed. Mr. Low offered the following resolution: Resolved, (if the Assembly concur,) That our Senators and Representatives in Congress, be instructed to vote for the abolition of the franking privilege. Ordered, That said resolution be laid on the table. On motion of Mr. Cornell, the Senate adjourned. TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 1862. The Senate met pursuant to adjournment. Prayer by Rev. Mr. Belknap. The journal of yesterday was read and approved. The President announced the appointment of the following standing committees of the Senate, for the session of 1862: On Claims-Truman, Richards, Bradley. Finance-Bell, Angel, Connolly, Murphy, Bailey. Canals-Cook, Hutchinson, Connolly. Railroads-Angel, Sanford, Cornell. Charitable and Religious Societies-Tobey, Hardin, Murphy. Internal affairs of Towns and Counties-Montgomery, Abbott, Freer. Prisons-Bailey, Clark, Woodruff. Poor Laws-Abbott, Young, Little. Literature-Pruyn, Ramsey, Sanford. Roads and Bridges-Clark, Bailey, Young. Erect. and Divis. of Towns and Counties-Ramsey, Folger, Connolly. Expiring Laws-Woodruff, Tobey, Farrar. Medical Societies-Freer, Smith, Pruyn. Public Printing-Low, Sanford, Richards. Manufacture of Salt-Hutchinson, Folger, Richards. Mr. Smith presented a memorial from the commissioners under the act for the continuation of Flatbush avenue, in relation to assessments on said Avenue, which was read and referred to the committee on cities and villages. Mr. Ramsey presented a petition of citizens of Summit, Schoharie co., in relation to a road district in said town, which was read and referred to the committee on roads and bridges. Mr. Freer presented a memorial of the board of supervisors of Greene county, asking that the State assume its quota of the National tax, which was read and referred to the committee on finance. Mr. Willard presented a resolution of the board of supervisors of Montgomery county, on the same subject, which was read and referred to the committee on finance. Mr. Little presented a resolution of the board of supervisors of the county of Essex, against any division of said county. Also, that the State assume its quota of the National tax-which were read and referred to the committee on finance. Mr. Farrar presented a petition of the board of supervisors of Monroe county, for the repeal or amendment of the license law of this State, which was read and referred to the committee on internal affairs of towns and counties. Mr. Sanford presented a petition of taxpayers of the town of Hastings, Oswego county, in favor of an act authorizing the rebuilding of the bridge across the Oneida river at Caughdenoy, which was read and referred to the committee on roads and bridges. Mr. Bell presented a petition of Wooster Sherman and twenty-eight other. business men of Watertown, Jefferson county, to amend chapter 360 of the Laws of 1859, in relation to notaries public, which was read and referred to the committee on the judiciary. Mr. Little presented a petition of citizens of Warren county, for the passage of an act to lay out a highway in Hamilton county, and applying the non-resident highway tax on certain tracts, for the construction and repair |