Mr. Truman offered the following resolution:

Resolved, That the committee on claims be allowed to employ G. W. Fay, as clerk for said committee.

Pending the question on the aloption of said resolution, the hour of 12 o'clock having arrived, the President announced that the Senate would go into executive session.

After some time spent therein, the doors were opened and legislative business resumed.

The Senate resumed the consideration of the resolution pending at the hour of going into executive session.

Mr. McGraw moved to lay said resolution on the table.

The President put the question whether the Senate would agree to said motion, and it was decided in the negative.

The President then put the question whether the Senate would agree to said resolution, and it was decided in the affirmative.

Mr. Robertson offered the following resolution:

Resolved, That the committee on commerce and navigation be empowered to appoint Geo. W. Warner as clerk to said committee, whenever they shall deem it necessary.

The President put the question whether the Senate would agree to said resolution, and it was decided in the affirmative, as follows:

Mr. Ketcham offered the following resolution: Resolved, (if the Assembly concur,) That a joint committee of the Senate and Assembly, to be composed of the standing committees of the two Houses on State prisons, be a committee for the purpose of examining into alleged abuses in the punishment of convicts, and the pecuniary affairs of the State prisons; and that said committee have power to send for persons and papers, to visit the prisons and report to the Legislature at as early a day as practicable.

Ordered, That said resolution be laid on the table.

On motion of Mr. Richmond,

Resolved, That the petitions on file for aid to the Troy University, be referred to the committee on literature.

Mr. Rotch offered the following resolution:

Resolved, That 4,000 extra copies of the report of the select committee to which was referred the petitions for aid to the Albany and Susquehanna railroad, be printed for the use of the Senate.

Ordered, That said resolution be referred to the committee on public printing.

On motion of Mr. J. M. Murphy,

Resolved, That the counsel to the corporation of the city of New York, be directed to report to the Senate, at an early day, the names of the persons employed as commissioners and clerks in opening streets, since the first of January 1860, with the amount of compensation paid to each. Mr. Spinola offered the following resolution:

Resolved, That there be printed 1,500 cxtra copies of the report of the Metropolitan Police Commissioners of the city of New York, for the use of the Senate.

Ordered, That said resolution be referred to the committee on public printing.

By unanimous consent, Mr. Spinola moved to take from the table the bill entitled "An act to submit certain propositions to amend the Constitution of the United States, to the people of this State."

The President put the question whether the Senate would agree to said motion, and it was decided in the affirmative.

By unanimous consent, Mr. Spinola moved that the rules be suspended, and said bill referred to the first committee of the whole, on Friday.

The President put the question whether the Senate would agree to said motion, and it was decided in the negative, as follows:

Mr. Hammond moved to refer said bill to the select committee on federal relations.

Mr. Spinola moved to amend by adding the words, "and that the committee be instructed to report the bill back to the Senate on Friday next." The President put the question whether the Senate would agree to said motion, and it was decided in the negative, as follows:

The President then put the question whether the Senate would agree to said motion of Mr. Hammond, to refer said bill to the select committee on federal relations, and it was decided in the affirmative, as follows:

The Senate then resolved itself into a committee of the whole, and proceeded to the consideration of the general orders, being the bills entitled as follows:

Assembly bill, "An act to authorize the city of Poughkeepsie to borrow money for the purchase of a steam fire engine and for other specified purposes."

"An act to provide for the payment of interest on certain canal drafts, certificates and awards."

"An act to provide arms and equipments for the militia of the State." After some time spent therein, the President resumed the chair, and Mr. Munroe, from said committee, reported in favor of the passage of the first named bill, without amendment, which report was agreed to, and said bill ordered to a third reading.

Mr. Munroe, from the same committee, reported progress on the two last named bills, and asked and obtained leave to sit again.

On motion of Mr. McGraw, the Senate adjourned.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 1861.

The Senate met pursuant to adjournment.

Prayer by Rev. Mr. Fulton.

The journal of yesterday was read and approved.

Mr. Ramsey presented a petition of inhabitants of Schoharie county, for state aid to build the Albany and Susquehanna railroad, which was read and committed to the committee of the whole.

Mr. Rotch presented a petition of citizens of Otsego county, on same subject, which was read and committed to the committee of the whole.

Mr. Richmond, from the committce on public printing, to which was referred the resolution to print extra copies of the report of the select committee to whom was referred the petitions for aid to the Albany and Susquehanna railroad, reported in favor of the adoption of the following resolution :

Resolved, That 4.000 extra copies of the report of the select committee to which was referred the petitions for aid to the Albany and Susquehanna railroad, be printed for the use of the Senate.

The President put the question whether the Senate would agree to said resolution, and it was decided in the affirmative.

Mr. Hammond, from the committee on the judiciary, to which was referred the bill entitled "An act in relation to the punishment of crimes, and concerning prisoners confined in the State prisons," reported in favor of the passage of the same, and said bill was committed to the committee of the whole.

Mr. Hammond, from the committee on the judiciary, to which was referred the bill entitled "An act to repeal chapter 167 of the Laws of 1860, entitled 'An act in relation to preferred causes in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals,'" reported in favor of the passage of the same, with amendments, and said bill was committed to the committee of the whole.

Mr. Hammond, from the committee on the judiciary, to which was referred the bill entitled "An act to amend chapter 261, entitled 'An act to designate the holidays to be observed in the acceptance and payment of bills of exchange and promissory notes,' passed April 4, 1849," reported in favor of the passage of the same, and said bill was committed to the committee of the whole.

Mr. Hammond, from the committee on the judiciary, to which was referred the bill entitled "An act to facilitate the transaction of business at the several courts of record to be held in and for the county of Schoharie," reported in favor of the passage of the same, and said bill was committed to the committee of the whole.

Mr. Hammond from the committee on the judiciary, to which was referred the bill entitled "An act to amend an act entitled 'An act to facilitate the progress of civil actions in which the people of the State are parties," reported in favor of the passage of the same, and said bill was committed to the committee of the whole.

Mr. Hammond, from the committee on the judiciary, to which was referred the bill entitled "An act to legalize and confirm the acts of Gilbert E. Parsons, a notary public of the city and county of Oswego," reported. in favor of the passage of the same, with amendments, and said bill was committed to the committee of the whole.

Mr. Hammond, from the committee on the judiciary, to which was referred the bill entitled "An act to amend and extend an act entitled 'An act concerning the rights and liabilities ef husband and wife,' passed March 20, 1860," reported in favor of the passage of the same, and said bill was committed to the committee of the whole.

Mr. Hammond, from the committee on the judiciary, to which was referred the bill entitled "An act for the relief of Maria Murphy and Ann Kerrigan," reported in favor of the passage of the same, with amendments, and said bill was committed to the committee of the whole.

Mr. Hammond, from the committee on the judiciary, to which was referred the Assembly bill entitled "An act in relation to the district attorney of the county of Chautauqua, and to amend an act entitled 'An act authorizing the district attorney of the county of Chautauqua to appoint an assistant,' passed April 14, 1857," reported in favor of the passage of the same, and said bill was committed to the committee of the whole.

Mr. Montgomery, from the committee on engrossed bills, reported as correctly engrossed, the bill entitled as follows:

"An act making appropriations for the canal debt, and the maintenance of the canals for the fiscal year commencing on the first day of October, 1861."

Mr. Lapham, from the committee on roads and bridges, to which was referred the bill entitled "An act to authorize the town of Ossining, in the county of Westchester, and State of New York, to raise money by bond," reported the same for the consideration of the Senate, and said bill was committed to the committee of the whole.

Mr. Robertson, from the committee on commerce and navigation, to which was referred the bill entitled "An act in relation to the planting of oysters within the waters of this State," reported in favor of the passage of the same, and said bill was committed to the committee of the whole.

A message from the Assembly was received requesting the concurrence of the Senate to the following entitled bills :

"An act authorizing the Brockport and Clarkson plank road company to reduce the number of directors from nine to five," which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time, and referred to the committee on roads and bridges.

"An act to enable the electors of the town of Poughkeepsie to vote by districts for town officers," which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time.

On motion of Mr. Ketcham, and by unanimous consent, the rules were suspended and said bill was committed to the first committee of the whole, two-thirds of all the Senators present voting in favor thereof.

"An act to incorporate the village of Panama," which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time, and referred to the committee on the incorporaion of cities and villages.

"An act to authorize the Bushwick and Newtown bridge and turnpike road company to widen the draw to their bridge, and to grant and release certain rights to the city of Brooklyn," which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time, and referred to the committee on roads and bridges.

"An act authorizing the trustees of the village of Hornellsville to permit the erection of gas works, and laying pipes for the same in said village," 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.

"An act for the appraisal and payment of canal damages to Jeremiah

Van Buren," which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time, and referred to the committee on claims.

The Assembly returned the concurrent resolution that the two Houses of the Legislature proceed on Tuesday the 5th day of February, at 12 o'clock at noon, to the election of a United States Senator in place of Wm. H. Seward, whose term of office will expire on the fourth day of March next, with a message that they had concurred in the passage of the same, without amendment.

Mr. J. M. Murphy gave notice that he would at an early day ask leave to introduce a bill to provide for the improvement of Harlem river.

Mr. Fiero gave notice that he would at an early day move to amend the 38th rule of the Senate.

In pursuance of previous notice, Mr. Munroe asked and obtained leave to introduce a bill entitled "An act to authorize the trustees of the Asylum for Idiots to purchase additional land," 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.

In pursuance of previous notice, Mr. Montgomery asked and obtained. leave to introduce a bill entitled "An act for the relief of Horace Allen," which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time, and referred to the committee on claims.

By unanimous consent. Mr. Spinola asked and obtained leave to introduce a bill entitled "An act to authorize the common council of the city of Brooklyn to provide for the payment of a deficiency in the revenue of the city of Brooklyn," which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time.

On motion of Mr. Spinola, and by unanimous consent, the rules were suspended and said bill referred to the committee on the incorporation of cities and villages, to report complete.

By unanimous consent, Mr. Lapham asked and obtained leave to introduce a bill entitled "An act in relation to attempts to escape by convicts in State prisons," which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time.

On motion of Mr. Lapham, and by unanimous consent, the rules were suspended and said bill referred to the committee on State prisons, to report complete.

By unanimous consent, Mr. Goss, from the committee on internal affairs of towns and counties, to which was referred the bill entitled "An act to incorporate the Bay Ridge fire company, in Kings county," reported in favor of the passage of the same, and said bill was committed to the committee of the whole.

By unanimous consent, Mr. Goss, from the committee on internal affairs of towns and counties, to which was referred the bill entitled "An act to amend an act entitled 'An act in relation to the collection of county taxes in the city of Rochester, in the county of Monroe,' passed April 12, 1860," reported in favor of the passage of the same, and said bill was committed to the committee of the whole.

By unanimous consent, Mr. Spinola, from the committee on insurance companies, to which was referred the petition of the New York Life Insurance company, for an amendment of their charter, reported by bill entitled "An act to amend the charter of the New York Life Insurance company," which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time, and committed to the committee of the whole.

By unanimous consent, Mr. Fiero, from the committee on militia and public defence, to which was referred the bill entitled "An act in relation to the State Arsenal and lands, in the city of Brooklyn," reported in favor