What does "it" here refer to?

[NewHopeR]

Context:
Senate Chamber
2nd March 1841

To the President of the United States

Sir,

The undersigned a committee of the Senate to make the necessary arrangements for the reception and inauguration of the President elect on the 4th inst, and to apprize him of the same - have the honor to enclose to you, a programme of the ceremonies on that occasion. No position it will be perceived has been assigned to you; the undersigned beleiving [sic] it more respectful (and therefore
more in accordance with their dispositions) to submit to you to take such a position in the proceedings as may be agreeable and convenient to you: - any suggestion from you will be promptly and with pleasure conformed to.
We have the honor to be,
With great respect and consideration

 

[Raymott]

Context:
Senate Chamber
2nd March 1841

To the President of the United States

Sir,

The undersigned a committee of the Senate to make the necessary arrangements for the reception and inauguration of the President elect on the 4th inst, and to apprize him of the same - have the honor to enclose to you, a programme of the ceremonies on that occasion. No position it will be perceived has been assigned to you; the undersigned beleiving [sic] it more respectful (and therefore
more in accordance with their dispositions) to submit to you to take such a position in the proceedings as may be agreeable and convenient to you: - any suggestion from you will be promptly and with pleasure conformed to.
We have the honor to be,
With great respect and consideration

If this were written today, it would have commas, or some other indication of parenthesis in it.

"No position, it will be perceived, has been assigned to you"​

- "It will be perceived that no position has been assigned to you."​

 

[NewHopeR]

Thank you.
What does "to be" mean in "We have the honor to be"?

 

[Raymott]

Thank you.
What does "to be" mean in "We have the honor to be"?

By itself, nothing. You haven't given the whole letter.
It probably should finish something like:

We have the honor to be,
With great respect and consideration,
Your colleagues in the Senate (Or however the authors want to refer to themselves)
[Signatures]


​

 

[riquecohen]

Thank you.
What does "to be" mean in "We have the honor to be"?

A signature has been omitted from the quote. It might have read "We have the honor to be (or 'of being') the Senate Committee on Inaugurations" or something such as that.