Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-02-12
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY IL, 1881.
rwENrY-FIRsr CoNGREss-aa Session
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1881.
SENATE.


The bill making appropriations for the compile
ton and support IF the Penitentiary of this Dis
trict, amended, was ordered to be engrossed for
a third reaG:lg.
MIR. Benton asked and obtained leave to with
draw the bill, which was laid on the table the
other day, for the abrosation Of the duty on alum
salt.
The Vice Presidenttook the occasion to say,
that after mature examination and deliberations,
he was satisfied that he had enormously decided
that the aforementioned bill could not BIZ receiv-
ed. lie considered that it was at the disposal OF
the Senate, as other bills were.
Mr.. Benton then gave notice, that he would
tomorrow ask leave to introduce a similar bill
with some modification.
MIR. Poindexter rose to ask leave to introduce
the bill of which he yesterday gave notice. He
said that, observing in the Telegraph OF this morn
ing, in the report Of the proceedings of the day
before, an error, by which 1t appeared that he had
presented a memorial from Martha Randolph, the
daughter, and ONLY surviving child of Thomas
Jefferson, deceased; it was due to the sensibility
of that lady, as well as to himself, to state, that
in giving notice of his intention to introduce a
bill concerning the only surviving child OF Thomas
Jefferson, he was actuated solely by his own views
of the high obligations OF duty, aud a desire TO
rescue the Nation from the lmputation OF Il want
III 1tdtlluue U Il utIdilSu SldtcSHidtI. WIZ idu 81
largely contributed to the establishment of this
Government and the free institutions under which
we live. No memorial was either received or
presented on this subject. No intimation what
ever has been made ola desire to bring this ques-
ton under the consideration of Congress by the
individual named in the bill, which he had asked
leave to introduce. He had no doubt that the
error noticed was unintentinnal on the part of the
Editor of the Telegraph.
You will perceive, Mr.. President, continued
the eloquent Senator, that | have brought before
this honorable body a proposition calculated to
animate the patriotic feelings OF every American
citizen, a proposition which has too long slept in
the bosoms of those who administer this govern
ment. The name of Thomas Jefferson is identi-
fed with the independence and glery of this coun-
Try, His eulosy is written IN the pages of faith
full history, and deeply impressed on the hearts OF
his ccuntrymen will not deface the sublime &
beautiful picture in any attempt to retouchl 1t with
the pencil of an unskillful artist;b ut it shall be my
humble part simply to bring to the recollection of
this honorable body the high claims OF this emil
nent philosopher and statesman to the gratitude
of the generation who survive him, and leave to
others, better qualified for the task, the pleasing
duty of illustrating the merits and distinguished
services of one whose equal has seldom appeared
on the great theatre Of the political drama of the
world. Washington, Lafayette, and their COM
p~aniOns in arms, welded the physical force of the
colonies in our revolutionary struggle. Jeffer-
son, Adams, Franklin, and their cOmpatriots In
the cabinet, fought the great moral battle OF their
oppressed. country at that memorable epoch
They boldly asserted those right and principles,
which indicated our cause throughout civilized
Europe, and brought INTO action the invincible
energies of the American People, by whose per-
severance and valor the chains of tyranny were
broken, and the mercenaries of the tyrant driven
from the land which they had dared to invade
and desolate with confagration. robbery, and the
sword. Under the influence of feelings hOnora-
bic to our national character, which have been,
on many occasions, signaIly manifested. the
Congress of the United States, a few years past,
by an almost unanimous vote, made a voluntary
Gift to General Lafayette of the sum of two hun.
dred thousand dollars, and a further donation OF
a township of land equal in value to the addition
al sum Of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
This ~lberality to the hero who fought our battles
who espoused our cause, and shed his blood in
our defence, and who has been the uniform friend
uf liberty in both hemispheres, met the approba-
tion of the people at large. 1t has never been
complained of BY the most vigilant guardian of
the public purse. Our national gratitude to this
distinguished man was due to his disinterested
services and sacrifices in the great cause of free
dom and the emancipation of these States from
the CALLING yoke of despotic power, welded by
the unrelenting arm of the British monarch. It
has impaired a lustre to the American name far
more precious than the price at which it was OBJ
tanned. Actuated by the same lofty considera-
tons which governed the National Legislature on
that occasion, let US not forget the testamentarv
beouest of the great author of the Declaration of
independence to his beloved country. Jefferson,
whose name must be ever dear to the friends of
human liberty throughout the world in the last
hour of his existence, bestowing an expiring
thought on the political connection which had so
long existed between himself and the American
People, auafeeling the pressure of his pecuniary
circumstances. and the embarrassed condition of
his affairs. consoled his agitated spirits by the
confidence which he reposed in the justice and