The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-12-07
TwENTY-FIFTH CONGRESS-. !
SENATE.
TUESDAY, December S.

TUESDAY, December s.
Mr.. WRIGHT, Of New York, from the commit
tee TO wait on the President &C.. reported their per-
Torrance of the duty assigned them, and that the
President would communicate the usual message in
writing al IL o'clock this morning.
Immediately message from the President of the
United States was announced, and presented by Maj
A, Van Buren,, private secretary to that officer.
The Message will be found on our first page.
Ordered, On motion OF Mr.. WRIGHT, Of New
York, that Is 900 copies OF the message and accom-
Panying documents, and 5000 copies additional of
the message be printed for the use OF the Senate.
Mr.. GRUMPY, Of Tennessee, gave notice that
he should, on Wednesday, bring forward bill 10
prevent the destruction OF life BY means of vessels
navigating the waters of the United States BY steam.
MI. CLAY, OF Kentucky, rose and said
The unavoidable absence OF the surviving Senator
OF The State Of Maryland, has deyolved on me the
melancholy duty of announcing TO the Senate, what
Il already too well knows, the lamenied death of his
worthy colleague, He suddenlycxpired on the 9th
OF last month"; in the Goth year Of his age, and few
minutes before apparently in excellent heal b. His
public career has been eminently useful, and hspr
vate pursuits have been crowned with merited sue
cess. DIR. JosEPH KENT has served his native State
Of Maryland in the Legislature, in the College of
Electors Of President and Vice President in the of
flee OF Chief Magistrate and in both branches of
Congress. He has discharged the duties of all these
stations with the greatest diligence, with distinguish
ed ability, and with general satisfaction. He
brought INTO the public councils large stock OF COM
iiioh ocHsSi oGibS anu SOuBu,
practical and discriminating. He was one of those
true men, of whose decision, if he understood the
question which he was called upon to consider we
might be perfectly in advance He spoke in de-
bate rarely bui when he rose he spoke directly TO the
point without any aim al ambitious ornament and
full of interest and instruction drawn by induction
and from experience.
Twenty-six years ago, he and entered the House
OF Representatives together. During the long period
which has since interviewed, what agitating questions
have arisen 10 shake this vast Confederacy, each in
its turn seeming TO threaten it with overthrow But
the Republic stands up proud and erect bearing aloh
It's glorious banner OF original and added stars and
stripes and marching steadily to its high destiny
The fearful questions of controversy have been hap
PLY put to rest and many OF those who were appre
hensive OF the fate of our country silently sleep in
the grave. Should not these groundless fears in
spire us with more confidence in the durability Of
our admirable institutions Should not our transit
tory turmoils, and our fleeing existence inspire
with spirit of mutual forbsarance and brotherly
love?
In private life the estimable man whose untimely
death we depore, enjoyed the unbounded confidence
and attachment of bis ghbors and friends, and he
was almost idoliZed by his family and slaves Plain
and unosentatious in his manners and department,
he always cheerful cordial conciliatory and en-
couragng. For more than quarter fthis century,
have had the happiness of his friendship. And
have ever found him, in prosperous and adverse for
tunes, in the spring and in the autumn of my life,
firm, faithful, and never-failing friend.
SuCn q GOOD man is gTedl loss 10 N1aTVidDQ, 70
the Senate and TO the whole country. But nowhere,
out of the circle of his own family will that loss be
felt with more severity than by the people of this
District Untring in his exertions he was ever
their warm, Jealous and devoted friend On more
than one occasion have my own first impressions
against measures brought forward for their relief
been eaced BY the earneslness and intensity of his
persuasion. And we all recollec how not more than
sixty days ago, we were thrilled by burst OF indig
nant eloauence from him in that now vacant place,
against bill which he thought fraught with hard
ship and injustice towards this District That place
win again be soon filed and doubtless will be ably
filled by the enlightened State which mourns his
death but no man can bring to II a better heart, and
a sounder head than he possessed.
II remains 10 TO perform the sad duty of award
ing our share Of the honors due to his memory. /
propose the following resolutions:
Resoircd, unanimously That the members of the
Senate, from sincere desire Of showing every mark
Of respect due to the memory of the Hon, JOSEPH
KENT, deceased, late member thereof, will go into
mourning by wearing Grape on the let arm for thirty
days.
Rssolred, unanimoasly That as an additional mark
of respect for the memory Of the Hon JOSEPH KENT,
the Senate do now adjourn.
The resolutions were SO adopted, and the Senate
accordingly adjourned
WEDNESDAY, December 6.
Mr.. GRUMPY introduced bill to prevent the
destruction of life on board vessels navigated wholly
or in part by steam, on the waters Of the United
States"
Read and referred to a select committee, and or
dered TO be printed.
Mr. HUBBARD, of N H., moved that the Sc
proceed to the election of the standing commit
tees. .,
Mr.. GRUMPY was in favor of the appointment
of the same by the Chair, as at the last session. He
however would learn the sense of the Senate on the
question.
Mr.. CLAY had no particular feeling relative to
the manner Of the appointment. He would cheer
,N,,f.An his from,
Tennessee.
Mr.. KING, of Alabama, would maintain the re-
gular rule of the Senate and elect the committees by
ballot The Vice-President was mere constiu-
tonal presiding officer of the Senate and he
opposed to vesng him with additional power. The
appointment had been made the last session without
reference to the rule of the Senate, he would now
have the rule resumed
Mr. GRUMPY recommended the appointment by
the Chair only as manner more expeditions and
convenient
Mr. CLAY had no objections provided the estab-
shed rule remain in force so as not to establish by
this, precedent
Mr.. BUCHANAN opposed the appointment by
the Chair and advocated the observance Of the rules
in all cases.
Mr. KING hoped the motion to elect would be
withdrawn and that the Chair be authorized to APP
point and announce the committees at an early day
as possible.
The resolution was then agreed to.
The annual report of the Secretary of the Trea-
sury with special reports of the Treasurer, relative
to Depose Banks Post Office finances, &c. several
ty laid on the table and ordered to be printed.
A Joint resolution from the House for the appoint
meni of two Chapains of different persuasions, to
oficiae INTERCHANGEABLE during the session, was re-
ceived and laid on the table.
Adjourned.
m a r,G