The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-03-13

The question before the Senate being the adoption
OF the resolution for the dismissal Of the public print
ers,
Mr.. BERRIEN addressed the Senate ia support Of
the resolution
The resolution affirmed two things;
Isl That the Senate had the power TO do the act
ID That there a cause fol doing IT,
INTO the proof Of these propositions he entered,
ana dwelt at length, showing concusivey their va
Mr.. BENTON succeeded in opposition to the rssO-
The yeas and nays were then about being taken,
MIR. CLAY, Of Ky, said that many Senators were
absent being necessarily occupied in preparation for
Their departure FOR THEN homes and that il should
DC taken without some little notice TO the absentees
1ney nad some business IN Executive session to trans
act, he would mo that the Senate 90 into Executive
session, and at 3 o'clock the question be taken.
Most OF the Senators now appearing in their seats
Mr. o. waived the motion, and the yeas and nays
taken, follows
YEAS-Messrs Archer, Barrow, Bates, Bayard,
Berren, ChCate, Clay, of KY, Clayton Dixon,
Evans, Henderson, Huntington Kerr MaDgum
Menick Miller, Morohead, Porter, Preston, Rives,
Simmons,K Smith, of Ind. Southland, Tallmadge,
White and Woodbrdge-26.
NAYS-Messrs, Allen, Benton, Buchanan, Cal
houn, Clay, of Ala, Cuthbert, Fulton, King Linn,
McRobens, Nicholson, Sewer Smith, Of Conn, Stur-
geon, Tappan, Walker, Williams and Wood ury
-lS
Thus the resolution was adopted.
Mr. CLAY, of Kentucky, moved the following
order:
Ordered, That the official bonds taken from Blair
* Rves as printers of the Senate for the 9th Con-
gress be delivered to them by the Secretary of the Sc
nate.
On this Mr. BENTON called the yeas and nays
which ordered, and the motion carried, (bya
precisely smilar vote to that the above question)
Yeas 26 Nays 10.
The PRESIDENT then, pursuant 10 the notice gi-
ven in the morning. begged leave to withdraw from the
Chair; and accordingly retired.
On motion of Mr. CLAY of KY. the Senate then
proceeded to ballot for President pro TEN.
On the canvass of the votes appeared that forty
three votes had been cast; twenty-five of which were
necessary for election.
Mr.. KING received Is votes.
MIR. SOUThARD 26
Mr.. PRESTON
Mr.. CALHOUN 81
Mr.. ASOUTHARD having received twenty-six
votes declared elected and took the chair.
He then addressed the Senate nearly as follows
SENATORS: A custom prevalent from the day ofthe
establishment of this Government requires my
Acknowledgements of your kindness and respect. But
feeling stronger than the custom demands this at my
hands
Five years successfully / have been member of
this body and associated in the obligations of this
Office in the conflicts of opinion in the stres of de-
bate, my conduct must be intimately known to all.
than feel myself to be- of the estimate my associates
may FORM if could receive this proof of your kindly
regard, without sensibity and grateful feelings
| You have imposed on me duties for which you may
find that am incompetent. Forms have not studied
rules Of order have examined only to enable myself
TO keep within their limits. OF experience and prac-
tce in the situation am elected to have But
perhaps my ability to learn something this subject
may find partial apology, at least in the order and
decorum of the proceedings of this body. The skill
and intelligence which has heretofore been called 10
preside over its deliberations, and the feelings of re-
spect for the dignity of which, each member has his
full share, have left individuals very little desire
permit themselves TO contravene the rules. l seek
then, in the kindness and candor Of the body,
apology for the points where you may find me incom-
| petent-
In entering on the duties of the chair which am to
hold but for a very short period can make promi-
SEES, and give no pledges to the manner in which
may discharge its duties. 1t is not hard TO understand
them, though 1t may be difficult to practice them.
close investigation of all the rules of order and the
modes of proceeding, whether Legislative, Executive,
or Judical-a' close attention to every thing which
calls for the deliberation of judgment, and at times
promptness OF decision, and fmness which must not
permit itself to deviae from the uniformity of rule
| but above and beyond all these unwavering and
nnsleeping impar,iality towards exery mepn-
Der of the body--these all, highly requisite. 5i
A failure in the former may be overlooked there Is
4 no mantle large enough to departure from the
last If should fail in knowledge of the rules, and
in the ordinary discharge of the duties, know tha
i
generous men; if fail in the latter you not TO
! extend that charity which suffers long and covers
much.
| will not dctain you by speaking of the Importance
of the deliberations Of this body 1t would be wore
! than superfuous There is no act, however unin-
4 portant and uninhuentia it may appear at the mo-
inent which is transacted in this body that does rot
operate the great and permanent interests ofa
mighty nation, and which will not be made of sono
moment in its influence the basis and prosperity
of those free institutions which liberty to MIN
n Let US then, each look 10 it in his proper posii,n,
that with regard to him his hands be pure, and bis
conscience clean, where the great interests of oar
common country concerned.
i Onmotion ofMr. PRESTON, the Senate then went
into an Executive session.