Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1844-03-07
guished commander and protector.
JOHN TYLER.


Washington, February 29th, 1914.
The message having been read,
Mr.. RIVES rose and addressed the
Senate as follows:
Mr.. President: The general feeling Of
the Senate has, am sure, already an
ticipated me in what have risen to sug-
gest. The awful calamity communica-
ted to us in the message of the President
just read, and which has made of yester-
day, with all its unearthly brightness,
| one of the darkest and most iuanspicious
dayssin our national calendar, is but too
well known TO the Senate, in all its
| dreadful details and heart.rending re-
suits. Surely, MIR. President, never, in
the mysterious ordinances Of God, has a
day on earth been marked in its progress
by such startling and astounding con-
trasts-opening and advancing with hi
larity and joy ,nutual congratulations and
patriotic pride. and closing in scenes of
death and disaster. of lamentation and
unutterabe wo. 1t Gas my sad fortune,
Mr. President, to be an eyewitness of
[ these neyer-to be- forgotten events. III
had language to describe them, the pow
er OF speech would fail me.
have risen, in the midst of the uni
Versal sadness and detection of heart
which prevail around me, and under the
overpowerng weight of my own feelings,
to suggest the propriety of suspendng our
ordinary labors and pursuits, in the pres
ence and under the chastisement of this
awful visitation of Providence. 1t has
fallen to the lot of my own State to be
the chief mourner on this melancholy oc-
caslon. Two of her distinguished cit-
zens, filling high places in the civil gov
eminent OF the country, have been cut
down in the midst of their DAYS and
their usefulness; and another of her sons
"a gallant officer of the navy-has been
destined to fall, by disastrous accident,
on deck which, under other circum-
stances, he might have illustrated by his
valor.
But, in so Overwhelming a calamity,
which stands almost without a parallel
in the records of human misfortune. all
bear their equal and sympathyslns share.
Surrounded, as we are, on every hard,
by the desoIate wailing of the widow.
and the helpless cry of the orphan, none
of US can be in state Of mind to dis
charge, with intelligence and composure,
the duties which belong to us here.
Let US, then, Mr.. President, bowling
in all humility of spirit beneath this
stroke of an all-wise and mysterious
Providence, discard from our minds, for
a season, the cares and excitements of
our daily duties in this hall. Let US
lay to heart the monitory lesson so i'm
preSsivel y road TO i,s tho o.cnrs OF yes
terday, that in the midst of life we are
in DEATH With this lesson engraven
upon our hearts, LET us keep constantly
liz view the eternal, as well as temporal
responsibilities under which all the du-
ties OF both public and private life are
to be performed. Let the deep sense Of
common calamity and mutual affection
unite US more closely by the ties of
brotherhood and affection. Let US put
away from US all bitterness and wrath,
and evl-speaking;' and when we come
together again, under these Christening
influences, we shall all feel, trust. how
much better patriots we are, for being
better Christians.
Mr. R. concluded by submitting the
the following resolutions:
Resozred, That the Senate, impressed
with the profound sense of the awful ca
lamity which yesterday occurred on
board She steamer Princeton, by the ex-
plosion of gun, involving the loss of
many valuable lives. and among them Of
the Secretary of State and Secretary of
the Navy,
ResotUed, That the Senate will attend,
in body, the obsequies Of the deceased
members of the cabinet. and that COM
mittee of five be appointed to make ar
with such committee as may
be appointed on the part Of the House
Of Representatives.
ReSolUed. That, in consideration of
this affective dispensation, the Senate do
now adjourn to Monday next.
Resolved, That the Senate will go into
mourning by wearing Grape on the left
arm for thirty days.
Resolved, That a copy of the foregoing
resolutions be transmitted to the Presi-
dent of the United States.
The resolutions having been read. a
message was received from the House of
Representatives, by the hands of Mr..
McNuIty. their Clerk, announcing the
action of that body touching this awful
calamity. The message was read, and
cOncuTed IN
The resolutions submitted by Mr..
Riyes were unanimously agreed to;
and
The following senators were appointed
a committee of arrangements on the
part of the Senate to act in conjunction
with the committee on the part of the
House of Representatives. viz; Mr..
Rives, Mr.. Archer, Mr.. King, Mr..
Woodbury.. and MIR. Bayard.
The Senate then, in. accordance with
its previous action, adjourned till Mon
day next.