Litchfield enquirer., 1844-03-07

part Of the SenS, for the attendance Of the two
Houses Of Congrs at the funeral of the late A, p.
Upshur and Thots w. Gilmer. b
ReSoired, Thavhen this House adjourn to day,
it will adjourn tmeet on Monday next, and that
this House do noladjourn.
The resOlutiOnsere adopted and the House ad-
journed,
Soon after, the enate was called to order, and a
PRAYER was affere0f very efecting character
The Message fronhe President was then received
and read ....
Mr. Rives rose nd addressed the Senate as fol-
lows:
Mr.. PresidentT The general feeling of the SEN
ate has, am sure already anticipated me IN what
have risen to suVest. Tie awful calamity COM
municated to us il the message OF the President
Just read, and with has made of yesterday, with
all its unearthly bghtness, one OF the darkest and
most inauspiciousays in our national calender, IS
but two well knon to the Senate IN all its dread
full details and itsheart-rending results. Surely,
Mr.. President, neer, in the mysterious ordinances
of God, has day n earth been marked IN its pro-
gress BY such stating and astounding contrasts
opening and advaring with hilarity and Joy, mu-
tual congratulatioland patriotic pride, and closing
in scenes of deathnd disaster, OF lamentatlon and
unutterable woe. II was my sad misfortune, Mr..
President to be ar eve witness Of these never to-
be-forgotten events If had language to describe
them, the power Sspeech would fail me.
have risen, iAthe midst of the universal sad,
ness and dejectionaf heart which prevail around
me, and under theverpowering weight ofmy own
feelings, to suggestive proprety of suspending our
ordinary labors ant pursuits, in the presence and
under the chastseient of this awful visitation OF
Providence. 1t hal fallen to the lot OF my own
State to be the chif mourner on this melancholy
occasion. Two of her distinguished citizens, fill
ing high places il the civil government of the
10, in the midst of their
days and usefulness; and another of her sons-a
gallant officer in the navy-has been destined to
fall by disastrous accident, on deck which, under
other circumstance, he might have illustrated by
his valor :, -..- -.-
But, in so overwhelming calamity, which stands
almost without parallel in the records OF human
misfortune, all bearther equal and sympathiZing
share. Surrounded as we are, on every hand, by
the desolate wailina of the widow and the helpless
cry of the orphan, mne of us can be in state Of
mind to discharge, With intelligence and compo-
sure, the duties with belong to us here.
Let US then, Mr.. President, bowling in all hui
mility of spirit beneath this stroke of an all wise
and mysterious Providence, discard from our minds
for season, the cars and eXcitements of our daily
duties in this hall. Let us lay to the heart the
monitory lessons so impressively read to us in the
events Of yesterday, that " in the midst of life we
are in DEATH" With this lesson engraven upon
our hearts, let keep constantly in view the eer-
nal well as temporal responsibilities under which
all the duties of both public and private life are to
be performed. Let The deep sense of common Ca
lamity and mutual affection unite us more closely
by the ties of brotherhood and affection Let us
Z" put away from us all bitterness and wrath, and
evil 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. Concludedby submitting the following
resolutions:
Resoiced, That the Senate is impressed with q
profound sense of the awful calamity which yester-
day occurred on board of the steamer Princeton, by
the explosion of gun, involving many valuable
lives, and among them the Secretary OF State and
Secretary of the Navy.
Resolved, That the Senate will attend in body
the obseques of the deceased members of the Cab
met, and committee of five be appointed to make
arrangements, with such committee as may be ap.
pointed on the part Of the House of Representa-.
tives, for the funeral.
Resoived, That the members of the Senate will
60 into mourning by wearing Grape on the left arm
for thirty days. -Ot-,.
Resolred, That copy of the foregoing resolu
tions be transmitted to the President of the United
States. 4..tt g
Reo.s That s ii il aS9saSgatGp Of this affective
The Resolutions Of Mr.. Rives, and those of tht
House was adopted.
Both Houses adjourned till Monday.