Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1844-03-07

/ There was but little business Of irnpor
tance transacted in either House of Congress
previous Ia Thursday. The debate on III,
Rules. which has occupied so large a portion
of time, was terminated on "Wednesday H.
The House, when the oppone MS Of the righr
Of petition succeeded, (raklng advantage of
the absence Of several members in laying
The whole snhjcc, upon the table " ere ma
jority- 50 to So.
THuRspAY, Feb 90.
/ In the SENATE, as soar as the journal was
read, the following Message was announced
from the President of the United States:
To The Senate and Hon." of Representatives
Of the United .Siates:
Il ] have to perform the melancholy duty of
announcing to the two Ilnuses Of Congress
the death Of Hon Abel 2. upshur, late Sec
retary OF STATE, aud the Hon. Thomas w
EIIh.cr, late Secretary Of the Navy.
!. This must Iamentahle occurrence nanspir-
ed on board the United States ship of wal
|, The Princeton, on yesterday, at about halt
after four O'clock IN the evening, and pro
cecdcd from the expulsion of one of the
| large guns of that ship.
Il The loss which the Government aud .he
county has sustained by tins dcpIorable
event rs he ghtencd by The death, at the same
time, and by the sntne cause. of several dis
II IItiDgulshcd persons and valuable citizens.
II ! shall be permitted 10 express my great
! grlef at an occurrence which hao thus So
suddenly stricken from my side two gentle
/ men UPON whose advice ] so confidently re-
/ he'd IN the discharge Of my arduous tC ,k Of
! administering the office OF the Executive de.
| partmen', aud whose services utthls interest
! ing period were OF such vas, Importance.
II In some relief Of the public sorrow which
must necessarily accompany this most pain
fn event, il afford, me much satisfaction To-
say that 1t was produced by no carelessnes,
! or Inartcntlon on the part OF The officers and
crew of the Prnccior, bat must be 81, down
As one Of those casualties which, 10 great
, rr or less lrg.ec, attend upon every service,
aud which are Invariably incident To the
temporal affairs of mankind. will also ado
| that II 10 no me asure drtracts IN my estIna-
| ton from the value OF the improvement con
/ Itemplated IN the construction OF the Prince
900, or from the merits of her brave and dls.
4 tingushed commander and prnlectnr.
/ JOHN TYLER.
I Washington, Feb 20 1874
/ The Message having been rcnd-
Il Mr.. Rives rose and addressed the Senate
as follows:
1 Mn. Presidents: Tho general feeling oi
The Senate has. | am sure, already anrlcIpa-
ted me IN whal haze rt5eA 10 srgges.. ThrI
awful calamity communicated 10 C5 IN tn
message Of the President Just read, and
which has made Of yesterday, with all us un-
earthly brightness, one Of The darkes, nn0I
darts but too well known TO the Senate IN al
rrs dreadful details and heart rsndng resul,-.
Surely. Mr.. President, never, IN the myst.r.I
Gus ordinances Of God, has n day on earth
been marked in its progress by snch startling
and astounding coutrast-openlng and cd
yahcing with hllari,y aud Joy. mutual con
graduation and patriotic pride, aud closing NJ
scenes Of death and DISASTER, of lamcntalion
and unUtlrrsbe wo. II was my sad fortune,
Mr.. President, TO be an eyewitness Of tbes'
/ ucvcr-tO-bc forgotten events. II had Ian
gnage t" describe them, the power Of speech
would fail me.
II | have risen IN the midst Of The universn
sadness aud DIRECTION of hrart which preva,!
/ around me, aud under the nverpow"rtuE
weight Of my own feelings, to suggest lh'
|. prnpnety Of susprndIng our ordinary labor'
and pursuits, IN tho presence ard under th'
chastlscmeui Of tins awful visitation ui Prov
druce. ], has fallen 10 the lot ot my owr
State 10 be the chef mourncr on tins mclsn
choly occasion. Two of her distinguishes,
clilzrns, filing high places IN the cwll gov
ernmeni of The country. have becn cut dowI
N the midst of their days and their useful
\ ness aud another Of her sOns-a gallan
officer Of The navy-has been destined Il
fall by disastrous accident, on a deck which
under other circumstance, he might have II
Illustrated by hl- valor.
\ Bot, ~ 40 overwhelming a calamity which
stands almost without a parallel IN the rc
cords oi human misfortune, all bear their
equal and sympaihl2lng share. Surrounded
~ we are. on every hand, by the dcsoal,
walling of the widow aud the helpless cry ui
The orphan, none pf US can be ~ state al
mind TO discharge, with Intelligence az,
compOsure, the duhes which bcloOg To
here.
II Let us then, Mr.. President, bowing IN II
humility of spirit beneath tins stroke of ~
all.wlse aud mysterious Providence, dlscpr
from our minds, for n season, the cares anc
cxcl,cmcfi,s of our daily duties 10 tins hall /
Let US lay to heart the monliory lessons inl.
ptcssively read 10 US ~ the events of y"slei /
day. iha, "ln the midst of llfc we nte u |
death" Wnhihis lesson cngraven upon on,
hearts, let us keep constantly 10 view w, 4
eternal ns well as temporal responslbIlIile,
under which oil the duties ~ both public on,
private life are TO be performed. Let th, /
deep sense Of common calamity aud mutua
affection unite us more closely by the ties NJ
brotherhood aud affection. Let ~ "put swo,
from US oil bitterness aud wrath. and eyll
speaking" ard when wo Come iogelhc,
again, UnjcI these ehasttnng influences. wc