The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-02-29
Twenty-Eighth Congress.
FYaSr SESSION
SENATE. IA
Tau ssDAs, February ~, l0A4.

and Thy ways pest finding OUT We desire 70 gathe'
closely around thy feet this ming and sten TO the
lessons Of wi.dom 10 10 derived from the awful ca
lamty which has fallen with such terrible volencs
! upon the heart OF this nation. We humbly and de
vouy pray that we may listen TO the solemn admon
iions communicated TO us through the medium of THU
solemK Provijence and which says ia words toe
impressive TO BE- resisted "bs ye also ready for al
such an hour ~ think no, the son OF man shall
come" And O, thou who doth temper the piercing
North wind the sides Of the lab newly shofn Of its
fleece, beseech thee u,srcifuily TO sustain those
who by this fearful bereavement have been doomed
to all the sorrows Of widowhood and orphanage.
Grant that The dark cloud which has thus settled IN
expectedy upon their future prospects may be rnged
with celestial light and that mercy may distil from
its stormy bosom TO soften the sorrows and brighten
the desolations which death hath made.
And when they and we done with the vicssi-
tudes Of the present scene, as we soon will be, may
all be permitted to exchange the tolls and sor-
Of earth for the repose and felicity Of Heaven,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord, AMEN.
A message was received from the President of the
United States with reference to the late casually
board the Princeton; which having been read,
MIR. RlVES rose and addressed the Senate as fol-
lows
Mr. PREsIDENr: The general feeling Of the Senate
has, am sure, already anticipated me in what have
risen TO suggest The awful calamity communicat
cd TO US in the message of the President just read
and which has made Of yesterday, with all its un
earthly brightness, Of the darkest and most in
suspicious days in national calendar is but too
well known TO the Senate, in all its dreadful details
and heart rending results Surely, Mr.. President,
never in the mysterious ordinances Of God, has a
day on earth been marked in lis progress by such
startling and astounding contrasts-openng and ad-
vancing With harity and JOY, mutual congratuaton
and patriotic pride, and closing in of death
and disaster, of amcnta,ion and unutterable wo. 1t
was my sad fortune, Mr. President, 10 be an eye
witness of these never-o- forgotten events II
had language to describe them the power Of speech
would fail me.
have risen in the midst Of the universal sadness
and detection of heart which prevail around me, and
under the o,erpowerng weight of my own feelings,
TO suggest the propriety of suspendng our ordinary
labors and pursuits, in the presence and under
the chastisement Of this awful visitation Of Pro-
violence. 1t has fallen TO the lot of my State
to be the chief mourner this melancholy occa.
sion. Two of her distinguished citizens, filling
high places in the civil government of the country
have been cut down in the widst Of their days and
their usefulness; and another Of her sons-a gallant
officer OF the navyhas been destined 10 fall, by dis
astrous accident, deck which, under other cir.
cumstanccs he might have illustrated by his valor.
But, in so overw helming calamity, which stands
almost without parallel in the records Of human
misfortune, all bear their equal and sympathizng
share. Surrounded, as we are, on every hand, by
the desolate waiting of the widow, and The helpless
cry Of The orphan, none Of us can be IN state Of
mind to discharge, with intelligence aud composure,
the duties which belong TO US here
Let us, then, MIR. President, bowling in ali humility
Of spirit beneath this stroke Of an all-wse and mys
FERROUS Providence, discard from our minds, for a
season. the cares and excitements Of our daily duties
this hall Let US lay TO heart the monitory lesson
so mpressivcly read in the events Of YESTERDAY,
that SIN the midst of life we are in death" With
this lesson engrayen upon our hearts, let US keep
constantly in view he eternal, as we'll as temporal
respons Utilities under which all the duties Of both
public and private life to be performed. Lee
the deep sense Of common calamity and mutual
flclion unite more closely by the ties OF broth
crhood and affection. Let US "put away from US al
bitterness and wrath, aud evil-sp,aking = and
when We cone together again, under these chasicu-
ing Influences, we shall all feel, trust, how much
better patriots FOR being better Christians.
Mr.. n. concluded by submitting the following re-
solutions I'D. ~
Resolved That the Senate, impressed with the pro.
found sense Of the awful calamity which yesterday
occurred on board of the Princeton by the ex-
plosion OF gun involving the loss Of many valuable
lives, and among them Of the Secretary Of Safe and
Secretary OF the Navy.
Rssoiptd, That the Senate will attend, in a body,
the obsequies OF the deceased members OF the cab
net, and that a committee of five be appointed to
mako arrangements with such committee as may
lie appointed on the part Of the House Of Rcprescn.
tatyes.
R,.oired, That, in consideration Of tbi. affective
dispense ion, the Senate do now adjourn 10 Monday
next.
R<soired, That the Senate will 70 into mou ming
by wearing Grape 90 the left arm for thIr'y days.
Resolved That a copy Of tho foregoing resolutions
be transmitted to the President Of the United States.
The resolutions having been read, message was
received from the House Of Representatives. by the
hands of MIR McNuLTr their Clerk, announcing the
action Of that body touching this swfui calamity -
The message was read and copcufred In.
The resolutions submitted by MIR RIVE, we're
unanimously agreed 10, and
The following Senators appointed commit
tee Of arrangements the part OF the Senate, to act
In conjunction it'll the committee the part Of the
House Of Representatives, yixs MIR. RIvrs, Mr..
Archer Mr.. Kns, Mr.. Woopsusr, and MIR. Bar-
And.
The Senate then, in accordance with its previous
action adjourned till Monday next.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES