The Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1834-184?, 1845-03-20
INAUGURAL OF THE VICE PREsT-
DENT.


MIR. Dallas, on being sworn into Office as
Vice President of the United States, deliver
ed the following brief address:
SENAToRs:-In directing the Vice Presi-
dent to preside at the deliberations of this
body, the constitution of gu T country assigns
to him a sphere and a duty alike eminent
and grateful, Without any of the cares of
real power, with none of the responsibilities
OF legislation, except in rare conjunctures, he
is associated with The dignifed delegates of
republican sovereignties: he is postedby the
entire American people, in your confederat-
ed council, partly, it would seem, as an or
gan of freedoms fundamental principle of
Order, and partly, perhaps, as a mere symbol
of that more popular and "mOre perfect un-
ion'' ON which depend the blessings of our
Peace, Independence and Liberty. His
mission, tranquil and unimposing. is yet no.
bic in lis origin and objects, and happy, as
we'll as proud, in its relations to you.
No one, gentlemen, can appreciate more
highly or recognize more deferentially, than
does the incumbent of this chair, the pow-
ers, privileges, aud rules or forms of the SEN
ate of the United States. To maintain these
unimpared and unrelaxed, he feels to be an
official duty, second in impressive obligations
only to his Constitutional allegiance. To
their exercise the Republic owes incalculable
good; aud through them has been gradually
achieved a wide spread fame for wisdom,
justice, moderation and efficiency, unsur-
passed by any assembly of statesmen in for
mer or present times.
A calm and well adjusted system of ac-
ton in this chamber, carefully devised and
steadily pursued by those who have proceed
ed US in il, has indeed largely contributed to
the undoubned success of our great political
experiment. Instability, haste, procastina
ton, discourtesy, and INDIGESTION, habitualIy
discountenanced and banished, leave, in uE-
disturbed supremacy here, The powers of en-
lightened reason, and the vigor of practical
patriotism. Our country reaps thence solid
and substantial advantages in her policy, in
situations, prospects, and renown
The citizen whom it has pleased a people
to elevate by their s~uffrages, from the pur-
suits of private and domestic life, may best
! evince his grateful sense of the honor thus
conferred, by d~eYoting his faculties, moral
and intellectual, resoluiely 10 their service.
This | shall do; yet with a difidence una
voidable to one conscious that almost every
step in his appointed path is 10 him new and
/ untried, and sensible how dangerous a con-
trast must occur in the transfer of powers
ON practised to unpractised hands.
In observing, however, upon this floor, a
J number of those experienced and skiIful
statesmen on whom the nation justly looks
with pride and reliance, am assured that
there can be but little danger of public dis
advantage from inadvertenci les or mistakes,
which their counsel may readily avert or rec
} tify.
And thus, gentlemen, while aiming frank
ly and impartially to exercise the functions
of an unaccustomed station in the spirit OF
the constitution, for the enlarged and last
ing purposes of a revered country, and with
sincere good will towards all, | may cherish
the encouraging hope of being able, with the
assent of an indulgent Providence, at once
J TO perform my duty, and to attract your con-
: fdence.