Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1845-03-15
Vice Prssidencs Address TO tho Senate.


Vice Prssidencs Address TO the senate.
SENATORS In directing the Vice President
to preside at the deliberations OF this body, the
constitution of our country assigns to him a
sphere and duty alike eminent and grateful
Without any of the cares Of real power, with
none of the responsibilities of legislation, except
in rare conjectures, he is associated with the dig
niicd delegates Of republican sovereigntics {; he
spos,ed by the entire American people in your
confederated council, partly it would seem, as
an organ of freedoms fundamental principle
of Order, and partly, perhaps, as a mere sym
bol of that more popular and "more perfect
union" on which depend the blessings of our
Peace, Independence and Liberty. His mission,
tranquil and unimposng, is yet noble in it's orr
gin and objects, and happy, as well as proud,
in its relations to you.
No one, gentlemen, can appreciate more high
" or recognize more deferentially, than does
the incumbent of this chair, the powers, previ-
leges, and rules or forms of the Senate of the
United States. To maintain these unimpaired
and unrelaxed, he feels to be an official duty,
second in impressive obligation only to his Con.
stitutionai allegiance. To their exercise the
Republic owes incalculable good; and through
them has been gradually achieved wide spread
fame for wisdom, justice, moderation and eff.
cheney, unsurpassed by any assembly Of states.
men in former or present times.
a calm and well adjusted system Of action
in the chsmbet, carefully devised and steadily
pursued by those who have preceded US in it,
has indeed largely contributed to the undoubted
success of our great political experiment. In
stability, haste, procrsstinatoD, discourtesy, and
indecision, haotualy discoun,enanced and ban.
ished, leave, in undisturbed supremacy here,
the powers of enlightened reason, and the vigor
of practical patriotism. Our country reaps
thence solid and substantial advantage in her po
licy, institutions, prospects, and renown.
The citizen whom it has pleased people to
elevate by their suffrages. from the pursuits Of
private ind domestic life, may best evince his
grateful sense Of the honor thus conferred, by
devoting his faculties, moral and intellectual
yet with diffidence unavoidable to one con
scous that almost every step in hi. appointed
path is to him new and un,red, and sensible
how dangerous a contrast must occur in the
transfer Of powers from practised to unprac,iseC
hands.
In observing, however, upon this floor, q mum
bor Of those experienced and skilful statesmen
on whom the nation justly looks with pride an'
reliance, | am assured that there can be but lit
tie danger Of public disadvantage from inanver
tnneies or mistakes, which their consent ma,
readily avert or rectify.
And thus, gentlemen, while aiming frankl
and impartially to exercise the functions of a
unaccustomed station in the spirit Of the con
s,tution, for the enlarged and lasting purpose
of reverend country, and with sincere an
goodwill toward all, ! may cherish the encou
aging hope of being able. with the asscn, OF n
indugent Providence, at once to perform IN
duty, and to attract your confidence.