Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1845-03-13

continue to be prosperous and happy
people.
ADDRESS OF MR.. DALLAS.
AT half past IL o'clock, the Hon.
George NJ. Dallas, Vice President Elect
of the United States, was introduced
by the Committee of Arrangements, and
being duly sworn by the President pro
tem., took the chair as President ofthe
Senate, pursuant to the Constitution of
the United States, and addressed the
Senate as follows: a.
Senators: In directing the Vice Pres
identto preside at the deliberations
ofthis body, the Constitution of our
country assignsto him sphere and a
duty alike eminent and grateful. With
out any ofthe cares of real power; with
none ofthe responsibilities Of ]egisla
ton, except on rare conjunctures, he
is associated with the dignfed dele
gates of Republican sovereignties: he
is posted by the entire Am e.ican people
in your confederated council, partly, it
would seem, as an organ of freedoms
fundamental principle of order, and
partly, perhaps, as mere symbol of
that more popular and "more perfect
union," on which depend the blessings
of our peace, independence andliberty.
His mission, tranquil and unimposing,
is yet noble in its origin and objects,
and happy as well as proud in its rela-
tons to you.
No one, gentlemen, can appreciate
more highly, or recognize more defer
entially, than does the incumbent of
this chair, the powers, privileges, and
rules or forms of the Senate of the U.
States. To maintain these, unimpair-
ed and unrelaxed, he feels to be an
official duty, second, in impressive OBJ
legation, only to his constitutional allie
glance. 10 their exercise the Repub-
Tic owes incalculable good; and through
them has been gradually achieved a
widespread fame for wisdom, justice,
moderation, und efficiency, unsurpass-
ed by any assemblage of statesmen in
former or present times. A calm
and well-adjusted system oc action in
this chamber, carefully devised and
steadily pursued by those who haze
preceded US in it, has indeed largely
contributed to the undoubted success
of our great pc litical experiment. In
stability, haste, procrastination, discour-
tesy, and indecision, habitually dis
countenanced and banished, leave, in
undisturbed supremacy here, the pow
ers of enlightened reason, and the Wig
or of practical patriotism. Our coun-
try reaps thence solid and substantial
advantages in her policy, institutions,
and renown.
The citizen whom it has pleased a
people to elevate by their suffrages from
the pursuits of private and domestic
life, may best evince his grateful sense
of the honor thus conferred, by devoting
his faculties, moral and intellectual, re-
solutely to their service. This / shall
do; yet with diffidence unavoidable to
one conscious that almost every step
in his appointed path is to him new and
untried, and sensible how dangerous
a contrast must occur in the transfer of
powers from practised to unpractised
hands. in observing, however, upon
this floor, a number Of those experience
ed and skilful statesmen on whom the
nation Justly looks with pride and reli-
ance, am assured thatthereca be but
little danger of public disadvantage from
inadvertencies mistakes, which their
counsel may readily avert or rectify.-
And thus, gentlemen, while aiming,
frankly and impartially, to exercise the
functions ofan unaccustomed station IN
the spirit of the Constitution, for the
enlarged and lasting purposes of re-
vered country, and with sincere good
will towards all, ! may cherish the en-
couraging hope of being able, with the
assent of an indulgent Providence, at
once to perform my duty and to attract
your confidence.
The .Merican .Minister.-We are
enabled to to contradict, in the most
positive manner, the statement made In
a morning paper day or two since,
that General Almonte had engaged
passage in the bark Eugenia for Vera
Cruz, requesting that she might be de-
layed until the 18th inst, to give him