Washington telegraph., 1849-03-28
CONGRESSIONAL.
MONDAY, March 5, 1849.

| oath OF ONCE, Nlr. "A. tOOk MS seal dS
President.
The names of Senators elect having
been called, they severally appeared, re-
ceived the oath of office, and took their
seats in the following order:
James Alfred Pearce, of Maryland.
William Upham, of Vermont.
James Cooper, of Pennsylvania:
Andrew P. Butler, of South Carolina.
Soon Borand, of Arkansas.
Isaac p Walker, of Wiscosin.
William HI. Seward, of New York.
William G.. Dawson, of Georgia:
Moses Norris, of New Hampshire:
| James Whitcomb, of Indiana:
Pierre Soule, of Louisiana.
The names of Jackson Morton, of Flori-
da, and George E. Badger. of North Car
olina, were called, but these gentlemen
were not present.
MIR. Morton subsequently, appeared,
was introduced to the Senate by MIR.
Yulee, received the oath of office, and took
his seat.
The name of James Shields, of Illinois,
having been called
Mr.. Walker submitted the following
resolution
ResoLred, That the credentials of the
Hon. James Shields be referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary, with insruc-
| tions to inquire into his eligibility to a
seat in the Senate of the United States.
Mr. Berrien. In order that the pro-
ceedings of the day may not be inter-
rupted by the long discussion which un-
doubtedly will occur in the consideration
of the resolution just presented, l move
! that its further consideration be postponed
until tomorrow.
The question being taken upon the
adoption of the resolution, it was agreed
| to.
Mr.. Baldwin presented the credentials
of the Hon. Truman Smith, elected a
senator from the State of Connecticut for
six years, from and after the 4th of March,
1S49; which were read.
Mr.. Smith having received the oath
of office, took his seat in the Senate.
The judges of the Supreme Court
entered the chamber at about half-past
IL, and took seats in front, at the right
Of the Secretary.
The diplomatic corps entered soon after,
and took seats iE front, at the left Of the
Secretary.
The Vice President elect, and the ex-
Vice President. appeared at the door,
where they were met by the Committee
of Arrangements, and conducted to the
desk
The oath of office having been admin
istered to Mr.. Fillmore, by the President
pro tempOre, he took the chair.
Order having been entirely restored,
The Vice President arose and addressed
the Senate as follows:
SENATORS: Never having been honored
with seat on this floor, and never hav
ing acted as the presiding officer of any
Legislative body, you will not doubt my
sincerity when | assure you that ! assume
the responsible duties of this chair with
a conscious want of experience and a
just apprehension that | shall often need
your friendly suggestions, and more often
your indulgent forbearance.
should, indeed, feel oppressed and
disheartened, did | not recolect that the
Senate is composed of eminent states
men, equally distinguished for their high
intellectual endowments and their amen
ity of manners-whose persuasive elo-
quence is so happily tempered with
habitual courtesy as to relieve your pre-
siding officer from all that would be
painful in the discharge of his duty, and
render his position as agreeable as it must
be instructive.
Thus encouraged and sustained, / enter
upon the duties assigned me, firmly re-
solved 10 discharge them with impair
tiality, and to the best of my ability; bUt
| should do injustice to the grateful emo
tons of my own heart, if did not, on
for the distinguished honor that has been
conferred upon me, in being called by
the voice of the nation to preside over
your deliberations.
1t will not, | trust, be deemed inappro-
pirate to congratulate you upon the scene
now passing before us-l aJlude to it in
no partisan aspect. but as an ever-recur-
ring event contemplated by the eonstitu-
ton, Compare the peaceful changes of
| Chief Magistrates in this republic with
the recent sanguinary revolutions in Eu-
rope. There, the voice of the people has
only been heard amid the din of arms
and the horrors of domestic conflicts but
here, p our own favored land, under the
| guidance of our constitution, the resist
| less will of the nation has, from time to
time, been peacefully expressed by the
free suffrages of the people. and all have
/ bowed in obedient submission to their
decree. The administration which but
yesterday welded the destinies of this
great nation, to-day quietly yields up its
power. and without murmur retres
from the Capitol.
| cannra tulate senators and