Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1849-03-23
The Laie C0ngrnSs.

As soon as the "noise and confusion" Of the
closing scenes Of the late Congress have died
away, we hope TO Be able TO give an ineligible
account of what has been done. Not much,
we think, Of useful legislation has been enact.
ed. except to Pass the annual appropriation bills
/ This will be sufficient To keep the wheels OF
government moving until the next Congress en-
ters upon It's labors Of reform and progress.
California is left without government, except
such as the President can give il, consrucliyely,
aud we have no fears but that the new admins
Iration will see that il does not suffer. The
question Of Slavery in the new territories is
/ left to be settled by the new administration and
the new Congress, which is probably the best
mode of disposing of the question, as before one
year the people Of those territories will have f.
nally settled it.
On the day before the session closed, at one
O'Clock, the Vice President rose, and in ar elo-
quenl and very appropriate address Of conside.
rable length, stated that the close Of his Official
term being near at hand, custom required that
he should Withdraw from the Senate. TO enable
them 10 appoint a temporary President.
He returns his thanks TO all, for their efforts
10 tighten the burthen of his office, and the uni.
form kindness and courtesy which they mani.
tested toward him. He bore testimony from an
experience Of many years, to the grave and dig.
nifed department which had characterized ils
proceedings, to the frank, liberal and courteous
demeanor which had marked their private inter-
course. He had been called upon, he said, du-
ring his official term, 10 exercise the right due
to him under the constitution, and the duty i'm.
posed upon him by an express rule of the Sen.
ate-Ihat of voting on questions where the SEN
ate was equally divided-not less than thirty
times.
He was not conscious in a single instance Of
having laltered in the performance Of his duty
of voting as he conceived to be in harmony
with the views and interests Of the whole peo-
Pile. In conclusion. he said that with draft on
their general indulgence to forget the errors
which he may have committed, he should bear
with him into retirement grateful reccollectlon
OF their kindness, and an ardent wish that their
efforts to promote the public welfare might be re-.
warded with that appreciation which should loL
with long life Of happiness and prosperity.
When he had concluded, Mr.. Benton rose and
remarked, that as his colleague the Hon. David
X. Atchinson, had heretofore been called 10 pre-
side over the Senate, under similar circumslan-
ces he would move, that without formal ballot
he be now appointed President pro tenn, of the
Senate, and the motion was unanimously agreed
10.
Mr.. Atkinson, in taking the chair, returned
his heartfelt thanks for the repeated honors
which the Senate had conferred upon him. lie
would only say, as he had said when first called
10 that position, that he should endeavor to dis
charge his duty faithfully.
Mr.. Webster then rose and said that they had
just Witnessed the retirement, from the chair of
the Senate, of the Vice President of the United
States, who had presided over their deIbera-
tions for the past constitutional period Of four
years. 1t gave him great pleasure TO perform a
duty which he had risen TO discharge, that Of Of
fering the resolution appropriate TO the occa-
sion. This resolution was that the thanks of
the Senate are due, and are hereby rendered TO
George NJ. Dallas. Vice President of the Uni.
ted States, for the ability and imparlially with
which he has discharged the duties of President
of the Senate, during his official term. The
resolution was unanimously adopted.
Pills G1zeIte.