The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-12
IN SENATE-JuLY 10, 1850.


called to order by ASBURY DICKENS, Esq, It's
Secretary, and an impressive prayer was deliy-
ere by the Rev. C. b. BUTLER, its Chaplain.
The SECRETARY then said With the permits
sion Of the Senate, will read communication
which have received from the late President of
the Senate:
WASHINGTON July 10, 1850
To the Senate of he United States
In consequence of the lamented death of
ZACHARY TAYLOR, late President of the United
States, shall no longer occupy the chair Of the
Senate and have thought that a formal COM
munication to that effect through your Secre-
tary, might enable you the more promptly to
proceed to the choice of presiding officer
WILLARD FILLMORE.
The following message was then received by
the hands of GEORGE p FISHER, ESQ.,, from the
late Vice President of the United States:
WAsHNeros, July 10, 1850
Fellop-citizens of The Senate
and Of House of Representatives
have to perform the melancholy duty of an
nouncing to you that it has pleased Almighty
God to remove from this life ZACHARY TAY-
LoR, late President of the United States He
deceased last evening, at the hour of halfpast
10 o'clock, in the midst of his family and
surrounded by affectionate friends, calmly, and
in the full possession Of all his faculties. Among
his last words were these, which he uttered
with emphatic distinctness: II have always done
my duty am ready to die; my only regret is
for the friends leave behind me-"
Having announced to you, fellow-citiZens,
this most affecting bereavement, and assuring
you that it has penetrated no heart with deeper
grief than mine, it remains for me to say that
propose, this day at IL o'clock, in the Hall of
the House OF Representatives, in the presence of
both Houses of Congress, to take the oath pre-
scribed by the Constitution, to enable me to en-
ter on the execution of the office which this event
has devolved on me.
WILLARD FILLMORE.
Mr. WEBSTER then submitted the following
resolutions:
Resolved That the two Houses will assemble
this day in the Hall Of the House Of Represen-
tatives at - o'clock, to be present at the admin
istration of the oath prescribed by the Constitu-
ton to the late Vice President of the United
States, to enable him to discharge the powers
and duties of the office of President of the
United States, devolved on him by the death of
ZACHARY TAYLOR, late President of the United
States.
Resolred, That the Secretary of the Senate
present the above resolution to the House of
Representatives and ask its concurrence therein.
The resolutions were unanimously agreed to-
message was received from the House of
Representatives by R. NJ YOUNG, their Clerk
"Mr. President, the House of Representatives
have passed the following resolution, in which
they request the concurrence of the Senate
" Resolred, That the Hon. Messrs WINTHROP
MORSE, and MoREHEAD be appointed commit
tee on the part of this House, to join such CON-
mittee as may be appointed by the Senate, to
wait on the President of the United States, and
inform him that the Senate and House of Rep
resentatives will be in readiness to receive him
in the Hall of the House of Representatives
this day, at IL o'clock, for the purpose of wit
Messing the administration Of the oath prescribed
by the Constitution, to enable him to enter upon
the execution of the Office"
The Senate then proceeded to consider the res
olution, and, having concurred therein, it was or
dered that Mr. SoULE, Mr.. DAVIS, of Massa-
chusetts, and Mr.. UNDERWOOD be the committee
on their part
Ordered, That the Secretary notify the House
of Representatives accordingly.
After short absence the committee returned,
Mr.. SOULE, on behalf of the committee,
reported that they had discharged the duty con-
fided to them, and that the President would be
in attendance in the House of Representatives
at II o'clock.
The Senate then proceeded to the House of
Representatives preceded by their Sergeant-at-
arms and Secretary
The Senate having returned from the House
of Representatives, the following message was
received from the President of the United States
WASHINGTON, July 10, 1850
Felloac-citizens of The Senate,
and House Of Representatives:
A great man has fallen among us, and whole
oo,,nfy,- &c ballad 70 IN oocaSiou of lppynacfpd
deep, and general mourning. s# ..,...a.&
recommend to the two Houses Of Congress
to adopt such measures as in their discretion may
seem proper, to perform with due solemnities the
funeral obsequies of ZACHARY TAYLOR, late
President of the United States, and thereby to
signify the great and affectionate regard of the
American People for the memory of one whose
life has been devoted to the public service; whose
career in arms has not been surpassed in useful
ness or brilancy who has been so recently
raised by the unsolicited voice of the people to
the highest civil authority in the Government,
which he administered with so much honor and
advantage to his country, and by whose sudden
death so many hopes of future usefulness have
been blighted forever
To you, Senators and Representatives of a
nation in tears, | can say nothing which can ale
viate the sorrow with which you are oppressed
Il
cumstanees which surround me, in the discharge
of the duties from which, however much may
be oppressed by them, dare not shrink and i
rely upon Him who holds in his hand the dest
MES of nations, to endow me with the requisite
strength for the task, and to avert from our
country the evils apprehended from the heavy
calamity which has befallen us.
/ shall most readily concur in whatever mea-
sures the wisdom of the two Houses may sug-
gest, as BETTING this melancholy occasion.
WILLARD FILLMORE.
The message having been read
Mr. DOWNS. Mr. President, rise, as
member of the delegation of the State whose
citizen the late President of the United States
was, to offer resolutions suitable to the occa-
sion. The announcement of his death has been
already made officially here and elsewhere; and
on the wings of lightning, and almost as swift
as thought, the sad intelligence has been con-
veyed to remote portions of this great Republic.
How sublime, as well as melancholy, is the scene
in which we are now engaged! But few days
since-less than week-many of us sat near