The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-12
Congressional.

o clock a #a".a..
Mr.. DICKINSON rose and moved that VIM. r.
KING, of Alabama, the senior member of the
Senate, be appointed President of the Senate, pro
tempore. H. .'2... #
The motion was unanimously agreed to- and
Mr.. DICKINSON and Mr.. BERRIEN conducted Mr..
KING to the Chair, from whence he addressed the
Senate as follows: aa au. .a
SENATORS: Words can only feebly express the
grateful and warm feelings which penetrate my
heart on account Of this manifestation of kindness
and confidence, so unanimously displayed by the
representatives Of the sovereign States of the
Union. Had it been the pleasure Of my political
friends to place in this distinguished position,
1t would have been source of qualification and
pride. should have felt, as trust | shall al
ways feel in every situation in whit | may be
placed, a solemn obligation in the discharge of
the duties imposed upon me. How much stronger,
then, Senator'S, is the obligation imposed upon
me now to discharge those duties with the utmost
fidelity, when | am called to this place by no po-
litica party, by no section, but by the unanimous
expression of the wishes of the Senate
While preside here shall endeavor to enforce
mildly but firmly, and | trust with impartiality
all the rules prescribed for the government of this
body. | shall endeavor to apply the parliament
tary law as laid down in the books on every oc-
ct'sioi, peue'lnS, as honestly 40, from long
experience and observation, that tits promotive
Of harmony and of sound legislation. Should
err, look to my brother Senators to correct me
In the spirit of kindness; and for such correction
so given, shall always feel sincerely grateful.
Mr.. WEBSTER, from the Committee on Arrange
ments, reported the order of exercises. Each
house meets at IL o'clock on Saturday, and pro-
ceeds to the Presidents House, whence the pro-
cession will move at o'clock. The army will
be under the command of Major General ScorT,
the navy under the command Of Commodore
WARRINGToN.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD. Mr.. President, the re-
port just made having brought up again to the at
tenton of the Senate the death of the late Presi-
dent of the United States, and being absent yes
terday when the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr
DowNs) made his eloquent and appriate address,
and offered his resolutions upon that subject that
absence having been occasoned by the fact that
was appointed as one Of the committee on the
part Of the Senate to wait upon Mr.. FILLMORE,
to make arrangements preparatory to his taking
the oath of office, throw myself upon the indul-
gence of the Senate, and beg permission to make
a few remarks 81. satHas-
was among the earliest to advocated the election
of General TAYLOR, and, in common with a very
large majority Of the people of my State, gave
him most cordial support. He had been raised
among U.S. His character was formed and de-
veloped by associations with the pioneers of a
w estern wilderness, with those who encountered
the difficulties and privatons of settling and i'm
proving the most fertile region of the globe; and
who, almost unaided by Government, relying ex-
clusively upon their own individual resources and
energies, successfully resisted the persevering eff
forts Of numerous hordes of warlike savages to
expel them from the country. @aE
His father, Richard Taylor, soldier of the
Revolution, was emnently qualified to infuse into
the mind of his son those sentiments of ardent
patriotism and lofty heroism which pervaded all
classes with whom Zachary Taylor associated
when a boy. Well do / remember that father
For was associated with him in the Legislature
Of Kentucky at a time when questions Of consttu-
tional law deeply agitated the entire State, and
when rancorous and bitter politicians threatened
the public peace and dared to talk Of bloodshed.
remember how conciliating, how calm and vet
how firm that father demeaned himself amidst the
storms Of debate and the fierce collisions OF con-
fictng opinions. In these respects he was the
prototype of the hero of Buena Vista.
With such a father, and under the influences of
the society and circumstances by which General
Taylor was surrounded in his boyhood, it would
have been indeed strange had he grown up with
out strong prediction for military life For
tunately for his own fame, fortunately for the
glory of his country. in youth he put on the armor
of a soldier. What followed is well-known his
A grateful country, penetrated by a deep con-
triotism of General Taylor, united with military
achievements of unsurpassed splendor, and per-
sonal character for truth and honesty without SUI
peror, made him ChiefMagstrate. TheProyidence
of God has terminated his earthly career, during
this the first session of Congress since his inaur,i
ration. His father was permitted to live and take
an efficient part IN Accomplishing those measures
which relieved Kentucky from the threatened hor-
rors OF civil war. The son has been taken hence
to the world of spirits, before those agitatn cues
tons which now excite Congress and the people,
and threaten the destruction of the Government.
have been settled. Mysterious Providence! There
were thousands and hundreds Of thousands of our
countrymen who looked for help in this time of
need TO the unbending integrity and frmness of
purpose which ever characterized our late Presi-
dent. God has taken from them this staff of their
reliance. II will be manifested in time whether
the measure of General Taylor's honors and use
fulness beng full and overlooking, he was re-
moved by the Ruler of the Universe to give place
to those equally or better able to calm political
dissensIons and to extricate the country from inn
pending dangers; or whether the awful judgments
OF God are to rest upon us for national sins, and
tor the want of that wisdom and spirit of concia-
ton which have heretofore enabled such men as
Zachary Taylor to secure national prosperity and
happiness. ,- -ss -
WnateVer purposes OF the DEITY the future may
unfold, the present is a day Of morning; and GER
tain am that no portion of our extensive country
will feel more sensibly the general bereavement
than the State in which our dead and yet unburied
Chief Magistrate spent the morning of his life
Kentucky will long remember and pourn for
him as one of her own sons, and as the COM
mander who led her Mckee, her Clay, her
Hardin, her Barbour, her Willis, and a host
of her less distinguished children to the glo-
rious sacrifice OF life, to secure the triumph of
their country.
And while we sympathize and condole with
the family of the great and good man gone from,
earth forever, let us indulge the hope that his
bright example will be of immense value 10
succeeding generations, and that his spirit with
Kindred spirits now constitute blessed society
in heaven. D.
On motion Of Mr. WEBSTER the report of
the committee was concurred in. +. ~ -