The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-02-08
THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
THURSDAY, February 7, 1850.
SENATE.

SENATE.
Petitions of private import were presented by the
vIcE PREsIDESr, and Messrs. DICKINSON and
RUsK.
The VICE PRESIDENT laid before the Senate
communication from the Department OF the lnte-
ror in reply to resolution of the Senate relative
TO the mode of advertising proposals for the print
Mr.. MANGUM made statement to the Senate
of kind, friendly, and honorable adjustment Of a
contemplated difficulty between the honorable Mr..
BoRLAND, Senator from Arkansas and Mr.. George
c. Washington, of the District of Columbia, grow
ing out OF some remarks made by Mr.. BoRLAND on
the resolution providing for the purchase Of the
manuscript copy Of Washington's Farewell Ad-
dress.
Mr.. BORLAND made a statement concurrent
with that made by the Senator from North Carolina.
Mr.: HALE presented petition praying the es-
adjustment of some national mode of arbitrating
differences between nations.
Also, petition from the Association Of Friends
Of Pennsylvania, praying that Congress would ex-
cude slavery from the Territories, and refuse ad-
mission to any State which had no prohibitory
Mr.. CLEMENS objected to the reception Of the
petition.
!, Mr.. KING moved to lay the motion to receive
the petition on the table.
were ordered; and the question being taken,
decided in the affirmative, rs follows
YEAS-Messrs Atchison, Bell Borland, Brad
bury, Bright, Cass, Clemens Davis Of Mississippi,
Dawson, Dickinson, Douglas, Downs Foote, Hous-
ton, Hunter, King, Mangum, Morton, Pearce,
Pratt, Rusk, Sebastian, Soule, Sturgeon, and Tur-
ney-25.
NAYS-Messrs. Baldwin, Chase, Clarke, CLAY,
Cooper, Corwin, Davis Of Massachusetts, Dodge Of
Iowa, Dodge of Wisconsin, Fetch, Greene, Hale,
Miller, Norris, Seward, Smith, Spruance, Under
wood, UPham, Wales, and Walker-2l.
New York setting forth the existence of certain
evils all growing out of the existence Of slavery in
this Districts the motion TO receive which laid
on the table.
Mr.. H. also presented several other petitions, all
aPpertaining to the same end, and all of which
were refused To be received
He also presented petition signed by citizens of
the States of Delaware and Pennsylvania, praying
for the peaceful dissolution of the Union.
On presenting the above petition, Mr.. H. said
that on yesterday the Senate had received the pro-
ceedngs OF meeting at the South wherein the for
ciDle dissolution OF the Union was intimated and
he wished, day, the Senate to receive petition
for its peaceful dissolution.
Objection being made to the reception,
Mr.. HALE moved the petition be received; and,
on that motion, asked the ayes and noes, which
Mr.. UNDERWOOD explained the reasons which
would induce him to vote against the reception
Of this petition. II prayed Congress to do that
which Congress had no power TO do to wit dissolve
Mr.: DOUGLAS was explaining the motives
which would govern his vote on this motion, when
MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE
was received, announcing that the House had
agreed to the Senate resolution providing for the
purchase Of the Farewell Address of Washington,
and the Senate resolution in relation to Congress
sional binding
Also the Indulgence of the death of the honora-
BILE ALEXANDRA NEWMAN, of Virginia.
Mr.. HUNTER said:
Mr.. PREsIDEsT: In accordance with what un-
derstand to be the usage of this body, rise to dis
charge painful duty. rise, sir, to announce to
you the death of ALEXANDER NEWMAN, a member
elect to the House of Representatives from the State
of Virginia, who departed this life during the last
autumn. Mr. NEWMAN slightly known to me
personally, and cannot therefore, present you
even that limited biographical sketch which is usual
upon such occasions. Something, however, / know
of his life and history. know that he made his
way by his own exertions to high position in So
ciety, and struggled successfully with difficulties
under which the weak and faint hearted would have
succumbed. know that he the respect, the
confidence, and the affections of those around him,
and of those who had the best opportunities for OBJ
serving his course in life.
From the county Of Orange, in the State of vir-
ginia, where he was born, he removed to Marshall,
in the same State. From this county he elected
TO the house of delegates than once; from the
district Of which II 10 part he elected TO the
Senate of Virginia; and from the congressional dis
trict to which il Ia attached, he was the member
elect TO the House Of Representatives Of the United
States at the time Of his death. He left behind him
the reputation of having been bold thinker, an
honest and an energetic man. Nor was he old when
he died, but stricken down In mid career by
OF those inscrutable visitatons which never fail
TO starte US, although but repettions of the Oft
repeated tale Of the uncertainties Of human life.
When an old man falls, full of years and honors,
and ripened for the grave, the blow is not un-
expected. We feel, too that his mission IL accom-
plished, his destiny fulfilled and fthcre be for him
a future Of hope and promise, 1t Is to be sought
through the portals Of the grave.
But the busiest viii pause in his most eager pur-
suit 10 contemplate the fall Of one whose powers
not fully developed and whose future OF hopes
yet TO be fulfilled, and Of doubts yet TO be solved,
was even the interesting for its uncertainties
The story Of life does not attract attention. only for
the events which IL chronicles when its tale IL but
half told, i interest is often the deeper for the
certainties in which II closes. But whatever may
have been the hope and promise Of Mr.. NxwMAs's
future In this lfe that life s closed by the hand
Of God, and closed In this world forever. He IL
gone where no human voice reach him more;
but he has left family and friends in whose boz
SONS perhaps the sting OF affection may yet remain.
Within the circle Of the domestic affections the voice
Of sympathy is always pleasant, no matter from
what distance IL may come, or how little familiar
may be its tones To that family and those friends
tender this tribute Of respect and sympathy-a
sympathy which personal acquaintance might have
made deeper but not more sincere.
know, sir, that blow has fallen which has
made orphans Of young children, and made va
cant the chief place around the family hearth.
dear and familiar household word win no more be
heard within that domestic circle. These eriefs
sir, are the common lot Of humanity but perhsp.
II the heart which knows its own bitterness, could
speak here IL would say that its Affections are not
the less keen because all must at some time or other
suffer and endure the same.
Mr.. President, an offering Of respect for the
dead, and Of sympathy for his family, move you
the resolutions usual upon such occasions
Rsscirsd unanimously, That the Senate has
heard with deep sensibity Of the death Of the Hon
ALsxkrDKR NswwAr, a Representative elect from
the State Of Virginia.
Resolved, unanimously, That the members OF
the Senate, from a sincere desire Of showing every