The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-11
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
DEATH OF pREsIpENT rAYLon.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
DEATH OF PRESIDENT TAYLOR.
The Rev. c. Nj. BUTLER, the Chaplain of the
Senate, delivered an impressive prayer, in which
he alluded to the death Of President TAYLOR, i'm
plored the Divine blessing upon his SUCCESSOR, and
besecchcd a kind remembrance Of the afflicted
family of the deceased.
The reading of the Journal, motion of Mr..
STANLY, dispensed with.
message, IN writing, was announced from the
.Prcsident OF the United States, by the hands of
George p. Fisher, esq
1t was read, and is similar to that which appears
in the Senate proceedings, commencing with al
have To perform the melancholy duty" etc, and
signed by MILLARp FILLMORE.
Mr.. MORSE, in obedience 10 the suggestion con
tained in the melancholy announcements, moved
that the House take recess until II o'clock, at
which time they would be in readiness to receive
the Senate and the President of the United States,
who will then take the oath of office.
MIR. WINTHROP said il seemed 10 him that as the
President OF the United States had expressed his
purpose take the oath in this hall II O'clock it
was hardly more than respectful that message
should be sent TO him, informing him that the
House will be ready to receive him.
MIR. MORSE accepted the modification.
Mr.. WINTHROP then submitted the following
resolution;
Resolped, That a committee of three be appointed
by this House, TO act in conjunction with such
may be appointed by the Senate, to wait upon the
President Of the United States and inform him that
theSenate and House will be ready
10 receive MN IN nail oil the House OF REPRE-
sentatves this day, at IL o'clock for the purpose of
witnessing the administration of the oath prescribed
by the Constitution, TO enable him TO enter ON the
execution Of the otllcc
The resolution WAS agreed to; and in accordance
with il, Messrs. WINTHROP, MoRsE, and MoRE-
HEAD, were appointed the committee on the part OF
the House.
sMr MORSE moved that the House take recess
until five minutes before twelve.
The SPEAKER said that the precise time was
not material, as the House could be called 10 order
whenever business should render it necessary.
OATH OF OFFICE.
The House then took brief recess; and being
again called to order,
Mr.. MORSE entered the hall, accompanied by
Judge CRAScH, of the United States circuit court
for the District OF Columbia.
rl.c Senate of the United States were announced,
and they were assigned ,cats in The area,
The President of the United States and the Cab
met followed by Richard Wallach, esq, Marshal
for the District OF Columbia, next announced.
The President took chair at the Clerks desk,
next TO Judge Cranch, and the Cabinet occupied
the front SONS.
The members Of the House had remained stand
ing, in token Of respect
The SPEAKER remarked that the oath Of office
would now be administered; accordingly,
The PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES took and
subscribed the oath, which Is ~ fOllows
IL solemnly swear that will faithfully execute
the office Of President Of the United States, and WILL
10 the best OF my ability, preserve protect and de
The Senators, and the President Of the United
States aud the Cabinet, then retired, the members
Of the House meantime stinding.
Another message received from the Prcsi-
dent OF the United States.
The SPEAKER arose and said
GEsTLEmEs: Your Session Of yesterday was
brought 10 carly close by the announcement of
the dangerous illness OF the President IL is my duty
to-day 10 lay before yoa official communication OF
bis death. IL is my purpose simply to make the
announcement, not To dwell upon IL; that duty will
more properly dovoye upon others. Whilst, gen
tlomcn, our own body has been peculiarly exempt
during its present sittings from the fatality which
usually attends protracted session, We should not
be regardless Of the solemn warnings which Prov-
dence has extended TO us in the death Of those
ciatc with US in the administration Of our National
Government The victims who have been sum
mOned W the tomb have been less remar kabc for
their number than their exalted oharact ter aud posi-
ton
For the first time in our history has the Chief
Executive Of the Union been stricken down during
the session OF Congress. II devolvcs a novel and
solemn duty upon the representatives Of the poo
pie. AZ the organ Of this House, delegated with
the mere expression Of its resolves feel IL appro-
pirate 10 indulge In suggestions Of my ow n,
or expressions Of personal emotions. Z cannot,
however forbcar from uttcring the confident as.
surance that il will be your melancholy satisac-
ton 10 adopt the most appropriate manifestations
OF the profound scnsbity which this affecting die
pensa ton must awaken throughout the Union,
aud 70 in every mark Of respect 10 the
DRY Of the distinguished patr-Ot who has been 20
suddenly summoned from the high hOnors and re-
sponsibilites Of the Chief Magistracy to which he
had been called by his grateful oountrynen TO the
repose Of the grave.
The message then read, As follows
Feiio,o- citizens Of The Senate,
and Boase Of Representatives..
| a great man has fallen among us, and a whole
country Is called 20 occasion OF unexpected deep
and general mourning.
I recommend to the two Houses Of Congress to
~. l., FH.f. al
seem proper, 20 perform with due sOlcmnites the
funeral obscquies Of ZACHARY TAYLOR, late Presi-
dent Of the United States; and thereby 10 signify
the great and sfectionsic regard Of the American
people for the memory OF one whose life has been
devoted to the public service; whose in arms
has not been surpassed in usefulness brilliancy;
who has been ~ recently raised by the unsolicited
voice OF the people 10 the highest civil authority in
. the Government, which be administered with 20
much honor and advantage to HE country; and by
whose suhIen death 40 many hopcs OF future use
fulness have been bbghted forever.
To you, Senators and Representatives Of nation
in tears, can say nothing which can alleviate the
sorrow with which you are oppressed.
appeal TO you to aid ne, under the trying cir
cumstsnces which surround me, in the discharge
of the duties, from which, hon ever much may be
oppressed by them, ] dare not shrink; and rely
upon Him, who holds in his hands the destinies Of
nations, 10 endow me with the requisite strength
for the task and to avert from country the evils
apprehended from the heavy calamity which has
bcfallon
I shall most readily concur in whatever inca
surcs the wisdom Of the two Houses may suggest,
"a bcftting this deeply melancholy occasion.
WILLARD FILLMORE.
WAsHSeToS, July 10, 1850.
Mr.. McLANE, Of Maryland. Mr.. Speaker
hope sir, late The hour il in this days proceed
/ ings, may be INDUCED in responding TO an invi-
tstion Of some friends around me, by giving public
expression 10 those sentiments of personal friend
ship and respect which entertain for the illustri-
ous deceased; and when ! say, sir, that my ac-
i quaintanoe with General TAYLOR had its origin
long before either he bad engaged in the heated
stries Of political liie when we both served under
the same flag, AZ brethren in arms, shall not be
deemed Ubtrusive. lie was then, sir, in command
Of the army in Florida and was an humble officer
Of one of the corps Of that army At this period Of