American citizen., 1859-01-15
3te met for the last time


K, in the old hail. from
(IJg Desks had been removed and I
supply Of cane seated chairs provided fol
1.-The temporary accommodation of III,
members. The galleries and floors were
crowded with dense throng, notwith
standing the snow storm. it having beer
understood that Mr.. Crittenden and 9th
crs would speak. The proceedings a.
usual were opened with prayer and the
reading of the Journal.
Mr.. Stuart moved that as many ladie:
are unprovided with seats in the galleries
they be admitted 10 the floor.
Mr.. IIamln objected. on the ground
that the admission of ladies would EN-
barrass the, legitimate business. and con
sequently the ladies were not admitted.
Mr. Davis submitted the report of the
committee, stating that the New Chamber
was ready for the Senate.
Mr.. CrttenIen moved the adoption o
the report. The parting from the cham
Der, he thought, was an act Of much so
lemni'y. Many of the at associations, and
many oftbem proud and pleasant, bind us
to this chamber, which has been the scene
of great events. Questions oflhe Amer,
lean constitution, questions of great ma
tional import, questions of peace and wal
have been debated in this chamber
Great men have been the actors within
these walls. He had seen men whose
names and flames have not been surpass-
ed in the annals of Greek or Roman his
tory. lie had seen Clay, Webster, Cal
houn Lee, Wright. and others. They
seem to him to have left on these walls
the impress of their fame. This majestic
dome yet seems TO echo TO their voices.
There are others, too, whom he would not
designate for they had not yet fulfilled
their political services. but whose names
are in no danger of being forgotten. When
the Senators remove to the new chamber
they will carry with them the inspiration
of their ilustrious predecessors. They
will leave behind them no jots of patriot
ism or attachment for the Constitution.
These are our household gods. and they
are carried with u.s. The new hall will be
the scene of the past there will ever re-
main the Senate Of the United States, the
great conservative body of this great ma
ton, conserving the sovereignty of the
States and the integrity of the Union.
The Vice President continued at length
addressing the Senate, and giving his
torical sketch of Congress at the various
seats Of government until its location at
Washington. lie then narrated the burn
ing of the Capitol by the British army,
the assembling thereafter Of Congress in
Blcdgett's Ho.el. and finally the assem-
bling in 1919, in the present building. He
went into an interesting comparison ofthe
character of the Senate in the early days
of the Government and now. Then it was
almost wholly an executive body, much
of its business was transacted with closed
doors. The President often took part in
The debates, and it was not for many
years that the galleries were provided for
spectators.
After further remarks which were lis
tened to with rapt attention. the Senate
proceeded in procession to the new hall.
After reaching the new hall, and while
he great mass of spectators were settling
themselves in their places, several memo,
-iaIs were presented, but owing to the
,oise, the precise objects of the memorials
we're not ascertained. They were, appar
,ntly. Of private nature.