Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-01-14
CONGR ESS.

The Congressional mill hoisted its gate
again on the 18th. after lying idle for nearly
a fortnight. The principal business Of the
Senate was speaking about the old Senate
Chamber which they were about to leave for
the new and gorgeous apartments then ready
for their occupation y crowd was present
to hear the speeches
MIR. Davis, of Miss, submitted the report
of the Committee. stating that the new
chamber was ready.
Mr.. Crittenden, of Kentucky, moved the
adoption of the report. The parting from
this chamber he thought was ar event Of
much solemnity, Many associations many
Of them pleasant and proud ones-bnd us to
this chamber. 1t has been the scene Of great
events. Questions of the American Consti-
tuton-qucstions of great national import
questions of peace and war have been debated
in this chamber Great men have been the
actors. Within these walls he had scrn III n
whose name and fame had not been >drp used
in Greek or Roman history. Here he had
seen Clay, Webster. Calhoun, Ire. Wright
and others. They seem to have left on thc,h
very walls the impress Of their tame. his
majestic dome seems yet to echo their voic's
There are others, too. whom he would not
designate, for they had not fulfilled their
political services-but whose names are in no
danger Of being forgotten. When senators
remove to the new chamber they will carry
with them the inspiration of these ilustrious
men. They will leave behind them no want
of patriotism or attachment to the COnsti-
tuition. These our household gods are
carried with us. The new hall will be the
scene Of the past There they will ever re-
main the Senate of the United States, the
great preventative body Of this great nation,
conserving the sovereignty Of the States and
the integrity Of the Union.
The Vice President addressed the Senate.
giving historical sketches of Congress ut the
various seats of Government until its loca-
ton at Washington. He then narrated the
burning Of the Capitol by the British army,
the assembling thereafter Of the Congress III
Blodgett's Hotel, on the site now occupied by
the General Post Office. and finally the as
semhling in 1919, in the present building
He then went into an interesting comparison
Of the present character Of the Senate in the
early DAYS of the Government, and now
Then it was almost wholly an executive body,
and 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 galleries were provided Tor spectators.
He spoke of the great mission the nation
has fulfilled and is destined TO fulfil urged
upon Senators due appreciation OF the re-
sponsibilties resting upon them, and review
ed the Senatorial career of the great dead,
whose achievements and services in that
Chamber illuminate our history.
The Senators then in formal way pro-
ceeded to the new hall After getting set
tied in their seats. surrounded with it's costly
splendors, they very appropriately went on
to discus. Mr. Johnson's (Tenn.) motion i'll
structing the Finance Committee To investl-
gate into the expenditures of the public
money, and to report the mean, To bring the
expenses of the Government within the limits
Of rigid economy.