Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1874-03-19
THE ACTION OLE CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON. March -

THE ACTION OF CONGRESS.
: WASHINGTON, March u.
C The galleries of the Senate Chamber
Q were crowded this morning before the
e hour OF meeting. The char of the late
e Senator Summer was draped I'm mourn
: ing, anu q large bouquet of white flow
g ers was placed on his desk.
;. Inc Chaplain, in his opening prayer,
5 SAID: 20 Lord, our God, our Father in
Heaven, we all do fade as leaf before
1 thee. One generation cometh and 60
7 eth, ana SO standeth this day to plead
: with thy people. Two hOnOred heads
lie low, and the sighing of sister cities,
responding In their grief, is heard in
all the land. The grave must receive
It's own. We know in submission to
thy stroke. Christ is our only shield"
. Mr.. Anthony arose and said: 'sMr.
President, III the absence of the Senator
to whom this saddest duty appertains.
and who is detained from the Senate
, by illness, the Senator from Massachu-
} sets, have been requested to make to
sou formal announcement of the
event which my heart refuses to accept
and which my lips hesitate to disclose.
It is an event which needs not to be
announced, for its dark shadow rests
gloOmily upon this Chamber, and not
only upon the Senate and Capital, but
J upon the whole country, and intelli-
gence of which, borne ON mysterious
wires that underlie the sea, has been
already carried to remoteSt lands and
has aroused prOfoundest sympathy
wherever humanity weep5 for a friend,
wherever liberty deplores an advocate.
The osdest member of this body in con-
dnuous service, he who yesterday was
the best beloved for the graces of his
personal character, admired for his
genius end accomplishments, revered
for the fidelity with which he adhered
to his convictions, nlustrious for his
services to the republic and to the
World, has crossed the dark river that
divides US from the undiscovered coun-
try. Charles Sumner died yesterday. |
To-day, IN humble submission TO Di- |
vine Will, we meet 10 express our re-
spect fOr his character, our veneration |
! Tor his memory. Tomorrow, with |
sorr0wing hearts wes shall bear him to |
that Massachusetts which he served so |
faithfully, anG which loved him so
/ well, aid to her soil, precious with the
dust of patriotism ana valor, of letters
and of art, OF craftsmanship and elo-
oDe who thus is worthy to rest by the
side CT the noblest and best of those |,
who, in centuries of her history, have
made her the model OF a free Common
wealth. But the great duty which il
lustrates his life shall not die with him.
and never shall The earth cover the i'm
mortal principles to which he devoted
every energy of his SOUL. the consum-
nation and vindication of which, as
his highest reward, a great God per-
mitted him to witness.
''Ir. President, this is not the time,
nor is the office mine to pronounce the
words that are due to this event. A
future hour and more fitting utterance L
shall interpret to the American people
the affectiOnate respect of the Senate to
our dead associate, and tie homage 4
which il renders to his life and charac- I
ter. therefore offer the following res
olutions:
ResOit'ed, That IL committee of -
members be appointed by the President t
pro tehap0re OF the Senate to take the
order for experimenting the funeral of
Charles Sumner, Il member of this body, 1
which will take place tomorrow, Fri
day, at 1890 P. NJ, and that the Senate :
will attend the same.
ReSOtced, As a further mark of re- t
spect by the Senate for the memory of
Charles Sumner and his long and dis
tinguished services to his country, that
his remains be removed to the Com
monwealth of Massachusetts in charge v
of the ergeant-at-ArmS, and attended,
by committee of Senators to be ap
pointed by the President of the Senate
pro tenlpOre, who shall have full power
to carry these resolutions into effect. \
AeSOLced, That as an additional mark =
of respect to the memory of the de- II II
ceased the Senate do now adjourn. 7
Mr.. Schurz said: "AIr. President, / :.
can say nothing, but will offer the fol- :,
lowing amendment to the resolutions = =
Resolved, That the Senate be directed "a
to communicate these proceedings to 4
the House of Representatives and in
vite the House of Representatives to
attend the funeral ceremonies in the -
Senate Chamber tomorrow" y
Mr.. Conkling said: ''Mr. President, L
the absence of a committee of our men,
bers to-day following the bier of one h
who presided here, is quite enough to p
warn us of the fitness OF pausing for a "
space from the din and business of the
hour. 1t was my purpose to move r,
lilaC Lne Seudte duJOurn III OOSerNancel v,
of the funeral of Mr.. Fillmore, but in :,
the meantime we stand in the shadow -
of nearer grief. a vacant chair is
here, long held by Senator of distin- g
guished eminence, and by one of the n
most illustrious and honored of Ameri- A
can Senators. 1t is fit that we stop and
pay to him all honors within our pow :,
er. l venture to say that no tribute Il
can be paid to him in which would n :,
not join sincerely and respectfully, andl !"
l second the resolutions moved by the
Senator from Rhode Island, feeling 5
quite unable to contribute anything to l.
the graceful and eloquent announce t.
ment which has fallen from his lips"
The amendment of Mr.. Schurz was y
adopted and the resolutions, as amend s
ed, agreed to. n
On motion of Mr.. Anthony, the Pres
ident pro tempOre was directed to fill
the blank in the resolutions as to the y
number of Senators to constitute the .
committe after adjournment. The Sem :.
ate then adjourned.
The following Senators have been
named by the President pro tenlpore of ci
the Senate us a committee on the part il
of the Senate to accompany Senator Il
Summers remains to Boston: Messrs. g