The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-08
Mr.. Sherman Chosen President of the Senate
and Mr.. Carlisle Speaker of the House
Speeches of the Presiding officers.
Death Of Vice-President Hendricks For
mally Announced in Both Houses,
And Adjournment Ordered, Out Of Respect to
His Memory-How the Indiana Members
Fared in the Drawing for Seats.
THE SENATE.
Mr.. Sherman Chosen President Pro Tem.-
Announcement of Mr.. Hendricks's Death.

announcement or NIr. HendrIckS'S Death.
WASHINGTON, Dec. THE senators were
promptly on hand this morning, and for half an
hour before noon gathered in friendly groups
| around the Senate Chamber, exchanging greet
ings and discussing the situation. The galleries
OF the Senate have not for many years been so
crowded on the opening day of the session. The
walls of the Senate Chamber were draped in
deep black, out of respect to the memory of the
late Vice-president
Promptly at noon General McCook, secretary
of the Senate, called the House to order, and
prayer was offered by the Chaplain, Rev. DR..
Huntly, after which Mr.. Edmunds offered a res
olution declaring Senator John Sherman the
President pro tenn. of the Senate.
Mr.. Voorhees, moved an amendment to strike
out the name Of John Sherman, and insert in
stead the name of Isham Harris.
The amendment was voted down by party
vote-yeas %, nays 34-and Mr.. Sherman was,
without division, declared duly elected Presi-
dent pro tempore.
Mr.. Sherman and Mr. Harris both abstained
from voting.
Upon the request of Secretary McCook, Mr.
Sherman was escorted to the chair by Mr.. Ed
munds and Mr. Voorhees, and the oath of office
was administered to him by Mr. Edmunds. Mr.
Sherman then said:
'Senators-I return you my grateful thanks
for the high honor you have conferred upon me-
In common with all the people of the United
States, feel profound sorrow for the sudden
death of the Vice-president, who, by the Consti-
tuition, is also declared to be the President of
the Senate. The contingency has now arrived
when it becomes the imperative duty of
the Senate to elect a President pro tempore. In
accepting the position assigned me 1 feel that
there are many senators on both sides of the
house more able to discharge the duties of this
position; more experienced in the duties and
orders of the Senate than myself. SILL l
accept. with the sincere desire that may be able
to enforce the rules with kindness and i'm
sense of the majority of the Senate, and to give
the minority its full constitutional rights and
@ eh 81 saa Of senaor
for his courtesy and forbearance."
Mr.. Cullom presented the credentials Of Mr..
Logans reelection senator from Illinois, and
Mr.. Pike presented those of Mr.. Blair as senator
from New Hampshire. The credentials were
read and Messrs Logan ard Blair were at once
sworn in by the President pro tempore.
Twelve o'clock noon was fixed as the hour Of
daily meeting unless otherwise ordered.
The Secretary was instructed to inform the
President of the United States and House of
Representatives that the Senate had chosen
John Sherman as President pro tempore.
Senators Edmunds and Harris were appointed
committee to join such committee as may be
appointed by the House of Representatives to
wait upon the President and inform him that a
quorum OF each house was mbled, and that
Congress ready to receive any communica-
ton that he may be pleased to make.
While waiting information of the action of the
House of Representatives, the Senate took re-
cess
AT 240 P. NJ the newly chosen President pro
tempore called the Senate to order. The Clerk
of the House Of Representatives brought mes
sage from that body announcing the election of
its Speaker and Clerk, and the appointment of a
committee to wait on the President in coniunc-
tion with the committee already appointed by
the Senate.
MIR. Voorhees, then offered the following reso-
lutons, prefacing them with the remark that, in
doing so, he was performing the saddest duty OF
his public lfe
Resolved That the Senate has received with pro-
found sorrow the intelligence of the death of Thomas
A. Hendricks late Vicepresident of the United States
and for number of years distinguished member of
this body.
Resolved That the business of the Senate be sus
pended in order that the eminent public services and
the respective virtues of the deceased may be appro
priately commemorated
Resolved That the Secretary be directed to COM
muncae these resolutions to the House of Represen
tatives
Mr.. Voorhees, asked that the resolutions be
permitted to lie or the table subject to be called
up at a future day, of which the Senate should
have due and timely notice. The resolutions
were accordingly laid on the table.
Mr.. Harrison then moved an immediate ad
journment of the Senate, out Of respect to the
memory of the late Vice president The motion
was agreed to, and the Senate, at 2:43, adjourned
till to morrow.