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uer nar-
politicians ami her
. reckless alwiitioeists l«ve engendered,
iroin the days at” old Timothy Pickering
until mm’, induces the modern tederai par
t'i to get up a disunion Convention in
Faneuil Hail, and to pass threatening-res
olutions in the Legislature of 1815, just
as.the old federal party did in the Hart
ford Convention and the Legislature of
IS 13. Massachusetts thus, by her whig
Legislature, is put in the attitude of open
nullification. Mr. Dixey, the promising
young Representative from old republi
can Marble-bead, has fastened this upon
the .whigs, and be and Mr. SackeU, of
Russell, Mr. Pitts, of Dighton, and oth
ers of the democratic Representatives,
who exposed the tendency of these nul-j
lifying resolutions, have done just as the
, fathers of the republican school did in
1812 when they voted against the federal
spirit of disunion which then vented itself i
in the Hartford Convention.
The doctrine of nullification is, that a
single state may judge for itself whether
an act of Congress is unconstitutional, and
declare it imperative. The whig Legis
lature of Massachusetts declare in theii
resolutions that Congress has not power, ]
b T ihe Constitution to admit a foreign'
state into the Union, and that “such an
act of admission would have nu binding
force whatever on the people of Massa
chusetts!”
Here Massachusetts assumes to lake
the power of the Supreme Court into
her own bands; to pronounce an act of
Congress unconstitutional in advance, and
to declare that she absolves her citizens
from all obedience to it! If Congress ad
mits Texas into the Union, Massachusetts
■ is to treat that act as a nullity, and de
ny that she is in the Union!
The whigs who voted for this incendi
ary and disorganizing resolution —this me
nace to the general government to resist
its laws, have each of them taken an oath
to support the Constitution and laws of
the United States. doc
trine is, that the Supreme Court of the
United States is the only expounder of
the Constitution; but if Texas is annex
ed, they declare, without regard to the
Supreme Court, that such an act will be
of no binding force whatever uj on the
people of Massachusetts! If this is not
nullification, what is?
It is more. It is a menace to dissolve this
Union! And by this means Massachu
setts Federalism undertakes to keep Tex
as out of the Union in IS 1-5, as it did by
a like menace upon the adoption of the
Florida treaty in ISI9, when Mr. Ad
ams gave Texas to Spain, in order to
carry out the northern sectional jealousy
against the South.
A remarkable development in the histo
ry of the federal party of Massachusetts
has just appeared in a correspondence be
tween Mr. Jefferson and Mr. d/on roe,
which was published from manuscript let
ters, in the Globe of Feb. 17ih.
'May 14, IS2O, Mr. Jefferson, hearing
that the Florida treaty with Spain in
which Mr. Adams had adopted the Sa
bine as the boundary, when Spain offer
ed the Colorado, had been rejected by
Spain, wrote to Mr. Monroe, then Presi
dent, expressing his gratification at the
rejection, because the treaty had exclu
ded Texas. In that letter, Mr. Jefferson,
with his prophetic vision of the great fu
ture, now about to he consummated, said,
“to us the Province of Texas will he the
richest State of’our Union, without any ex
ception. Its southern part will make more
sugar than we can consume, and the Red
River on its north, is the most luxuriant
country on earth.” The rejection of the
treaty, he adds, “has had the valuable es- i
feet of strengthening our title to Texas, be-1
cause the cession of Florida, in exchange !
for Texas imports an acknowledgement
of our right to it.”
Could language be more emphatic than I
this, to show the opinion of Jefferson,
twenty-four years ago, in favor of the
measure the democratic party now go for,
in the annexation of Texas ?
This is a rematkable and most oppor
tune document. Mr. Monroe’s reply to
Jefferson of M ay, IS2U, is still more re
markable in developing the narrow policy
of the eastern federalists. It forms a link
in history that binds the past to the present.
Mr. Monroe tells Ur. Jefferson that he
should entirely concur with him in the im
portance of securing Texas, if it involved
nothing more than a question between the
United States and Spain, or between them j
1 and the colonies, “lain satisfied (he says) I
•'that we might regulate in it every cir
cumstance, as we thougVit just, and with
out war—that we might take Florida as an
indemnity, and Texas for some trifle as
art equivalent. No European power could
prevent this, if so disposed.”
What then stood in the way of Mr.
Mbnroe ? “The difficulty,” he adds, “is
feltogetber internal, and of the most dis
tressing nature and dangerous tendency.”
And what was t hat difficulty ? The east- !
* ern federalists menaced the Union if Mr.
Monroe admitted Texas into the Union !—,
They were prepared to nullify and go out
.1)0
~i l.oui
ooNKtitutiorial
IT. Slates! Thai
to ivliicli tiie
~.c former compact were not
..ere. This plan was far matured
.. proposal bad been made to an individual to
permit hunselfju be placed at the head of the mili
tary movements, w liicii it was foreseen would be
necessary to carry it into execution!”
What a coincidence have we here, be
tween the Massachusetts federal disunion,
upon the annexation of Louisiana in ISO3,
j ami the resolutions brought into the Mas
sachusetts Legislature by Mr. Bell, an
! old federalist from New Hampshire, and
carried through, in 1845! l'ut the two
j together. It is as if the same mind had
| conceived both.
Federal doctrine of Disunion in 1803.
‘•The annexation of Louisiana to the Union
transcends lliecontitutional powers of the govern
ment of the United States. It forms anew cpn-
I lederaey, to wliicji the St ales united‘by the Ibriner 1
; compact are not bound to adhere.”
i Federal doctrine of Disunion in 1845. j
“ Ilesolied, That as the powers of legislation j
| granted to Congress do not embrace the case of
ttie admissiou of a foreign slate or territory, by
legislation, into the Union, such an act would have
no binding three whatever on t lie people of .Yfas
sachuse Us!”
President Monroe’s letter, which has {
I ust come to light, further develops the
| secret causes of disunion. It shows that,
under ihe menace of the eastern federal
ists to dissolve the Union if more southern j
( or western territory were added, he yiel
ded to Mr. Adams, and threw away
Texas in the Florida treaty.
Mr. Adams says that the design of a
northern confederacy was formed as soon \
as Louisiana was annexed. Mr. Monroe
I reminds Mr. Jefferson of the early op
i position to securing the navigation of the
j River M ississippi to the south and west.
Massachusetts was at the head of that
. conspiracy. The Union then consisted of
j eight commercial States, with five slave
j holding and producing States, The at
tempt to shut up the mouth of the Jliss
i issippi “ was an effort (says Mr. Monroe)
to give such a shape to the Union as
, would secure the dominion over it to its
i eastern section.”
He adds—“ At that time Huston ruled the four
New England Slates, and a popular orator in
i Faneuil Hall (Harrison Giay Otis) ruled Boston,
i Jay's object was to make New York a New En
gland State. ft was tiirtsecn that if *lie Misuiss
ippi should be opened and new States he estahlwh
jed on its waters, the population would he drawn
I thither, the number of the productive Stales tie
,1 proportionally increased, and their hope of domin
ion on that contracted scale he desiio ed. Io
i prevent this, that project was formed. Happiv it
j tailed, and Since then our career, in tin opposite
i direction, has been rapid and wonderful.”
Mr. Afonroo then notices two subse
quent attempts U> circumscribe the Un
, ton—the Hartford Convention, and the
i restrictions on Missouri. On this issue
(the admission of Missouri) he says they
|(the eastern federalists) were willing to
risk the Union, and it was saved by the
' patriotic devotion of several members in
the tion-slavehohling States, who prefer
i red the sacrifice of themselves at home to
' the violation of the Constitution and the
| risk of the Uuion.
i From this view, Mr. Monroe declares
J his fears that the further acquisition ol
| territory to the west and south involved
' internal difficulties which menaced the
Union, ftotn the eastern federalists.
Here is a piece of,recent history, which
- marks the lines of the two parties in this
j country, federal and democratic, as dis
! linctly as the Alleghany A/ountains mark
jed the boundary the federalists meant to
, fix as the limits within which Boston,
through the New England States, could
j control the Union.
A single extract from the federal organ
]of that day, the Boston Centinel, ot Nov.
j 12, 1803, will confirm Mr. Monroe’s let
| ter. To pay fifteen millions for Louisiana,
j in order to secure a place of deposit for
western produce, that paper exclaimed,
was indeed insufferable, anil it advocated
shutting up the Mississippi to the western
people, “ lest, it they have that, our New
England lands would become a desert
from the contagion of emigration!”
It is impossible to take the view here
presented, without seeing the. intimate
connection of the opposition to the annex
ation of Texas with that narrow federal
policy which began to develop itself in
1803, with the design of confining the j
glorions destinies of this republic within
the narrow limits of the old thirteen states.
Every republican, who venerates Jeffer
son and condemns the Hartloul Conven
tion policy, must perceive on wlneh side
of ihe Texas question parties in this
country must and will range themselves,
lie cannot go with the whigs, who op
pose Texas now lor the same reasons
their fathers opposed Louisiana, without
aiding the design the federal party has
never abandoned, “togive such a shape to
the Union as would secure the dominion
over it to its eastern section.”
The abolition question is now used for
this very purpose of restoring the lost
power of the tederai party by operating j
on the sectional prejudices, the whigs are
laboring to foster between the free and
| the slaveholding Stales. With them it is
ino question of philanthropy, or Utterly,
| but a question of party power, Mr. Mon
, roe, in his letter to Mr. Jefferson, above
j quoted, says of the Missouri contest, that
the federal party “ contemplated an ar-
I ratigemcnl on the distinction solely be
tween slaveholding and non slaveholding 1
, States, presuming that on that basis only ,
such a division might be founded as would
• jy perpetual excitement, me usual
occeding from difference in the
and circumstances of the people,
Lai the States differing in that
ineeasing opposition and hostili
olher.”
vas a prophetic shadowing forth,
f the amalgamation now going
n the whigs and altolitionists to
northern part}’, of which the
setts whigs are to be the lead
. taking advantage of the excite
growing out of the slavery agitation
Texas, draw the democrats of the
.e States into their ranks, and thus
.rutrshal those States in hostility to the
south and west, in order to break down i
llie democracy and establish federalism
upon its ruins.
if history ever taught a lesson of value,
the democrats of the free States, and es
pecially the young rnen, who have traced
this struggle of eastern federalism for
dominion, may herein learn and profit by
it, and it should warn them, as they love
their country, to pause long before they
permit the annexation of Texas to be j
used i>y the federal party to strengthen '
their power by dividing upon it the de- i
inocracy of tile north.
So intimate is this relation, that it could I
hardly escape recollection upon a recent |
occurrence in the United States Senate. !
In 1803, Timothy Pickering, of Salem,
Massachusetts, the father ol the Essex
Junto, stood up in the Senate ot the Uni
ted States, and denounced the annexa
tion of Louisiana as a violation ol the
Constitution.
In IS4-5, lion. Rufus Choate, raised in
Salem, brought up at the feet of Timothy
Pickering, in the school of the Essex
Junto, stands up in tire same Senate, and
brings all the force of his eloquence to de
nounce the annexation ol Texas as a vio
lation of the Constitution, and a virtual
dismemberment of the Union !
And thus it ever has been and ever will
ho, with the Massachusetts federal school
of politicians; narrow, sectional, illiberal
and unwise—always going wrong, and
always travelling the old road. Mr.
Choate did hut wake the echoes of old
Timothy Pickering’s doctrines, which
had slumbered in that Senate chamber
and been discarded by the nation for forty
two years! So true it is ol the tederai
policy of Massachusetts.
“Old politicians chime on measures pa t,
And totier on in blunders to ihe last.”
From the Washington Constiinlion.
THE INAUGURATION.
The lull answer to the Whig interrogti
, lory, “who is James K. Polk?” has this
! day been given. Having been duly elec
ted, by the enthusiastic approbation of the
Democratic party, to the Presidential ol
licc, lie, this day, in the presence of some
thirty thousand of his friends, took the
| oath prescribed by the Constitution, and
ii now the President ol United States.—
The number assembled to witness the in
j duction of the rnan of their choice into
o lice, was great beyond all former prece
dent. It was truly a sublime spec-
I tacle! It was a magnificent and glorious
I illustration of the genius and beauty of
our free institutions. Gladness was in
! every countenance happiness in every
eye. Wo were particularly struck, as
j were others, with the distinguishing fact,
that whilst all appeared happy, there
seemed to be a temperate and subdued
| stale of feeling, worthy of the man and
the occasion. Notwithstanding the rain,
which continued to fall during the whole
of the procession and ceremonies, the ut
most order prevailed throughout; and not
au accident or difficulty occurred during
the day, to mar the joy or disturb the
pleasure which the occasion inspired.
The whole scene was one which made
the patriot heart of all who beheld it,
: bound with joyous emotions—the order,
the quiet, the happiness that characteriz
j ed the vast assembly, exhibited the senti
ment which governed all. They are a
law loving and a law abiding people—be
, cause the laws are hut emanations of their
own will; and the greatest good of the
! greatest number their object and end. It
| does not require here the power of the
sword, or the strong arm of the military,
ito restrain the multitude or keep order
among those who are the fountain of all
law. It is true, the soldier —the citizen
soldier—was there, hut it was only to
make up a part of the pageant, and to
'swell the aggregate ot happiness felt by
the throng of freemen. Military compa
nies from Baltimore, the cities of the Dis
tiict, and elsewhere, joined in the proces
sion; and, with their splendid hands of;
music, added infinitely to the beauty and
pleasure of the occasion. The wisdom j
and talent of this, as well as of foreign j
lands, were there to witness this glorious (
consummation, this final triumph, of the
people’s will. Ex-Presidents, Foreign i
Ministers, Senators,Congressmen, and the .
grave Judges of the highest judicial tri-1
biiual in the country, were all there, to add !
to the calm dignity of the impressive
-cue. One President retires, and anoth
er succeeds him, without so much as cre
ating a ripple upon the surface ol social
affairs. In monarchies the exit of the
head of the nation is often the signal for
revolution, and the cause for those politi
cal earthquakes which shake society to its
foundations; frequently destroying all ex
isting institutions, and burying vast mul
titudes in their ruins. Happy are the
American people, in having the purest as
well as the best Government on earth.
Mr. Polk’s Inaugural, which we give in
this paper, is every way worthy of tliel
man and of the occasion. Its patriotic 1
sentiments and genuine American feeling!
must commend it to the approbation of
all. A career of usefulness and of glory j
lies before him. W ith the Constitution j
and the people’s will for his guide, he can-j
not fail to accomplish all that the people ;
may prescribe or desire.
The Vice President, 100, upon being j
anil taking, his seal, as President of!
the Senate, delivered a chaste and beautt-i
I tut address, which vve also give in this
[paper. Thus have these two eminent
citizens, whose names —Polk Dallas—
have so recently formed the rallying cry
for the free Democtacy throughout this
broad land, been taken from tbc position
of private citizens, and elevated to the
two highest and most dignified stations in
the world.
C O N GUESS I O N A L.
From the Washington Globe .
February 26.
In the Senate, to-dxy, Mr. Miller occupied
the morning session in an effort to prove that
the government of tlie United States does not
possess the power in any way to effect a union
with Texas; in doing which, he maintained
that if there was any right under the constitu
tion to annex a foreign territory, it existed
with the treaty.maki-g power, and not with
Congress. Alter he had concluded, Mr. Ar
cher moved tl e Senate to go into executive ses
sion, with the view to have printed and refer
red an important communication from the exe
cutive, the nature of which is unknown ; which
being done, the Senate took a recess till five
o’clock.
At 5 o’clock the Senate reassembled, when
Mr. Uagby took the floor, and expressed
much solicitude that this proposition for annex
ing Texas might be made to assume a shape
free from all constitutional objection. He aver
red his belief that the people, so far as they
were concerned, had settled the question that
Texas should be admitted into the Union, if
it could I*3 done consistently with the pro* isions
of the constitution. He believed it could be
so done—not, however, by the passage of the
naked proposition which came from the House,
lie expressed an ardent desire that the Con
gress of ttic United States, this session would
pass some act by which Texas might he ceded
to the United States, He did not believe, how
ever, that it could be done by the proposition
oft! o House; for that determined nothing, hut
merely gave the consent of Congress to that
republic to do what she had an indisputable
right to do— eiect anew constitution with tho
view to tier future admission. It was his op
inion that it would be more respectable to pass
a law indicating the terms on which the end
j could be attained. It was tins reason, and b; -
ca; so the mode fixed by it was free from cm
i stitutional objeetio , and would, w tli more
certainty, bring that infant republic into the
Union, that he preferred the proposition sub
-11 nit ted by the senator from Missouri, (Mr.
Ben'on.) Ho declared that ho vvou'd not go
! Ibr any proposition which, in his opinion, di i
j not conform to the constitution, or which rc
! cognizes any right whatever in the Mexican
l government over that territory. After he bud
! concluded, Mr. Upham obtained the floor, and
. was, when we last heard from the Capitol, ma
king an argument against the measure on
grounds of unconstitutioiiality and inexpedien
cy. He declared his opposition to annexation
jin any mode that could be devised under the
! constitution to effect that object.
The first business taken up in the House, to
' day, was the bill from the Senate to reduce ihe
j rates of postage, See. together with the amend.
; nvnts agreed on in the Committee of the
i Whole on the Slate of the Union. The previ-
I ous question having been moved and seconded
Jon this bill, under its operations the amend
i meats were concuired in, and it was read die
! third tinm, and passed. The House then
I spent tho remainder of tho day in Committee
!if the Whole on the state of the Union in con
j sidering the bill for the improvement of certain
rivers and harbors, to which several amend
ments were in :do, an i a number were offered
that were rejected. The committee lose and
j reported progress at a late hour, without com
ing to any conclusion on the bill. After adopt
inga resolution offered by Mr. McKay, to meet
1 at 10 o’clock to-morrow instead of 11, the usu
al hour, the House adjourned.
February 27.
j The Senate, to-clay, disposed of the Tex ts
i question. The joint resolution from the House
I us amended on the motion of Mr. Walker, was
passed by a vote of 27 to 20. A further notice
of the proceeding will be found below.
The House was occupied, during the whole
jof this day, on the bill reported yesterday
' from the Committee of the Whole on the stale
1 of the'Union, making appropriations for the
improvement of certain harbors and rivers.—
Several ante ndments were made, and many
that were offered were rejected; aud finally,
at a late hour, the House adjourned without
i coining to any conclusion on the bill.
February 29
The Senate, this morning, refused to tak
up the bill for the admission of the States of
lowa and Florida into the Union—all the whigs
voting against the motion, and all the demo
ciats for it. The remainder of the day’s ses
sion was occupied is disposing of the civil and
diplomatic appropriation bill, which was order
|ed to be engrossed ; and the Senate then ad
journed. In publishing, in last evening’s pa
per, the joint resolution for admitting the State
1 of Texas into the Union, the latter clause was
inadvertently omitted from the House resolu
tion in the following words : “And in such State
: or States as shull be famed out of said territo
ry north of said Missouri compromise line,
slavery, or involuntary servitude, (except for
! crimes,) shall be prohibited.”
The business in the House of Repn senta-
I lives, to-day, has been of an important charac
ter. The first moaaure acted upon was the
I bill making appropriations for certain harbors
! and rivers, which lias occupied the attention of
the House for the last two days. Mr. Tibbatt’s
substitute was ultimately adopted, with the ex-
I ception of so much thercofasielated to the Lou
| isville canal, and iu that form tho bill was pass
, ed. The House, then, during the morning
hour, took up the resolutions from the Select
Committee on the Affairs of Rhode Island,
and they were discussed by Mr. Elmer, of New
Jersey, and Mr. Williams, of Massachusetts,
and were again passed over. The bus ness
oti the Speaker’s table was next in order, and
amongst the documents there was the joint re
solution for the annexation of Texas, which
had been r turned from the Senate with an a
mendmeut. The resolutions and the amend
ment were rend, and then a motion was made
to comma them to the Committee of the Whole
on the state of the Union ; which was ultimate
ly carried, after the House had disposed of al
most innumerable motions which were made io
retard their progress. Afterwards, the House ,
resolved itself into Committee of the Whole on j
the state of the Uuion, and took up those reso- .
lutious; and, after, rejecting all the amend-j
ments offered, the amendment of the Senate
was concurred in, the resolutions were report
ed to the House, and were finally passed, b v
a majority of 132 to 70. That very important j
business disposed of, the House again resolved ,
itself into Couimjtteo of the Whole on the suite .
of the Union; and the bill making appropria
tions for the naval service for the next fiscal j
year was taken op, and several amendments
were m tdo thereto. The committee then rose
and reported it to tl*e House; when U was or-1
dered to be engrossed fur a third reading, and
then read the third time, and passed. The
House again went into Committee of the Whole
on the state of the Uuion, and took up the ar
my appropriation bill. Tho bill was continued
as the subject of consideration and ameudnieut
till near 10 o’clock ; when the committee rose,
and the House adjourned.
Ma*chl.
In the Senate, to-day, the postage bill, which
had been returned from the House with amend
ments, was disposed of. The House amend
ments were concurred in, which fixes the rates
of postage at five and ten cents, instead of five
cents to all parts of the Union. The Senate
made one or two additional amendments,
which rendered it necessary to return the hill
to the House for concurrence therein. The
bill from the House for the admission of the
States of lowa and Florida into the Union was
taken up, and debated until the Lour for recess.
During the afternoon session, the bill to ad
mit tho States of Florida and lowa was discus
sed at length, and finally passed by a vote 0f36
to 9. At It) o’clock, p. m., the Senate was
engaged in the cons deration of the Indian ser
vice appropriation bill.
March 3.
In the Smate, this morning, Mr. Atchison
moved to take up the House b - 11 for the organ
! i/. ition of the government of Oregon; but the
j motion was strenuously opposod by Messrs.
I Evan -, Archer, and Crittenden, on the plea
that a late message from the President of the
United States showed that the negotiation had
been going on most satisfactorily till tempora
riiy suspended by the indisposition of the Sec
retary of State ; and also on the ground that a
discussion of the measure now, on the last day
of tho session, would consume all the time re
quired for the disposal of the appropriation bills.
Mr. Allen completely upset all the excuses urg
-1 ed on the other side for not taking up this bill,
by showing that the delay of the discussion to
the last day of the session was entirely duo to
the procrastination of the subject day after day j
by those who now made the lateness of the pe
riod the plea of refusing to take up this bill
w-w. The yeas and nays were taken on Mr.
Atchison’s muti n, and resulted, yeas 21, nays
2-j—a strict party vote. So tho wh g majority
of the present Senate, refused to act upon the i
hill. Mr. Baghy made a petsomd explanation ;
'in relation to imputations cast upon him by a
Washington correspondent of the Richmond
En pi r- r. The report of the Committee of
1 Conference. i»ti the civil and diplomatic appro
! priation hill was considered and concurred in.
Toe bill providing for expenses of the Indian
. Department, in ca ni g out Indian treaties,
A:e., was amend and and pissed—yens 31, nays
2. The navy app-onriatio.i bill was consult r
, ed, amend'd, ad pissed. A resolution was.
adopted allowing the President pro (cm. of the
S a ate the salary of Vice President since Ids
election to the elm r of ihe Senate, deducting
t the pay lie lias r< ceived, so that the resolution
' gives him the and ll’erence out of the contingent
fund. The army appropriation bII was under
; discussion when our piper went to press.
: The first hour of the suasion ofthe House of
Representatives, to-day, was devoted to the re
ception of reports from standing committees,
wlnc’li, after several bills had been reported,
were discharged from the fulltier consideration
1 of all the remaining papers in their possession,
f Afterwards Mr. McKay made a report from
t|j.. Com i ittee of Conference on the civil and
1 and pi unatic appropriation bill, and the report ol
the comm tec being agreed to, the bill was
i passed. Other general bills on ti e Speaker’s
table were considered unlil 3 o’clock, when
1 the House took a recess until 6 o’clock. Af
ter the ri coss, the House reassembled, and dis-,
posed of the Indian apnrOpria'ion bill, the bill
supplemental to ihe bill for the admission of
Florida and lowa into the Union, and many
Oth r bills From the Benate, wnh which the
House was proceeding when we last heard I
fiorn the Capitol.
Maiich 4.
At 11 o’clock a. m. the Hon. Wili.ib P.
Mangom, President pro tent, of tho Semite. 1
, called the Senate to ordur.
Mr. Crittenden pic-vnte I the credentials of
the Ifbn. Thom is Corwin, elected by the Le
j gisjature of Ohio Unit'd States Senator from
that State, for the term of six years, from the
i ith of March, 1815, and they w ere read, and
| laid on tlm table.
I The fdlovving Scale’s eb-ct were then cail
led by the President pro tern, an I duly sworn
j ScnaJops oftlKj United States for six years from
11 is and ite :
lion. Thos. 11. Benton, re-efoctod Senator
! from Missouri.
Hon. Lewis Cas«, elected Senator from Mi
chigan, in the room ol flnu. Align ins S. I’or
! ter, whose term cxp.P and.
1 lon. John M. Clayton, elected Senator from
D la wart', in the room of Hon. R. 11. Bayard,
; whore term of set vice expired.
lion. Thomas Corwin, elected Senator from
| Ohio, in the room of Hon. Benjamin Tappan,
whose term of service expin and.
Hon. William L. Dayton, elected Senator
from New Jersey, Ids appointment by the Go
vernor of that State having expired.
Hon. D. S. Dickinson, elect' and Senator from
New Y ork, in the room of lion. Silas Wright,
resigned, for residue of Mr. Wright’s term.
Hon. Joint Fairfield, elected Senator from
Maine, his appointment for the previous resi
due ofa term expired.
Don. Albert S. Greene, elected Senator
from Rhode Island, in room of lion. John B.
Francis, whose term ofsorvice under appoint
ment expired.
Hun.Jabt z. YV. Huntington, re elected Sen
ator from Connecticut.
Hon. Reverdy Johnson, elected Senator
from Maryland, in the room of the Hon. Wil
liam D. Merrick, whose term expired.
lion. Samuel S. Phelps, re-eleced Senator
from Vermont.
Hon. Jesse Speight, elected Senator from
Mississippi, in the room of Hon. John Hender
son, whose term expired.
lion. Daniel Sturgeon, re-clccted Senator
from Pennsylvania.
Hon. Daniel Webster, elected Senator from
Massachusetts, in the room of Hon. ltufus j
Choate, whose term expired.
The Senators then present vveie, from
Maine. — Hon. George Evuns, and Hon.
John Fairfield.
New Hampshire—lion. CharlesG. Athei
ton and Hon. Levi YY^oodhury.
Vermont.—lion. Samuel S. Phelps, and
Hon. William Upham.
Massachusetts. —Hon. Daniel Webster.
Rhode Island. —Hon. Albert C. Greene,!
and Hon. SimmcSns.
Connecticut.—lion. Jabez W. Hunting
ton and Hon. John M* Niles.
New York. —Hon. Daniel S. Dickinson Sr
Hon. John A. Dix.
Pennsylvania.—Hon. James Buchanan A
lion. David Sturgeon.
New Jersey.—Hon. Wm. L. Dayton, and
Hon. Jacob YV. Miller.
Delaware/— Hon. Thomas Clayton, and I
Hon. J. M. Clayton.
Maryland. —Hon. Ilevcrdy Johnson.
Virginia.-—lion. Wm. S. Atelier.
North C vrolina—Hon. Wm. H. Harwood
and Hon. Willie P. Mungam. J
S. Carolina.—Hon. Daniel E. Ilutre- an i
Hon. George McDuffie. " “
Georgia.—Hon. John M. Berrien and Hon
Walter T. Colquitt. *
Alabama.— Hon. ArthurP. Bagby & j(o
Dixon 11. Lewis. D *
Louisiana—Hon. Alexander Barrow
Hon. Henry Johnson.
Mississippi.—Hon. Jesse Speight and lion
j Robert J. Waller. “*
Arkansas.—lion. Chester Ashley &, U on
Ambrose 11. Sevier.
Kentucky.—Hon. John J. Crittenden and
Hon. Jas. T. Morehead.
Missouri.—Hon. David R. Atchinson and
lion. Thomas H. Benton.
Illinois.— Hon. Sidney Breese and lion,
James Semple.
Indiana. —Hon. Edward A. Hannegan.
Ohio.—Hon. William Allen and Hon. T
Corwin.
Michigan. —Hon. Lewis Cass and Hon
William Woodbridge.
Tennessee.—Hon, Spencer Jarnagin. 47.
Two absent, viz: Uon. Isaac C. Bates of
Massachusetts, and lion. James A. Pearce of
Maryland.
Three vacancies, viz: Virginia, Indiana and
Tennessee. *
There were also present the Judges of the
Supreme Court, in their robes, the members
of tbeex cabinet, and the diplomatic corps.
At half past 11 o'clock, the Hon. Okorge M. Dallas
Vice-President elect of the United States, wag introduced
by the Committee of Arrangements, aud, being dulv sworn
by the President protein „ took the chair as President
of the Senate, pursuant to the constitution of the Uuiied
States, and addressed the Senate as follows l
Se nators : In directing the Vice President to preside l*
the deliberations of this body, the constitution of our coun
try assigns to him a sphere and a duty alike eminent and
grateful. Without any of the cares of real power ; with
none of the responsibilities of legislation, except in ra e
conjunctures, he is associated with the dignified delegates
of republican sovereignties ; lie is posted by the entire Ame
rican people in your confederated council, partly, it would
seem, as an organ of freedom’s fundamental principle ot’
order, ami pardy, perhaps, as a mere symbol of that more
popular and ‘more perfect Uiion, * on which depend the
blessings of our peace, independence, and liberty. His
mission, tranquil anti unimposing, is yet noble in its origin
and objects, and happy as well as proud iu its relations to you.
No one, gentlemen, can appreciate more highly or re*
cognise more deferentially, than does the incutnfent of
this chair, the powers, privileges, and rules or forms of the
Senate of the United States. To maintain these, unimpair
ed and unrelaxed, he feels it to be an official duty, second,
i impressive t bligation, only to bis con litutionul ollegi!
ance. To their exercise the republic owes incalculable
good; and through them has been graduuily achieved a
wide-spread fame for wi«dotn, justice, moderation, and effi.
cicncy, unsurpassed by any assemblage r.f statesmen in for
mei or present times. A calm and well adjusted system of
action in this chamber, carefully devised and steadily pur
sue'! by those who have preceded us in it, has indeed large
ly contributed to the undoubted success of our great politi
cal experiment. Instability, haste, procrastination, dhcour
tesy, and indecision habitually discountenanced and ban
ishe 1, leave, in undisturbed supremacy here, the powers of
enlightened reason, a id the vigor of practical patriotism.
Our country reaps thence solid and substantial advantaged
in her policy, institutions, prospects, and renown. e
The citizen whom it has pleased a people to elevate Uy
their suffrages from the pursuits of private and domestic
life, tniy best evince his grateful sense of the honor thus
cm I erred, by devoting his faculties, litoral and intellectual,
resolutely to their service. This I shall do; yet with a diffi
dence unavoidable to one conscious that almost every step jo
bis appointed path is to him new and untried, ami sensib/e
how dangerous a contrast must occur in the transfer of pow"
ers from practised to unpractised hands. In observing?
however, upou this floor, a number of those experienced
; ar and skilful statesmen on whom the nation justly looks with
! pride and reliance, I am assured that there can be but little
1 danger of public disadvantage from inadvertencies or mis
takes, which their counsel may readily avert or rectify.—
And thus, gentlemen, while aiming frankly and impartially,
to exercise the functions of an accustomed station lathe spi
rit of the rimstituthn, for the enlarged and lasting pm pise*
of a revered country, and with sincere good will towards all
I may cherish the encouraging hope of being a* le, with the
assent of au indulgent Providence, at ence to perform my
duty ami to attract yonr confidence.
At forty minutes past 11 o'clock the Hon. James K. Polk*
President eVrt of the United Stales, accompanied by the ex-
Uresideot of the United States, the Hon. John Tyler, was
intnduced by the committee of arrangements, and. having
bowed to the assembled Senate, took his seat in front of the
desk of the Secretary of the Senate.
At live minutes before 12 o’c'oek.tbe assistant sergeant
a* arms of the. Senate named the order of procession from
the Senate chamber to the platform ot the east front of the
Capitol, and the procession formed and proceeded accor
dingly. ns !Vd nws:
The Marshal of the District of Columbia;
l he Supreme Court of the United States;
The Sergeant at-orms of the Senate;
The Committee of arrangements;
The President elect,ex-Presidents, die Vice President
and Secretary of the Senate;
The members of the Senate;
The J.) ploinalic Corps;
The Mayors of Washington, Georgetown, ami Alexan
dri.i, and the oilier persons before admitted on the floor of
the Senate.
On reaiJiinjr the front of the portico, the Presiilent elect,
: ttn-l Chief Justice, took the seats provided for them.
The ex-Presidents, the Committee of arrangements, iiwf
Associate Justices of the Hopreme Court, occupied a posi
j lion several feet in the rear of the President elect.
The Vice Pre .idem. Secretary, ami Members of the Sen
{ ate.occupied parallel lines next in rear.
The Diplomatic Corps occupied the next position; and
the space immediately in the rear was assigned to the late
Hpewte?. Clerk, and Members of the Senate anti House ot
i Representatives.
1 lie Ladies, and such persona as, l»y the rules of the Sea*
- nte, and arrangements of the committee, were admitted
I within the Senate chamber, occupied the steps and the re-
Isidue of the portico.
The Pres : Uent elect then read the following
ADDRESS:
' Fkli.oyv-CitizlNß :—Without solicitation on my part, 1
| have been chosen by the free anu voluntary suffrages of my
countrymen to the most honorable and most responsible ol
i Mce on earth. 1 am deeply impressed Y*ith gratitude t*»r
the confidence reposed in me. Honored with this distin
guished consideration at anjearlier period of life than any of
; my predecessors, Jcannot disguise the diffidence with which
I am about to enter on the discharge of my official duties.
If the more aged and experienced men who have tilled
: the office of President of die United States, even in the in
i fancy of the repubiic, distrusted their ability to discharge
I the duties of that exalted station, what ought n 4 to he die
| apprehensions of one so much younger and less ei»do*e<,
I now that our domain extends from ocean to ocean, that our
J people have so greatly increased in numbers, and at a titne
when so greui diversity of opinion prevails in regard to die
I principles and policy which should characterize the admin*
istratlon of our government? Well may the boldest fear,
and the w isest tremble, when incurring responsibilities on
! w hich may depend our country’s peace and prosperity, and,
in some degree, the hopes and happiness of the whole nu-
In assuming responsibilities so vast, I fervently invoke
the aid of that Almighty ltuler of the universe, in whoso
hands are the destinies of nations and of tnen, to guard inis
heaven-favored land against the mischiefs whicn, without
llis guidance, might arise from an unwise public policy.
With a firm reliance upon the wisdom of Omnip'tsnce
sustain and direct me in the path of duty which 1 am fjj
pointed to pursue, 1 stand in the presence of this •■■Jj®® ,
multitude of iny countrymen to take upon myself t «
emn obligation, “ to the be; t of my ability, to preserve, p
tect, and defend the constitution.of the Unitecl
A concise enumeration of the principles whicn wi g
line in the adrainistiotive policy of the government, is
only in accordance with the examples s e * ,ne a
decessors, but is eminently befitting tl oiccasion.
The constitution itself, plainly written as ills.
guard of our federative compact, tho offspring ° co
and compromise, binding together in the bonds o P
union this great and increasing family of free and
dent States, will be the chart by which 1 shall *> j n
Ifwill be my first care to administer the 8 0TI ‘ eri
the true spirit of that instrument, and io assume no p
not expressly granted or 'dearly implied in ( "‘ ,jj" e( i an J
government of the United Slates is one of % dear*
limited powers; and it is by a strict adherence “^ icise „(■
,Jy granted powers, and by abstaining from 1 ,
doubtful or unauthorized implied powers, that* , orm .
• uly sere guarjnty against the j eeurrf *!’ e i .°, * t i lor :t sa.
note collisions between the federal ,if
which have ocoaslonsltr so much diaturbed ofour g|o
our system, and even threatened the perpetu y
rious Union. be* n
•To the States respectively, or to tbe p* P. ' .‘« uteß br
reserved “the powers not delegated to the E' „ g, c h
the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the of re .
flute is a complete sovereignty w"hin_ the P in „ w ith.
served powers. The government of te ’ g com p|ete
in the sphere of its delegated authority. houl(J abstain
sovereignty. While the general govern.' ™ j dto
from the exercise of authority n .°l ,** nfaimenaace
the States should be equally careful * f , e[S re
ef their rights, they do not overstep the limn
served to them. One of the most distinguished
decesaors attached deserved importance w mos i com
the State governments in all their rtgou. >n(J ,beso
petent administration for our domestic ro / s .. , n d to
rest bulwark against anti-repubbcan tea it while
the "preservation ol the general 8° r peace
constitutional vigor, as the sheet anchor ot V
home, and safety abroad. intrust-
To the government of the Vnhe6 lß'>»“> * s De
ed the exclusive management of oar tore ?r5 It
wind that, it wields a few general enume [ ndi ,idosls.
due. not force reform on the »«•'•«■ J"" enl i,ely free to
over whom it casta its protecting ,nt,uen f ' r «srcis« cf
improve them own condition by the pro
all their mental and physical po**"™- “ „„„ who #»*•
tec l»r of each •«»<! nil «h« States ;of hirl j,. of every
upon our soil, wh.ther of native m
relopuui seel, in their worst*tp of the f i