Monday, December 23.
Timothy Bloodworth, from the State of North Carolina, and John E. Howard, from the State of Maryland, severally attended.
Mr. Dexter, from the committee appointed for the purpose on the 18th instant, reported the draft of an Address to the President of the United States, on the death of General George Washington; which being read in paragraphs, was adopted, as follows:
To the President of the United States:
The Senate of the United States respectfully take leave, sir, to express to you their deep regret for the loss their country sustains in the death of General George Washington.
This event, so distressing to all our fellow-citizens, must be peculiarly heavy to you, who have long been associated with him in deeds of patriotism. Permit us, sir, to mingle our tears with yours; on this occasion it is manly to weep. To lose such a man, at such a crisis, is no common calamity to the world. Our Country mourns her Father. The Almighty Disposer of human events has taken from us our greatest benefactor and ornament. It becomes us to submit with reverence to Him who "maketh darkness his pavilion."
With patriotic pride, we review the life of our Washington, and compare him with those of other countries, who have been pre-eminent in fame. Ancient and modern names are diminished before him. Greatness and guilt have too often been allied; but his fame is whiter than it is brilliant. The destroyers of nations stood abashed at the majesty of his virtues. It reproved the intemperance of their ambition, and darkened the splendor of victory. The scene is closed, and we are no longer anxious lest misfortune should sully his glory; he has travelled on to the end of his journey, and carried with him an increasing weight of honor; he has deposited it safely, where misfortune cannot tarnish it, where malice cannot blast it. Favored of heaven, he departed without exhibiting the weakness of humanity. Magnanimous in death, the darkness of the grave could not obscure his brightness.
Such was the man whom we deplore. Thanks to God! his glory is consummated; Washington yet lives—on earth in his spotless example—his spirit is in heaven.
Let his countrymen consecrate the memory of the heroic General, the patriotic Statesman, and the virtuous Sage; let them teach their children never to forget that the fruit of his labors and his example are their inheritance.
SAMUEL LIVERMORE,
President of the Senate, pro tempore.
Ordered, That the committee who prepared the Address, wait on the President of the United States, and desire him to acquaint the Senate at what time and place it will be most convenient for him that it should be presented.
Mr. Dexter reported, from the committee, that they had waited on the President of the United States, and that he had acquainted them that he would receive the Address of the Senate immediately, at his own house.
Whereupon, the Senate waited on the President of the United States, and the President of the Senate, in their name, presented the Address this day agreed to.
To which the President of the United States made the following reply:
Gentlemen of the Senate:
I receive with the most respectful and affectionate sentiments, in this impressive address, the obliging expressions of your regard for the loss our country has sustained in the death of her most esteemed, beloved, and admired citizen.
In the multitude of my thoughts and recollections on this melancholy event, you will permit me only to say, that I have seen him in the days of adversity in some of the scenes of his deepest distress and most trying perplexities; I have also attended him in his highest elevation, and most prosperous felicity, with uniform admiration of his wisdom, moderation, and constancy.
Among all our original associates in that memorable League of the Continent in 1774, which first expressed the sovereign will of a free nation in America, he was the only one remaining in the General Government. Although, with a constitution more enfeebled than his, at an age when he thought it necessary to prepare for retirement, I feel myself alone, bereaved of my last brother, yet I derive a strong consolation from the unanimous disposition which appears, in all ages and classes, to mingle their sorrows with mine, on this common calamity to the world.
The life of our Washington cannot suffer by a comparison with those of other countries who have been most celebrated and exalted by fame. The attributes and decorations of royalty could have only served to eclipse the majesty of those virtues which made him, from being a modest citizen, a more resplendent luminary. Misfortune, had he lived, could hereafter have sullied his glory only with those superficial minds, who, believing that characters and actions are marked by success alone, rarely deserve to enjoy it. Malice could never blast his honor, and envy made him a singular exception to her universal rule. For himself, he had lived enough to life, and to glory. For his fellow-citizens, if their prayers could have been answered, he would have been immortal. For me, his departure is at a most unfortunate moment. Trusting, however, in the wise and righteous dominion of Providence over the passions of men, and the results of their councils and actions, as well as over their lives, nothing remains for me but humble resignation.
His example is now complete, and it will teach wisdom and virtue to magistrates, citizens, and men, not only in the present age, but in future generations, as long as our history shall be read. If a Trajan found a Pliny, a Marcus Aurelius can never want biographers, eulogists, or historians.
JOHN ADAMS.
United States, December 23, 1799.
The Senate returned to their own Chamber.
A message from the House of Representatives informed the Senate that the joint committee appointed on the part of the House of Representatives, on the 19th instant, on the receipt of the intelligence of the death of General George Washington, having made report to that House, they have agreed to sundry resolutions thereupon, in which they desire the concurrence of the Senate.
Mr. Dayton, from the joint committee appointed the 19th instant, on the part of the Senate, on the receipt of the intelligence of the death of General George Washington, reported in part, and the report was agreed to. Whereupon,
The Senate took into consideration the resolutions of the House of Representatives, of this day, on the report of the joint committee on the subject above mentioned, and which resolutions are as follows:
Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That a marble monument be erected by the United States in the Capitol, at the City of Washington; and that the family of General Washington be requested to permit his body to be deposited under it; and that the monument be so designed as to commemorate the great events of his military and political life.
And be it further resolved, That there be a funeral procession from Congress Hall to the German Lutheran Church, in honor of the memory of General George Washington, on Thursday, the 26th instant; and that an oration be prepared at the request of Congress, to be delivered before both Houses on that day; and that the President of the Senate, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, be desired to request one of the members of Congress to prepare and deliver the same.
And be it further resolved, That it be recommended to the people of the United States to wear crape on the left arm, as mourning, for thirty days.
And be it further resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to direct a copy of these resolutions to be transmitted to Mrs. Washington, assuring her of the profound respect Congress will ever bear to her person and character; of their condolence on the late afflicting dispensation of Providence, and entreating her assent to the interment of the remains of General George Washington, in the manner expressed in the first resolution.
Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to issue a proclamation, notifying to the people throughout the United States, the recommendation contained in the third resolution.
Resolved, unanimously, That the Senate do concur in the aforesaid resolutions.