Monday, February 22.
Removal of Federal Judges on Address from Congress.
Mr. Maclay, agreeably to instructions from the Legislature of the State of Pennsylvania to their Senators in Congress, submitted the following resolution:
Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two-thirds of both Houses concurring, That the first section of the third article of the Constitution of the United States be so altered and amended “that the judges of the courts thereof shall hold their offices for a term of years; that they shall be removed by the President of the United States on the address of the majority of the members present, of the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled; and that on all trials of impeachment for high crimes and misdemeanors, a majority of the Senate shall be competent to conviction.”
And the resolution was read, and referred to Mr. Tiffin and others, the committee appointed the 25th of January last, on this subject, to consider and report thereon.
Death of Hon. John Dickinson.
Mr. White.—Mr. President: It is with much pain and regret, sir, that I rise to announce to the Senate the irreparable loss our country has sustained in the death of one of her worthiest citizens and most distinguished patriots. Time has measured and told the days of another venerable sage of the Revolution. John Dickinson, the illustrious cotemporary and friend of Washington and Franklin, is now no more—his head and his heart devoted to the service and love of his country, till his locks were bleached by the frosts of more than seventy winters, have now descended in silence to the grave. No humble eulogy of mine shall attempt to approach his exalted merit. The happiness of his fellow-citizens was his only aim, and upon the grateful hearts of his countrymen is indelibly engraven the dearest memento of his wisdom and his worth. Those who shared his personal acquaintance will never forget his private virtues—volumes from his pen, that do honor to the age, that will be read and admired as long as the love of science and freedom shall be cherished, record his inflexible patriotism; and the liberties of this country, which he contributed so essentially in establishing, will I hope long, very long indeed, sir, continue to be the proud and unshaken monument of his fame. The feelings of every gentleman of this honorable body will I am sure be in unison on the motion I am about to propose; it is an humble tribute of respect to the memory of the deceased, in the form of the following resolution:
Resolved, unanimously, That the Senate is penetrated with the full sense of the merit and patriotism of the late John Dickinson, Esq., deceased, and that the members thereof do wear crape on the left arm for one month, in testimony of the national gratitude and reverence towards the memory of that illustrious patriot.
This resolution was immediately adopted.