The PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES having retired, and the two Houses
being separated,
_Ordered_, That Messrs. STRONG, KING, and RUTHERFORD, be a committee to
prepare and report the draft of an Address to the PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES, in answer to his Speech this day, to both Houses of
Congress convened in the Senate Chamber.
_Ordered_, That the Speech of the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,
delivered this day, be printed for the use of the Senate.
THURSDAY, November 8.
JOHN HENRY, from the State of Maryland, attended, and took his seat.
Agreeably to the order of the day, the Senate took into consideration
the Address reported by the committee to the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES, in answer to his Speech to both Houses of Congress; which, being
recommitted and amendments reported, was agreed to, as amended.
_Ordered_, That the same committee 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. STRONG, from the above-mentioned committee, reported that the
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES proposed to receive the Address of the
Senate at 11 o'clock to-morrow.
FRIDAY, November 9.
The Senate waited on the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES at his own
house, and the PRESIDENT _pro tempore_, in their name, communicated to
him the Address agreed to on the 8th instant, which is as follows:
_To the President of the United States:_
Accept, sir, our grateful acknowledgments for your Address
at the opening of the present session. We participate with
you in the satisfaction arising from the continuance of the
general prosperity of the nation, but it is not without the
most sincere concern that we are informed that the
reiterated efforts which have been made to establish peace
with the hostile Indians, have hitherto failed to
accomplish that desired object. Hoping that the measures
still depending may prove more successful than those which
have preceded them, we shall nevertheless concur in every
necessary preparation for the alternative; and, should the
Indians on either side of the Ohio persist in their
hostilities, fidelity to the Union, as well as affection to
our fellow-citizens on the frontiers, will ensure our
decided co-operation in every measure which shall be deemed
requisite for their protection and safety.
At the same time that we avow the obligation of the
Government to afford its protection to every part of the
Union, we cannot refrain from expressing our regret that
even a small portion of our fellow-citizens in any quarter
of it should have combined to oppose the operation of the
law for the collection of duties on spirits distilled
within the United States: a law repeatedly sanctioned by
the authority of the nation, and, at this juncture,
materially connected with the safety and protection of
those who oppose it. Should the means already adopted fail
in securing obedience to this law, such further measures as
may be thought necessary to carry the same into complete
operation cannot fail to receive the approbation of the
Legislature, and the support of every patriotic citizen.
It yields us particular pleasure to learn, that the
productiveness of the revenue of the present year will
probably supersede the necessity of any additional tax for
the service of the next.
The organization of the government of the State of Kentucky
being an event peculiarly interesting to a part of our
fellow-citizens, and conducive to the general order,
affords us particular satisfaction.
We are happy to learn that the high state of our credit
abroad has been evinced by the terms on which the new loans
have been negotiated.
In the course of the session we shall proceed to take into
consideration the several objects which you have been
pleased to recommend to our attention; and, keeping in view
the importance of union and stability in the public
councils, we shall labor to render our decisions conducive
to the safety and happiness of our country.
We repeat with pleasure our assurances of confidence in
your Administration, and our ardent wish that your unabated
zeal for the public good may be rewarded by the durable
prosperity of the nation, and every ingredient of personal
happiness.