_Vice President of the United States,
and President of the Senate_.
_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. KING reported, from the committee, that they had waited on the
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, and that he would receive the Address of
the Senate to-morrow at 12 o'clock, at his own house.
SATURDAY, November 22.
The Senate waited on the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, and the VICE
PRESIDENT, in their name, presented the Address agreed to on the 21st
instant.
To which the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES was pleased to make the
following reply:
_Gentlemen:_
Among the occasions which have been afforded for expressing
my sense of the zealous and steadfast co-operation of the
Senate, in the maintenance of Government, none has yet
occurred more forcibly demanding my unqualified
acknowledgments than the present.
Next to the consciousness of upright intentions, it is the
highest pleasure to be approved by the enlightened
Representatives of a free nation. With the satisfaction,
therefore, which arises from an unalterable attachment to
public order, do I learn, that the Senate discountenance
those proceedings, which would arrogate the direction of
our affairs, without any degree of authority derived from
the people.
It has been more than once the lot of our Government to be
thrown into new and delicate situations; and of these, the
insurrection has not been the least important. Having been
compelled at length to lay aside my repugnance to resort to
arms, I derive much happiness from being confirmed by your
judgment in the necessity of decisive measures, and from
the support of my fellow-citizens of the militia, who were
the patriotic instruments of that necessity.
With such demonstrations of affection for our constitution;
with an adequate organization of the militia; with the
establishment of necessary fortifications; with a
continuance of those judicious and spirited exertions which
have brought victory to our Western Army; with a due
attention to public credit and an unsullied honor towards
all nations; we may meet, under every assurance of success,
our enemies from within and from without.