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.
WEDNESDAY, March 2.
_Impressment of American Seamen._
The following Message was received from the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES:
_To the Senate of the United States_:
In compliance with a resolution of the Senate, of November 30,
1807, I now transmit a report of the Secretary of State on the
subject of impressments, as requested in that resolution. The
great volume of the documents, and the time necessary for the
investigation, will explain to the Senate the causes of the
delay which has intervened.