amid all the fluctuations of opinion to which the public mind has been subjected, since he became connected with the political history of his own times, his last recorded acts are in perfect consistence with his first. His nature was essentially democratic. His sympathies were ever with the masses. Hence his uniform opposition to every species of partial legislation, and his strenuous advocacy of whatever respected the greatest good of the greatest number. A more critical review of his public life than would be suited to the present occasion, would exhibit him as prominently connected with every great measure of progress and reform which has marked the last twenty years of our public history. But his race on earth is ended. He will be missed from the councils of his country, so long adorned by his virtues and enlightened by his wisdom; from the social throng, once enlivened by the flow of his generous heart; but most of all, from that magic circle where cluster the hallowed affections of home, and where he formed the idol of every heart. IN SENATE. [DECEMBER, 1848. The VICE PRESIDENT laid before the Senate a communication from the Navy Department, enclosing reports from the officers of the First and Second Comptrollers, in compliance with the act of May, 1820. Mr. KING presented the credentials of BENJAMIN FITZPATRICK, appointed a Senator from the State of Alabama, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of the Hon. DIXON H. LEWIS. The credentials having been read, Mr. FITZPATRICK was duly qualified, and took his seat. Mr. FELCH presented the credentials of SOLON BORLAND, elected a Senator from the State of Arkansas, to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of the Hon. AMBROSE H. SEVIER. The credentials having been read, Mr. BORLAND was qualified, and took his seat. Chaplain. Unlike the patriarch statesman who fell before our eyes, full of years as well as of honors, ed to the election of a Chaplain. On motion of Mr. KING, the Senate proceed his earthly sojourn was comparatively brief. Forty-six years only served to fill the measThe Senators proceeded to ballot, and on the ure of his allotment in time. His sun of earth-first ballot, the numbers appeared as follows: ly existence was but at its meridian when the midnight of death was tolled; the summer of his life but half gone, when the sickle was put in, and the harvest gathered! The hand of the reaper Takes the ears that are hoary; Total number of votes. Mr. Henshaw Mr. Dewey 47 24 28 6 4 So the Rev. Mr. Slicer was re-elected Chap Mr. HARRIS concluded by offering the follow-lain. ing resolutions, which were read, as follows: Resolved, That the House of Representatives has received with deep sensibility the message from the Senate announcing the death of the Hon. DIXON H. LEWIS, a Senator from the State of Alabama. Resolved, That the members and officers of this House, from a sincere desire of manifesting their respect for the memory of the deceased, will wear the usual badge of mourning for thirty days. Resolved, That the proceedings of this House, in relation to the death of the Hon. DIXON H. LEWIS, be communicated to his family by the Clerk. Resolved, That, as a further mark of respect for the memory of the deceased, the House do now adjourn. Before the question was put on the above resolutions- On motion of Mr. HILLIARD, it was Ordered, That when the House adjourns, it adjourn to meet on Monday next. The question was then put on the foregoing resolutions, and they were unanimously adopted. And the House accordingly adjourned to Monday, at twelve o'clock. The Senate adjourned. THURSDAY, December 14. Death of Hon. A. D. Sims. A message from the House of Representatives was received by Mr. CAMPBELL, their Clerk, announcing that the House had received information of the death of the Hon. A. D. SIMS, late a Representative from the State of South Carolina, and communicating the proceedings of the House thereupon. The message having been read— Mr. BUTLER rose and said: Mr. PRESIDENT: My late colleague, the Hon. ALEXANDER DROMGOOLE SIMS, whose death has been announced by the message just read, took his seat in the House of Representatives, for the first time, in the Twenty-ninth Congress. A few days before his sudden death, which took place on the 16th of last month, at Kingstree, South Carolina, he learned that he had been returned for the third time, by the same district to Congress. These marks of popular favor were honorable evidence that he had won and retained the confidence of an intelligent constituency. DECEMBER, 1848.] Death of Hon. A. D. Sims. [30TH CONG. Mr. SIMS was born in Brunswick county, in | and fellow-citizens, and he was transferred to Virginia, on the 12th of June, 1803. His the Congress of the United States. highly respectable parents, though in moderate circumstances, belonged to that class of persons who placed a high value on the advantages of a liberal education; and two of their sons attained eminence and distinction, and by their success in life, made a worthy requital for the sacrifices of their parents. The deceased, of whom I am speaking, if not a scholar in the highest import of that term, was a gentleman of excellent intellect, and of various and elegant literary attainments. His brother (late a professor of Alabama University) was an eminent divine and ripe scholar. My colleague, after passing through his ordinary academic course, became a student in the North Carolina University, and continued in that institution until his junior year, when, perhaps attracted by the high reputation of Dr. Nott, for whose character he seemed to have entertained a pious veneration, he joined one of the higher classes in Union College in the State of New York, and was graduated in that institution in 1823, leaving behind him a high reputation for capacity and attainments, especially in those branches of learning comprehending the tasteful pursuits of literature and the philosophy of the human mind. On his return from college he studied law in the office of his uncle, (the late General DROMGOOLE,) and, for one or two years after his admission to the bar, he practised in the courts of Virginia. His success not being equal to his expectation or the aspirations of his ambition-for he was an ambitious man-he removed, in 1826, to Darlington district, South Carolina, and took charge of an academy. In this situation he was eminently useful, and laid the foundation of many enduring friendships, to which he may perhaps have been indebted for his subsequent success in life. Some of his pupils are now citizens of distinction, and bear testimony to the excellence of their teacher and preceptor, and perhaps the highest and most honorable movements he has left behind him, are the intelligent citizens who acknowledge with gratitude the instructions derived from him. Mr. SIMS was admitted to the bar of South Carolina in the year 1829, and soon acquired a lucrative practice. As a counsellor, solicitor, and advocate, I can speak of him with unfeigned pleasure. Ha was engaged in the most important causes on his circuit, and was always equal to them. In the Supreme Court, some of his arguments are marked by research, learning, and ability. His ambition aspired rather more to political distinction than to forensic reputation, and before he entered upon the responsible duties of public life, he took an active part in popular meetings in the exciting politics of the time. In 1840 he was returned a member of the Legislature of South Carolina. His efforts here enhanced his reputation among his constituents His career in that body is better known to others present than to myself. Judging from a notice taken of him in a late book of biographical sketches, he has acquired something like a historical reputation. In early life he was thoroughly schooled in the doctrines of the Republican party, and throughout his political career he adhered to them with consist| ency and firmness. Mr. SIMS possessed in a very high degree what is implied in the term address. He was a pleasing speaker, a man of frank and conciliatory manners, and of kind and tolerant disposition. The triumph of his late success, and his sudden death, were brought in instructive proximity with each other, and are mournful commentaries on the mutability of human life, and the nothingness of human ambition. If he had faults, Mr. President, (and who of us is without them?" the heart knoweth its own bitterness,") let them sleep with him in the grave, the common lot and the rebuking leveler of mankind. Mr. President, I offer the following resolutions: with deep sensibility of the sudden death of the Resolved, unanimously, That the Senate has heard Hon. ALEXANDER D. SIMS, a Representative from the State of South Carolina. Resolved, unanimously, That the members of the Senate, from a sincere desire of showing every mark of respect to the memory of the deceased, will wear the usual badge of mourning for thirty days. Resolved, unanimously, That, as a further mark of respect for the memory of the deceased, the Senate do now adjourn. Agreed to, and the Senate adjourned. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THURSDAY, December 14. SAMUEL A. BRIDGES, from the State of Pennsylvania, appeared this day and took his seat. Death of Hon. Alexander Dromgoole Sims. Mr. WALLACE rose and said: Mr. SPEAKER: I rise, sir, to call the attention of this honorable body to an afflictive dispensation of Divine Providence, which has deprived this House of one of its most useful members, and the State of South Carolina of a much valued and honored citizen. On the 16th day of November last, in the forty-sixth year of his age, my colleague, the honorable ALEXANDER DROMGOOLE SIMs, breathed his last, in the village of Kingstree, Williamsburg district, in the State of South Carolina. He died, surrounded by devoted friends, in the midst of the people he so ably and faithfully represented on this floor. The approach of death, even when his fatal forever dissolved. [DECEMBER, 1848. the honest man and the worthy citizen. But it has pleased an all-wise Providence to remove him hence; and while we bow with humble resignation to the will of Him who holds the destinies of nations as well as individuals in his hand, we, at the same time, cannot but feel that the loss of a citizen of such distinguished public worth and ability is indeed a public calamity. sincere desire of showing every mark of respect Resolved, unanimously, That this House, from a due to the memory of the Hon. ALEXANDER D. SIMS, deceased, late a member of this body, will go into mourning by wearing crape on the left arm for thirty days. In order, Mr. Speaker, that suitable and apA few days only has passed since my honor-propriate honors may be paid to the memory able colleague filled that seat (pointing to Mr. of the distinguished dead, I move, sir, the folSIMS's seat on the floor of the House) with dis-lowing resolutions: tinguished honor to himself and his country. He was in the prime of life, in the full enjoy ment of health, and apparently with a long and honorable career of usefulness and distinction in the path of life before him. But when most unlooked for by himself or his friends, "the silver cord was loosed, the pitcher broken at the fountain," and he now calmly sleeps, undisturbed and unshaken by the rude blasts of life, "in the narrow house appointed for all living." This awful dispensation of Divine Providence is of consequence not only to the dead, to the immortal destiny of our departed friend, but is full of instruction and admonition to the living also. It most forcibly reminds us of the frail and uncertain tenure of human life, the vanity and nothingness of all human ambition and human pursuits, and that, of a truth, "in the midst of life we are in death." Mr. SIMS was a native of Virginia, and was born in Brunswick county, in that State, in the year 1803. At the age of twenty-three, he graduated at Union College, in the State of New York. After the close of his collegiate course, he read law with his friend and relative General Dromgoole, at one time a distinguished member of this honorable body from the State of Virginia. Resolved, unanimously, That, as a further mark of respect to the memory of the Hon. ALEXANDER D. SIMS, this House do now adjourn. And the House adjourned until to-morrow at twelve o'clock. IN SENATE. MONDAY, December 18. Railroad across the Isthmus. Mr. BENTON moved that the Senate proceed to the consideration of the special order, being the bill to make compensation for the transportation of troops and supplies, for a limited time, over the Isthmus of Panama; which motion was agreed to. Mr. BENTON then said: Mr. President, the object of that bill has been very fully set forth by the petition of the memorialists, which was laid before the Senate several days since, and which has been printed by order of the Senate for the use of its members, and reprinted in the newspapers in this city, and many newspapers throughout the country. The object which the petition so fully, and yet so briefly and clearly points out, needs nothing at all from me to enhance it in the estimation of this body or the country. It is vain, sir, for me to enlarge upon the subject. This great object, favored by all persons and circumstances and considerations, needs no com In 1826, he removed to Darlington district, in the State of South Carolina; and in 1829, was admitted to the practice of law in the courts of that State, where he soon rose to eminence in his profession, in the practice of which he continued until the year 1840, when he was returned a member of the General Assembly for Darlington, in which service he continued until elected to Congress, in 1844. And his constituency, among the most intelli-mendation from me. gent in the State, have pronounced their ap- The bill, Mr. President, puts it into the proval of his course as a member of this hon-hands of the Secretary of the Navy to contract orable body, by re-electing him twice to the with those petitioners for a limited time, and same responsible position, his last election hav- for a sum not exceeding a certain amount. ing transpired but a few days before his death. Mr. SIMS was a statesman of the State-rights school, and his public life-at all times distinguished by much ability, the strictest integrity, and a conscientious discharge of every dutywas in strict conformity to the doctrines of the true republican faith. Of our departed friend it may be truly said, he was a faithful friend and a true patriot The conclusion of this contract is put into the hands of the Secretary of the Navy, because in his hands alone is the great business of the mail steamers plying between our possessions on the Atlantic and our possessions on the Pacific side of North America. These mail steamers are designed, to a certain extent, to become auxiliary and subservient to the naval operations of the United States, liable to become a part of its naval force, and on that account they are not under the control of the Postmaster-General, to whom their immediate supervision would seem to belong. Nor does this bill command the Secretary of War-to whom, also, might be referred the approval of such contracts with propriety-to conclude it. The Secretary of the Navy is the person to whom the bill refers the conclusion of the contract, because he already has in his hands the great business of controlling the Steamships which carry mails between the eastern and western extremes of our possessions, and it only lacks, sir, that a link be completed which lies between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, to perfect the communication between the two sides of our continent. The bill also provides for the transportation of naval as well as military stores; therefore, it very appropriately refers the completion of the contract to the Secretary of the Navy. The persons, Mr. President, named in the bill, and who, if the bill passes, are those with whom the contract will be made, are persons who, in my opinion, are entitled to the most favorable consideration. They are, in the first place, persons who are acquainted practically with what they undertake to do. One of the petitioners, Mr. Stephens, is known throughout the reading world for his travels in a part of South America, which lies near the country over which this road is to run. Besides being known as a traveller in all this region, he has visited the isthmus in company with two engineers, to ascertain for himself, not merely the practicability, but the cost of the work; and, though necessarily aided by the surveys which have been made heretofore under the contracts of different governments, he has nevertheless examined every inch of ground himself, accompanied by skilful engineers, who have made their own report of the route. He has knowledge upon the subject, and without knowledge of the subject, it is in vain for anybody to undertake it. The company who apply for this privilege have another recommendation-that of capital to accomplish it. They then, sir, have another recommendation, which is, an interest in the completion of the work. They are the contractors for the transportation of the mails on the other side of the isthinus. They have already put afloat three steamers of the first class, which have cost them six hundred thousand dollars. These steamers are now passing around to commence the business of transportation on the other side of the isthmus. They have, then, a great sum already embarked in this business, and they have a direct interest in making successful the large amount of money which they have invested on the other side. They who undertake to carry persons and things" from the other side of the isthmus are those who, above all others, are the most interested in having the means of accomplishing, in the shortest possible time, the transit across the isthmus of the " persons and things" in 66 [30TH CONG. the transportation of which their success depends. They have a direct interest in their money already invested, and they have an interest in the success of their enterprise. They have another reason, Mr. President, why they should have this grant from us. They already have it from the Government which owns the country-from the Government of New Granada-and are at this time in possession of the privilege of opening this road. I will read to the Senate the letter of General Herran, Minister from New Granada to this Government, procured by these three gentlemen, Messrs. Aspinwall, Stephens, and Chauncey. It is dated— LEGATION OF NEW GRANADA, Washington, Dec. 18, 1848. GENTLEMEN: I have had various conferences with Mr. John L. Stephens, as representative of the association which you have formed, and with powers sufficient to solicit the privilege of constructing a railroad in the Isthmus of Panama, under the conditions which, in the name of my Government, I have proposed to him. From these conferences it has resulted that Mr. Stephens has given me sufficient guarantees, besides those which are expressed in the privilege conceded to Matthew Klein, under date of the 8th of June, 1847, to insure the execution of this work, [this is a very material statement, sir,] and that your association binds itself to fulfil the conditions which I have proposed in favor of New Granada, besides those which are set forth in the privilege. In virtue of this agreement, I declare that you are in possession of the privilege conceded by the Government of New Granada for the construction of a railroad over the Isthmus of Panama. I am, your very obedient servant, P. A. HERRAN. Messrs. W. H. ASPINWALL, JNO. STEPHENS, and HENRY CHAUNCEY. This letter is in Spanish, sir, and I give it a literal translation as I go on. The last sentence is perhaps the most essential of all. "In virtue of this agreement I declare that you are in possession of the privilege conceded by the Government of New Granada for the construction of a railroad over the Isthmus of Panama." So, that, Mr. President, besides securing to these applicants this contract heretofore, as stated by them in their petition, the Minister of New Granada has now, on this day, given them an official letter declaring that they are in possession of it. And it is probable that the Minister himself may be within the sound of my voice when I make this declaration, that he has, on this day, and for the purpose for which it is now used, declared that these persons are in possession of the privilege granted by that Government. Let it be known that this day the parties are in possession. I deem it fortunate, Mr. President, that, after the delays which have taken place for more than three centuries, in executing some easy and practicable communication between these two great oceans, the time has arrived now when the great work can be accomplished. Two Governments, both in the New World, republics, and friendly to each other, have entered into a treaty for the purpose of securing the execution of this work. An article has been inserted in the treaty, unanimously agreed to on the part of the American Senate, by which, sir, we acquire an interest, an invaluable interest, in the use of that work, provided we use the right secured to us of opening the way across the isthmus. This is done by two Republics-powers of the New World-acting together in making this treaty, and taking into their own hands as appropriate, the great work which is to carry into effect the great idea of Columbus, in proposing to go west in order to arrive at the east. It is now in our power to accomplish it. The petitioners undertake to do it within three years; and that undertaking is made by an actual view, an actual examination by engineers of the whole work to be accomplished. Their contract with the Government of New Granada gives them eight years in which to do this work. The privilege of which they alone are now in possession expires after eight years, and does not expire for eight years; but, actuated by their own interests, as well as anxious to comply with the universal desire to facilitate the intercourse between the two great oceans, these petitioners are ready to accomplish this work within less than half the time. This is as desirable to us, to the Government of this country, and to all who have yet to traverse the two oceans, as it is to them. Their interest requires it, and our convenience, and the successful carrying on of our own business requires it also. In the case of this companyinformed as they are-acquainted as they are with the work which they have to do, and in possession of the necessary capital to accomplish it already having six hundred thousand dollars invested in the line, which is on the other side of the Isthmus, and deeply interested in the returns which they have themselves to get from capital already laid out-we have every possible human guarantee that these gentlemen will have the work accomplished within the time which they name. Then, Mr. President, it is a subject of congratulation, a subject of rejoicing, that the United States of America, one of the first powers in the world, shall be the first to carry out the great idea of Columbus of going west to obtain the east. Other plans may follow, sir. There is one contemplated across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec by an English company. Let it go on. Let it succeed. Let there be as many as possible. But, sir, when that work is accomplished, it is still a British work. It is none of ours. It is not guaranteed to us by treaties. We will have to take our chance along with other nations. We may also, sir, in time, perhaps before long, accomplish the great idea of Mr. Jefferson [DECEMBER, 1848. in sending Lewis and Clarke to the Pacific Ocean, the great object of which was to examine into the practicability of opening a communication between the two sides of the continent. We may have an American road yet to the Pacific Ocean: but that must be a work of time. The work across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec may be called a foreign work, as it concerns us. This across the Isthmus of Darien may be considered an American work, and that will be completed immediately. İ hope, then, that the Senators may see that every interest and every feeling that belongs to the Americans-for I appropriate that term by way of distinction to the first power in the New World-should make us anxious to accomplish this work, and to do it at once. Great will be the pride of all America to be the first to accomplish this work, and to accomplish it under circumstances which will give it a national character with respect to ourselves. Mr. BREESE. Mr. President, I do not rise at this time for the purpose of discussing the merits of this important enterprise. I shall leave that for some other and more auspicious time. But I rise to express my hope that the honorable Senator from Missouri will not attempt to precipitate action upon this bill, nor attempt to get a vote of the Senate upon it to-day, nor this week, but that he will give us ample time and abundant opportunity to consider it fully in all its details, and in its whole scope. I rise, sir, merely to state to the Senate that I have received information, upon which I can implicitly rely, that a far more beneficial proposition than this presented by the Committee on Military Affairs, will very soon be offered for the consideration of the Senate. Sir, this is a vast matter, and a vast undertaking which these individuals, the memorialists to this Government, are about to attempt, and for which they are to receive the sanction, patronage, and funds of the Government. If I understand any thing about it, this road will be about fifty miles in length, which, at a cost of fifty thousand dollars per mile, would amount to a little more than two millions of dollars. And now, sir, by this bill the Government proposes to pay to them, for twenty years, six millions of dollars for transportation of all kinds, leaving a profit of four millions, without counting the tolls levied on that portion of the commerce of the world that may pass over the route. The Senator says we have obtained the right to pass across the isthmus by treaty with New Granada, and that that right will be gone unless we exercise it. What is that right designated by the 35th article of the treaty? It is nothing more than a right of way guaranteed to us, and we are not subjected to the condition of constructing a road in order to secure the privileges guaranteed by this right of way. I hope the attention of the Senate will be called to this matter, and to the vast sum of |