Within these walls, for a course of years, I have been an admiring witness of a succession of information, eloquence, patriotism, and independence, which, as they would have done honor to any Senate in any age, afford a consolatory hope, (if the Legislatures of the States are equally careful in their future selections, which there is no reason to distrust,) that no council more permanent than this, as a branch of the Legislature, will be necessary, to defend the rights, liberties, and properties of the people, and to protect the Constitution of the United States, as well as the constitutions and rights of the individual States, against errors of judgment, irregularities of the passions, or other encroachments of human infirmity, or more reprehensible enterprise, in the Executive on one hand, or the more immediate representatives of the people on the other. These considerations will all conspire to animate me in my future course, with a confident reliance, that as far as my conduct shall be uniformly measured by the Constitution of the United States, and faithfully directed to the public good, I shall be supported by the Senate, as well as by the House of Representatives, and the people at large; and on no other conditions ought any support at all to be expected or desired. With cordial wishes for your honor, health, and happiness, and fervent prayers for a continuation of the virtues, liberties, prosperity, and peace, of our beloved country, I avail myself of your leave of absence for the remainder of the session. THURSDAY, February 16. The VICE-PRESIDENT being absent, the Senate proceeded to the choice of a PRESIDENT _pro tempore_, as the constitution provides, and the honorable WILLIAM BINGHAM was duly elected. _Ordered_, That the Secretary wait on the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, and notify him of the election of the Honorable WILLIAM BINGHAM, to be PRESIDENT of the Senate _pro tempore_. _Ordered_, That the Secretary notify the House of Representatives of this election. On motion, _Ordered_, That Messrs. SEDGWICK, BURR, and TRACY, be a committee to prepare and report the draft of an answer to the Address delivered yesterday to the Senate, by the VICE PRESIDENT of the United States. TUESDAY, February 21. The bill to accommodate the PRESIDENT was read the third time; and, being further amended, On motion that it be _Resolved_, That this bill pass, it was decided in the affirmative--yeas 28, nays 3, as follows: YEAS.--Messrs. Bingham, Bloodworth, Blount, Bradford, Brown, Foster, Goodhue, Gunn, Henry, Hillhouse, Howard, Langdon, Latimer, Laurance, Livermore, Marshall, Martin, Pain, Read, Ross, Rutherford, Sedgwick, Stockton, Tattnall, Tazewell, Tichenor, Tracy, and Vining. NAYS.--Messrs. Cocke, Hunter, and Mason.