ccurred soon thereafter. Of the twenty-seven
Vice-Presidents thus far elected, ten have been from the State
of New York. Adams and Jefferson, the first and second
Vice-Presidents, rendered valuable service to the young Republic at
foreign courts; each by election was elevated to the Presidency; and
their deaths occurred upon the same historic Fourth of July,
just fifty years from the day they had signed the Declaration of
Independence.

A marble bust of each of the Vice-Presidents has been placed in
the gallery of the Senate Chamber. The office of Vice-President
is one of great dignity. He is the presiding officer of the
most august legislative assembly known to men. In the event of an
equal division in the Senate, he gives the deciding vote. This
vote, many times in our history, has been one of deep significance.
It will readily be seen that the contingency may often occur when the
Vice-President becomes an important factor in matters of
legislation.

On the occasion of the writer's retirement from office, March 4,
1897, he delivered the following farewell address before the Senate:

"Senators: The hour has arrived which marks the close of the
fifty-fourth Congress, and terminates my official relation to this
body.

"Before laying down the gavel for the last time, I may be pardoned
for detaining you for a moment, in the attempt to give expression to
my gratitude for the uniform courtesy extended me, for the many
kindnesses shown me, during the time it has been my good fortune
to preside over your deliberations. My appreciation of the Resolution
of the Senate personal to myself, can find no adequate expression in
words. Intentionally, I have at no time given offence; and I carry
from this presence no shadow of feeling of unkindness toward any
Senator, no memory of any grievance.

"Chief among the favors political fortune has bestowed upon me,
I count that of having been the associate--and known something
of the friendship--of the men with whom I have so long held official
relation in this chamber. To have been the presiding officer of
this august body is an honor of which even the most illustrious
citizen might be proud. I am persuaded that no occupant of this
Chair, during the one hundred and eight years of our Constitutional
history, ever entered upon the discharge of the duties pertaining to
this office more deeply impressed with a sense of the responsibilities
imposed, or with a higher appreciatio