The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-03-25
SENATE OF PENNSYLVANIA.
SATURDAY, March, -, 1871.
ADDRESS OF MIR. PENROSE.
On resigning The office Of Speaker Of the Senate.

Mr.. PENROSE rose and said
SENAroRs-C Circumstances have occurred which in
drce TO resign the office of Speaker at period in
the Session, somewhat earlier than that which has
been indicated by the prevailing usage Of this body II
were about to the connexicn which has sub
sisted between myself and the Senate of Pennsylvania
for many years under ordinary circumstances,
might perhaps content myself with simple commune
cation ofthe fact OF my resignation, and conhne my
self TO the expression of the profound gratitude with
which have been penetrated for the uniform kindness
and the friendly courtesy | have experienced at the
hands of every ofits members But there is some
thing perhaps in the position which now occupy
something in the act which l about to perform
which may me for craving your indulgence for
one moment while suggest of those reflections
which the pecularcs of my situation may render not
inappropriate to the occasion. l am about TO surren-
der the high trust which your generous confidence has
conlded to me- and this is to be only the precursor
of my final separation from body with which have
been connected for eight years and over which have
had the honor to preside for very considerable portion
of that time Here in the service OF the public have
spent very large portion of my active life; here in
the society of my equals have found those sympathe-
tic associations and framed those personal at
tachmcn,s which have entwined themselves about my
heart and will only TO influence that heart when
its last pulse shall have ceased TO beat 10 me is
epoch in life which has been cast in avery event
full PERIOD and has not been either without Its labors
or lis vicssitu1es may be excused therefore, under
these circumstances, standing as do upon line
which is about TO separate from connexions sodear
If should ask you bear with me, for one moment
while endeavor to cast eye of retrospecton over
the long of time which has been my fortune TO
traverse as public man. The period of my connoxi-
with this body has been OF no ordinary moment
in the history of common country and glorious
Commonwealth, OF its political incidents and changes
have nothing to say. | would moi, on occasion
which, to me, possesses much of tenderness this
jar which might possibly vibrale unplea-
sanity under the recollection of past political conflicts
do not deprecatc the strife of party There much
of good and evil mingled in cup all the condi-
tons of life that he who would refuse the one because
he cannot separate it from the other must often run
the risk of sacrificing both These party differences,
by which we may have been divided, are perhaps es-
sentia to the existence of that unslcepnp vigilance by
which alone Republican institutions can be presery ed
Ifthere be evil in them have the consolation OF
knowing that there is the time 80 much of good
that il would be difficult for any to affirm that il
would be better for him that they did not exist at all
For my own part as individual, can truly say on
looking round my brethren here that however fruitful
the long period which have referred may have been
of party of the ccest character there is not
one of them which has left sting in my BOSOM the
recollection of which occasions any the slightest
kindness of feeling towards any individual member OF
the Senate-any emotion which would blush TO dis
close this my final separation from those with whom
have so long co-operated in the advancement of the
interests of this great State.
do not, gentlemen propose to fatigue you by de-
tails They would he inconsistent with the occasion
and equally lnapplicable to the purposes with which
set When desired your attention TO a portion
of my past career, only with the view to furnish
you with rapid survey of the in which | have
participated, Tor the purpose of exhibiting the great
principles which have constantly directed my conduct
public man.
II is scarcely necessary for me to say that | came
into public lite much younger than | am now
with all the sensibties of ardent nature smula-
ted by devoted attachment to the benign institutions
under which had been reared which has grown with
my growth and strengthened with my strength. /
too, allow add under the influence Of these
feelings with earnest determination 10 sgnallze it
practically could my conDexion with the Legisla-