The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-03-27
SENATE OF PENNSYLVANIA.
SATURDAY, March, 10, l841.
ADDRESS OF Mr.. PENROSE.
On resigning the office of Speaker Of the Senate.
NJ. PENROSE rose and said ;

Mr.. PENROSE rose and said
SENATOR'S Circumstances have occurred which i'm
duce 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 If
/ were about to sever the connexcn 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 of the fact OF my resignation and confne 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 Inow occupy.
something in the act which | am about to perform
which may for craving your indulp for
one moment while suggest of those reflections
which the peculianes of my situation may render not
inappropriate to the occasion. am about to surren-
berthe high trust which your generous confidence has
conhded to me- and tins act 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 sympahe-
tic associations and framed those warm personal at
tachments, which have entwned themselves about INV
heart, and will only cease to influence that heart when
its last pulse shall have ceased to beat To me il is
epoch in life which has been cast in very event
fu period, and has not been either without its labors
its vcissitudes. Imay be excused therefore, under
these circumstances, standing as | do upon line
which is about to separate from connexions dear
-if should ask you TO bear with me- for one moment
while endeavorto cast an eye of rerospection
the long tract of time which it has been my fortune TO
traverse public man. The period of my connexi
with this body has been one OF no ordinary moment
in the history of our country and our glorious
Commonwealth Of its political incidents and changes
have nothing to say, | would not on IN occasion
which, to me- possesses much oftenderness this
jar nerve which might possibly vbrate unpea-
sanity under the recollection of past political conflicts
do not deprecaeth strife of party. There much
Of good and evil mingled in cup, in all the cond
ons of life that he who would refuse the because
he cannot separate it from the other must often run
the fisk of sacrificing both. These party differences
by which we may have been divided, perhaps
sental the existence Of that unsleepng vigilance by
which alone Republican Institutions be preserved
Ifthere he evil in them, we have the consolation of
knowing that there is at the time much of good
that it would be difficult for any to affirm that it
would be better for him that they did not exist at all
For my own part, as an individual, can truly say on
looking round my brethren here, that however fruitful
the long period which have referred may have been
of party contests of the erces character, there
of them which has left sting in my bosom, the
recollection of which occasions any the slightest I'M
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 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 me occasion
and equally nappicable to the purposes with which
set out. When desired your attention 10 portion
of my past career only with the view to furnish
you with rapid survey Of the acts in which ! have
participated for the purpose of exhibiting the great
principles which have constantly directed my conduct
as public man.
1t Is scarcely necessary for me to say that came
into public life much younger man than am now
with all the sensibiltes of an ardent nature stmula
ted by devoted attachment the benign institutions
under which Ihad been reared, which has grown with
my growth and strengthened with my strength.
came too allow TO add under the influence of these
feelings, with determination TO sgnalize if
practically could, my connexion with the Legsla-