Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-03-11
END OF TWENTY-SIXTH CONGRESS.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
"WEDNESDAY Eyrstyn N,,.L = ts,,


At twelve o'clock az night a motion was made
that the House do adjourn.
hrmaliye. ''o ~
And lbereupon the Speaker rose from his chair,
and addressed the House as follows:
GENTLEMEN: IL IS with the deepest sensibility |
rise 10 return you my grateful acknowledgements for
all Of your Kindness, ere perform the last ofici,
act winch - to separate many Of u.s. perhaps for.
ever II II Is no light thing, under any circum.
stances, to break up long-slandinc assosinons how
much graver must he the emotions with which we
PifI from those who meet US IN confidence, and take
loaye Of US in kindnessl
A consciousness Of my own deficiencies forces me
u attribute much Ct the high compliment which
you have offered me TO that courtesy which relieves
and soitens our intercourse in the various relations
Of social and official LIE. But, may I not, az the
same time, ascH9e ~ IN part. to your Of the
motives by which have been governed in the dis.
charge Of the duties Of mr Officer If have not
done all that an ADLER RAN would have Effected in
my station, still u - TO be remembered that No Other
has ever been called 10 tbs place so unezpecteJlv
and under 50 many circumstances Of difficulty and
embarrassment 10 nicely.bslanceJ state Of par.
ties, and AMID scenes Of great political excitement
was selected 70 execute your highest and most de.
licaie trust without previous preparation or expe.
renee, and with no party 10 sustain me- other Than
those friends whom might make by endssvorioe
to dlsehnrge my duues justly and impauialiy. /
iyit'AW UeUJ " we ullNCulue9 10 which j should
be exposed, and Il had consulted my own case.
perhaps should not have accepted the Office, wish nv
view Of ne duties, and under the circun s'ances 10
which have alluded. But higher consideration. /
trust, determined me 10 undertake the arduous t,sk
and 10 make you the best return In nv pover Tor
the confidence with which you had honored rne-
IN the excited and ieverIsh STATE of mind which then
existed, not only here, but in the country NJ large
believed hat Speaker, who would manifest Dc
SIRE 70 deai justly upon oil occasons could be more
u'eiul Than one Of lir gresisr abilities who would
hold THIS char With no higher aim tbsn thar Of lead.
og ms party 10 victory, and Of dealing by the van-
qu'hed with only such generosity a. the conqueror
/ nay 0estow upon the conquered. This view Of me
sorpiees which a Speaker, in the opinion Of ,oo
many, may legigmatoy render to Nj, friends. ,gould
soon perVert party organizations from the nobls
pursuits Of truth and justice into mors contes, n,
power and office, and, under mildsr forms in5,ss
lge spirit Of civil war into the divisions this Uouss
snd tie patton. He who administers this Office II,
himself OF he party msy do much or both but h,
who seeks the common good must sdminister il for
tbe country, and deal Justly ny sj in pursuing
tbs latter course, 10 times Of high party excitement
be will doubtless expose his motives 10 msconstruc
ton, and himself TO censure; but there is OF last,
satisfaction IN the consciousness Of reciitude hiebe
than public praise, and bsyond the reach even q
public censure. knew, when took the ofice tina
should not be able 70 execute It's duties entirel,
eeeosding 70 my conception OF their nature but
believed that The mere effort 10 do 20 nigh, serve a
useful example hereafter.