Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-12-05
LEGISLATURE OF VIRGINIA.


LEGISLATURE OF VIRGINIA.
Election NJ Speaker ant Clerk Of lie Hoax o
Delegates
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
.Noadav, Dtccmbc. 2, 1914
/ Al ~ o'clock, Mr. PAYNE who is in tech
meal parlance, the 'Falhcr OF the House, being
its Oldest member, called the House 10 order
I Mr. WATTS said, the House having been
( called 10 order by the venerable gentleman from
/ Flnvanna. he would proceed hv his (Alr Paynes)
I request 10 move lis organization. He nominated
ior The Office Of Clerk, GEORGE w MuSroRp.
who had. for series of years. discharged with
signal ability and fidelity The duties Of the Office.
Mr.. Muniord was unanimously elected, and
was conducted 10 his scat BY Mr.. MCRAE OF
Henrico.
Mr. WATTS, addressing the Clerk, remarked,
that the next duty was 10 elect gentleman to ill
the Office of Speaker an Office 10 less important
than distinguished. Ii was Charles The Is. who,
on certain occasion, entered the House OF Com
mons and demanded OF the Speaker whether any
OF the FIVE members he came 10 apprchend. were
within the House The Speaker replied, May
it please Your majesty, have neither eyes 10 see
nor tongue to speak, but a. the House directs me.
whose servant aln here-and humbly beg your
pardon. that cannot give any other answer than
this 10 what your majesty is pleased TO demand.
This pilhy answcrdcfines the duty the Speak
or. He is The organ ot the House 10 enforce lis
rules and orders, and 10 give despatch 10 lis bust
ness.
Mr.. w. said he should nominate 4 gentleman
equal TO this task. when he brought forward the
name ol VALENTINE w. SorTnAL!., OF Alhcmarlc.
Mr.. 5. had the experience of several years ser
vice. and he was commended BY the unanimous
vote OF both parties OF the last House OF Dele
gates. The regular Speaker, now the lamen:ed
Hollcman, then being confined By ndsposiion
Mr.. Sou.hal was elected 10 i'll his place, and dis
charged lis duties TO the satisfaction of all. Mr.
w said as they had harmoniSed in the unanimous
election Of a Clerk he hoped they would he equal
ly united in eecling Speaker.
No other person was nominated. The Clerk call
ed the roll, and Mr.. Sou,hal was elected nearly
unanimously-he receiving ! IL vo!es McssIs.
Ward, and Mcpherson OF Page, voted for Robert
A. Banks, and Mr.. Davis OF Orange, voted for
Mr. Edmunds Of Halifax.
The following gentlemen were not in their
seats when the roll was called: Mcssrs. Miller,
Bcuhrng, Ejmunds OF HALIFAX, Stovall, MAYO,
Banks Baskerville, Middleton, Barnes and
MARI
Mr.. S0UTHALL being conducted 10 the
Chair hy AleSSrs. Waits and Anderson, returned
thanks, as follows
Permit me- gentlemen. in all sincerity. to thank
Won for The manifestation OF regard and CONT
dence you have just displayed in selecting and
calling me to preside over your deliberations: and
in accepting this delicate and responsible station,
in assuming, as do in all humility the onerous,
and, at times, difficult dniieS attached 10 il. feel
as frankly confess, that nv main reliance, for
their proper discharge, must he upon Your for
bearance and upon your support. Recollecting,
as trust shall, gentlemen. and as trust my iu-
ture course will evince that have been placed
here Is the presiding oihcer, not of 4 party, bnt
of the House of Delegates of Firginia-lhat
have been placed here 10 respect and properly 10
appreciate the rights and privileges of each and
every Misunderstanding alone 10 The order and
decorum, the character and dignity OF The body.
Without your aid, prompt and efficient; with
out generous and liberal support Of the Chan,
on Your part. in all moments Of trial and excite
merit, in vain ale any rules and regulations You
NAV adopt for your government, or lor the pre-
servation of order II is you, and You alone, IN
fnely more than any individual you may place
in this honorable station, that have the means and
the authority 10 protect yourselves against ire
gu!ari;ies and disorder And whilst assuring you,
gentlemen, that, with me, neither zeal nor labor
shall be wanting 10 fulfil your expectations, no
effort unemployed 10 discharge firmly, faithfully
and imparially, the duties incumbent upon me,
i
your id and assistance but in anticipation, crave
Your kind indulgence for what tear, YOU may
loo often find, lack OF ability, on my pat, 10
discharge, as should, the various duties devovcd
upon me as your presiding officer J
Assembled, as we are, from all paris Of our
wide aud extended Commonwcal,h--br
along the feelings which have ever characterized
her >ons--looking solely 10 her great interests and
general welfare; impressed with the responsibility
due Ia generous and cnnfding constituency, sure
am that we shall approach, with a proper spirit,
the high and sacred lrus, conided 10 us, and feel
patriotic emulation in the services Of cur beloved
country.
Divided as is the land of our birth By her noun
tains and her streams, stretching from the Allan
tic 10 the Ohio We yet exhibit the happy and era-
tiiying reiuta;ion OF he poets declaration, that
"Moun.airs interposcd
Make enemies of nations, who had else,
Like kindred drops, been mingled into one"
The hardy moun,aineer Of the West, as does
the native of the lowlands breathes the same
holy devotion 10 this our common mother and
each stands alike prepared 10 defend her honor 10
strike for her safety. and 10 hasten TO her calls
upon him. Tossed as We are al times upon The
ware OF party excitement; battling as We often
are among ourselves for onr respective political
principles, dear 10 cach divided, as proud and
| free and independent people, ever will be, upon
the great questions and policy OF government-yet,
these, we trust, are but the occasional heaviags
ofthe ocean which though agitatcd into occasion
| al storms, still bears in safety the vessel that
rides upon It's bosom. and is destined lrns,, 10
ouliye the threatening tempest. Amid these con-
fic,s and trials cur dear, our native land, still
holds upon our affections. ard its prosperity and
! happiness are still the end 10 which the patriot
i looks.
And though division of opinion will and ever
must exist as TO the policy and expediency of
measures-though The views Of some will con-
1ict with those Of others, as 10 what shall be hest
for the public good-,hough difference as to
means 10 accomplish 4 common end may be-
long 10 this as il will to every deiberative body
where freedom of thought and freedom Of action
prevail yet, "like The finger OF clock that runs
its circuit and is still at home" this variety of
| opinion, This conflict OF views, these occasional
struggles look, we trust bu, ultimately TO The
same resut-the common benefit Of the whole.
| May this spirit, gentlemen, ever animate our
public councils and control our public men
may the representatives OF the people on this
floor ever feel that each and every part Of our be-
loved commonwealth have the like claim. upon
them, and that each and every part are equally
entitled 10 the fostering cere Of legislative plo.ec