The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1847-12-30
TnlRTIETm CONGRESS- FIRST SESSION.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 9, l647.
u. s. SENATE.

order by Vice Presiden. Dallas, its presi.
ding officer.
A prayer was then offered by the Rev
Mr.. Sliccr, the chaplain.
At the rol! call, forty -onc Senators on
| swcrcd TO their names.
The credentials Of the following Sena.
tors were presented aud read, aud after be-
ing qualified, they took their scnts, viz
John P. Hale, of N. H.; Joseph r. Under
wood, Of KY; Solomon w. Downs, Of Ln.;
John II. Clarke, Of r. L.; Jefferson Davis
Of Miss; Stephen a. Donglass Of Illinois
james w. Bradbury, Of Maine; Alpheu:
Fclch Of Michigan.
The following Senators, whose crcden-
tails were prcnsen,ed nj tho last session
were qualified, viz: Messrs. Ashley, Man
gum. Footc, Hunter, Miller aud Sprunncc
On motion Of Mr.. Breesc, il was order
cd that the Secretary ncqnaint the House
of Representatives that the Senate was
ready 10 proceed TO business.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
At IL o'clock, Mr.. French, the Clerk o.
the last House, called the names Of tho
members elected TO the Goth Congress, and
stated that 30 were present.
On motion Of Mr.. John Quincy Adams,
The members proceeded to tho election ofu
Speaker.
Al the suggestion Of Mr.. French, tho
Clerk, Mr.. King, Of Massachusetts, Mr.
Black of South Carolina, and Mr.. Thomp.
son. Of Indiana, acted rs tellers.
The first ballot resulted US follows: Whole
number Of votes 300, necessary to choice
Ill. Mr.. Winthrop received los; Mr.
BOYD 81; Mr.. McCIcllnnd, Of Michigan, %
Mr.. AlcCIernand, Of Illinois, IL; others IL.
Second balot-whole number Of votes
2l9; necessary to choice 10. Mr.. Win.
throp received 100; Mr.. Boyd 50; Mr.
Nc lelland l3; others Is.
Third ballot--wholc number Of votes
els; necessary to choice 10. Mr.. Win.
,hrop received 10; Mr.. Boyd 81; Mr.
McClelland IA.
Mr.. King, on the part Of the tcllers, an.
nounccd the result, that Mr.. Winthrop was
elected Speaker, whcreupon he was con.
Quoted to the Chair by Mr.. vinton and Mr.
Mckay.
The following eloquent address was dc.
livcrcd by Mr.. Winthrop on being con
Quoted to the Chair ns Speaker Of the
House.
Gentlemen cfthe House 9 Representatives.
ofhc United States:
mn deeply sensible Of the honor which
you have conferred upon me by the vote
which has just been announced, aud ] pray
leave 10 express my most grateful ncknowl-
Judgements to those who have thought inc
worthy Of SO distinguished mark Of their
confidence.
When remember by whom this chair
has been filled in other years, and still
more, when reflect on the constitution !
character Of the body before me, canno,
hn, feel that you have assigned me posi-
ton worthy Of any mans ambition, md fur
above the rightful reach Of my own. mp
preach the discharge Of its duties with a
profound impression ut once Of their digni-
" md OF their difficulty.
Seven years Of service ms n member Of
this branch o! the National Legislature
have more than sulliccd to teach me that
this is no place of mere formal routine or
ceretnonious rcpcsc. Severe labors, per.
picking cares, trying responsibilities, await
any one who is called 10 il, even under the
most suspicious and favorable circumstan.
ccs. How, then, can help trembling o,
the tnsk which you have imposed upon me
in the existing condition of this House arc
Of the Country?
In time Of war, ia time Of high polit.
ical excitement, in a timo Of momentou.
national controversy, see before me tho
Representatives oflhc People almost equal
ly divided, not merely, MS the votes thi.
morning have already indicated, in their
preference for persons, but in principle
and in opinion, on many Of the most impor
tant questions on which thoy have assem-.
blcd to deliberate.
May not reasonably claim, in advance
from you oil, something more than an ordi
nary measure of forbcarnncc and indul.
gencc, for whatever Of in ability | may man.
iicst, in meeting the exigencies and cnbar.
easements which cannot hope to escape
Aud may not reasonably implorc, with
something more than common fcrvency,
upon your labors and upon my own, tho
blessing Of that Almighty Power, whose re-
corded attribute il is, that '.lle mnketh men
TO be Of one mind in house,"
Let Us enter. gentlemen, upon our work
Of Legislation with solemn sense Of our
responsibility TO God and to onr country.
However We may be divided on questions
Of immediate policy, We arc united by the
closest ties Of permanent interest aud per.
mancnt obligation. We are the Rcpresen
tntives Of twenty millions Of people, bound
together by common laws and a common
liberty. A common flag fonts daily over