Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-01-18
Speech of Lieut.. Gov. Myers, ON taking
the ChaiF Of the senate.

SENAroRs:--I have been called by the suffra-
ges Of our common constituency to preside over
your deliberations. Inexperienced as / am in
much that appertains to this situatior enter up
on the dischafgc of its dhties with unfeigned dis
trust Of my qualifications, and with full eonvic-
ton that ] shall not only need your forbearanco
but require your aid. -. ....s..-., $4,000
am aware how difficult it is in situation like
this, the duties Of which must often be discharg-
ed amidst excitement and without time for exam-
ination or reflection, for any man to give uniyer-
sal satisfaction, or even to escape censure. II
shall, however, be my constant purpose TO dis
charge the duties incumbent upon me with lin
partially, singleness Of purpose, aud fidelity of
Rules arc necessary Sr the government Of all
deliberative bodies, not only for the dispatch of
business, but for heprotection Of minorities from
the encroachments of power. Such rules as it
shall be your pleasure, from time to tme to adopt
you will Of course expect me to enforce shall
aim to do so with strict inpartiaiity and due re-
gard for the rights Of Senators, To suppose that
in their administration I viii not commit errors.
would be arroguting to myself far greater knowl-
edge of parliamentary law than | can claim to,
possess. 'a' 5H-" .A
| In order that we may be in the greatest degree,
useful to constituents, and maintain the digni-
| ty Of the Senate, it is necessary that we should
all, in the discharge of duties here, manifest
a spirit of kindness, forAeaRaRce, and mutual re-
spect for each other, and may not the hope be en-
1 tertained thatsuch will be the case throughout
I the present session? - - 1t''.s-@f o'-
| 1t is not my province to recommend. to you
measures for your deliberation, but it may not be
out of place to say, that the present, session of
| the General Assembly will not be one void of
high responsibilities to its members, and of great
interest 10 the people of this State. ga t.,t
We have had but one legislative body since,
the adoption of the new Constitutions which rem
dered necessary the remodelng of most of the
laws o the State, and the adaptation of many of
them to new and untried principles. The work
which was so we'll begun by our predecessors, is
not yet perfected. Hence it will be the duty of
the present General Assembly to revise such laws
as may require revision, and also to enact such
new laws as the exigencies of the State may de-.
mand. - '- '.' ~. - q
With the experience we now have of the work
ing OF the new system, nearer approximation to
perfection in legislation may be expected of the,
present than was attained by the last. General
Assembly. E = G p @.8 Gs S u
Confidently relying, gentlemen, upon your CO.,
operation and support to sustain me, shall en-
deavor to enforce the rules and preserve order and
decorum in debate This is necessary, hthat I'VE
may despatch the public business III the shortest
time practicable. .... .s..,,t ..,,,.,,-g-
Let me, in conclusion, 'exprese the hopes that
when we slIalI have ended our official duties here,
we may merit and receive from our constituents
the salutatIon, swell done, good and fathfulssrf
wants., .-s. -... - .',. r- -.,.,., .s.. ... l.