Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1861-07-16
Speech Of Speaker Grow,


pie, we copy the following speech,
made by the Speaker elect, on the oc-
caslon of taking his seat:
Gentlemen of the House Of Repre-
sentatives of the United States of Amer
ica Words Of thanks for the honor
conferred by the vote just announced,
would bat feehly express the hearts
gratitude. While apprecialing this
distinguished mark Of your confidence,
| am not unmindfuI Of the trying duties
incident 10 the position to which you
have assigned me. Surrounded al all
times by grave responsibilities, it is
doubiy so iii this hour Of national dis
aster,when every consideration OF graf
nude 10 the past and obligation to the
future tendriIs around the present.
Four score years ago, ffty-six bold
merchants, farmers, lawyers and me-
chanics, 1be representatives. Of a few
feeble colonies, scattered along the At
lanuc sea-boa~d, met in convention to
found a new empire, based on the IN
allenable rights Of men. Seven years
Of bloody conflict ensued, and the Fourth
OF July, 1916, is canonized in the
hearts of the great AMI good as the
jubilee Of oppressed natiohalities, and
IA the calendar Of heroic deeds IL marks
a new era IN the history of the race.
Three of century have
passed away, and the few feeble colo
nlstS, hemmed in BY the ocean 10 front,
the wilderness and the savage 10 the
rear, have spanned who'e continent
with great empire of Free States,
rearing throughout It's vast wilderness
the temples Of science and civ v;lIzation
on The ruins of savage life.
Happiness seldom If ever equaled,
has surrounded the domestic fre,sde,
and prosperity unsurpassed has crown
ed the rational energies, the liberties
Of the people have been secure at home
and abroad. while the national stand
ard Aoo,od, hunorcd and respected III |
every commercial mart in the world
On the return of the glorious ami |
versary. after 4 period but little ex-
ceediug the allotted time of man, the +
peoples representatives are convened I
in the counci! chambers of the rcpub-
lie, 10 deliberate on the means for pre-
serving the government under whose I
benign Influence these grand results I
have been achieved.
4 rebellion, the most causeless in |
the history of the race, has developed f.
a conspiracy of long Standing 10 destroy
the constitution formed by the wisdom
OF our fathers and the Union cemented T
by their blood. This conspiracy, nur-
tured for long years IN secret councils, /
first developed itself openly in acts of
spolIation and Iluuder, with the corniv- |
ance or under the protection of treason
enthroned IN all the high places of the
Government, and at last IN armed re-
beIlion for the overthrow of the best
government ever designed by man.
Without an effort N the mode pre-
scribed IN the organic law for ii redress
Of all grievances, the malcontenIs APP I
peal only 10 the arbi,rameni of the .
sword. insul, the natio4's honor, and .
trample upon lis flag, inaugurate "A rev.
oluton. which. Il successful. would end /
IN establishing peuy Earring confedera-
cles or anarchy upon the luins of the I
republic, and the destruction of lis lib. I
erlleS.
The l9th of April, csnonized in the
1rst struggle for American nationality, /
has been reconsecra.ed In the martyr
blood OF Warren. who has his own
counterpart in Ellsworth, and the hero
lc deeds aud patriotic sacrifices Of The +
struggle for the establishments of the /
republic and being reduced upon the 7
battlefield for lis malulainancc. Every I
race and tongue of men almost is rep I
resented IN the grand legion of the /
Unon-thelr standards proclaiming 10 [
a language more impressive than words, +
that there Is Indeed the home OF the t
emlgrant and the asylum OF the exile; +
no matter where WAS his birthplace, or .
IA what cline his infancy was Graded, /
he devotes bis lite to the defense OF
his adopted country. the vlndlcalIon OF .
rs honor, and the protection OF lis flag
with The same zeal with which he
would defend his hcarlI.stone and fire. .
side.
All parties, sects and conditions Of I
men, not corrupted by The institutions
OF hnlnon bondage, forgetting by-gnne .
raucors CT prrJadices, blend IL one +
pAaIanx tor Tue integrity of the Union /