Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1861-07-09
speech OF speaker GROW, ON taking the
Chair.
glS61.

speech OF Speaker Grow, on taking the
| Chair.
On taking the chair in the House Of Repre-
sentatiyes, on Thursday, after his election as
Sneaker Hon, @. A. Grow spoke as follows:
"Gentlemen of the House of Representatives
of the United States of America; Words Of
thanks for the honor conferred rby the vote Just
announced would but feebly express the hearts
gratitude. While approaching this distinguished
mark Of your confidence, nm not nnmindiul OF
the trying duties incident to the position 10
which you have assigned me, Surrounded al an
times by grave responsibilities it is doubly soih
this hour Of National disorder when every con
sideration of gratitude 10 the past, and obliga-
ton to the future tendrills around the present
Fonr-score years ago, hfty-six bold merchants,
farmers, lawyers and mechanics, the representa-
lives OF few colonists scattered along tue
Atlantic seaboArd, met in convention to icund
new empire, ba. ed on the inalienable rights OF
man. Seven years OF bloody conflict ensned, and
the 9TH Of July, 1776, is canonised in the hearts
of the great and the good as the Jubilee oil OPP
oppressed Nationalitios, and 10 tho calendar OF
Theroic deeds il marks era in the history of the
human race
.phree quarters of q centuary have passed
away, aud the few feeble colonsts, hemmea ~
by the ocean in front aud the wilderness and the
savage iu the rear, have spanned whole con-
tiuent with great empire Of free States, rearing
throughout that vast wilderness the temples oil
science of civilization on the ruins OF savage llie'
Happiness, seldom il ever equalled, has sur
rounded the domestic freside, and prosperity I'M
1 suipassedhas crowned the nations energies Inc
iberties Of the people have been secured at home
aud abroad, while the National standard hoated
< honored and respected in every commercial mart
of the world On return ofths glorious anniSer-
sary, alter period but little exceeding the
allotted life time of man the peoples representa-
u tiyes are convened in tue Council Chambers oil
) the Republic to deliberate on the means Tor pre-
e serving the Government under whose benign
influence these grand results have been achieved
"a rebellion, the most caus eess in the history
Il of our race has developed conspiracy OF long
I, standing to destroy the Constitution formed by
" the wisdom of our fathers, and the Union
a ceinented by their blood. This conspiracy,
nurtured for long years in councils, first de
- yeoped itself openly in acts Of spohation and
Il plumber of public property, with the connlyance
4, or under protection of treason enthroned in all
% the high places of the Government, aud at last
:, in avowed rebellion for the overthrow of the best
Government ever devised by man Without an
10 effort in the mode prescribed in the orgaac law
10 for IL redress grievances the malcontehls
appeal only to the 'arbitrameAt of the sword,
, insult the nations honor, trample upon its nag,
and inaugurate revolution which, II successful,
T. would end in establishing petty jariing cOnfeder-
/, Of the Republic and the destruction OF its loer'
ties. g.,
+ "rhe l9th of April, canOnised in the first
- s,rugue for American nationality, has been 1e-
:, consecrated in martyrs blood. Warren has his
N counterpart in Ellsworth, and the heroic deeds
4, and patriotic sacrifices Of the struggle Tor the
II ea,ablishment of the Republic IRE being repro.
e, duced upon the battle fields for its maintenance
T. Every race aud tongue OF men, almost, IS repre-
n, scented in the grand Legion OF the Union. ThelI
standards proclaim, in language more impress
al aiye thnn words, that here indeed is the
,h home Of the emigrant and the asylum oil 'he
us exile No matter where was his birthplace, OIL
of in what cline his infancy was Graded, he devote'
bis life 10 the defence of his adopted land, thu
re yindicaton of its honor and the protection of it,
ht nnr. with the same zeal he would guard hi,
's hearthstone or Preside. All parties, secs ant
n, conditions Of men, not corrupted by the instiiu
!. tons Of human bondage, IRE forgotten. by
:" cones, rancors and prejudlces blend III ont
phalanx for the integrity OF the Union aud ih'
m perpetuity Of the Republic
bo 1Long years of peace in the pursuits of sOli'
gain, instead of bunting the patriotic devotion
~ Of los al citizens seem but to have intensified 1T
he development, when the existence of the Govern
ment is threatened or its honor assaulted.
49,, nrhe merchant, the banker and the tradesman
g with an alaeriiy unparalleled, proher their all a
"s the altar of their country while from tn
ne counter the workshop and the plough, bray
ng hearts and stout arms, leaving their tasks un
* finished, rush to ths tented field. The NJ
:. yibrates with martial strains, and the cart
>" shakes with the tread Of armed men. In view d
ed this the greatest demonstration for self presei
an walton in the history Of nationality, desponuln
nv patriotism may be assured that the foundation
~ of our national greatness still stands strong, nm
~ the sentiment which to day beats responsive
re- every loyal heart will for the future be realized
nl Az II; IN ha of tile MlgHiHbtpt
IN river will ever float permanently over IFS mouths
till ita waters are crimsoned in human gore an
on nat nnc foot of American soil can ever be wrese
leu from the jurisdiction of the Constitution OF III
cir United States, until it is bapused IN hre an
he blood. Vociferous applause upon the foor an
in the galleries, which lasted LOT many minutes
u0entlemen, as your presiding officer, it b.
md comes my duty to apprise you that any demol
IN, stration Of applause OF disapproval of anythlr
nv done OF said during your sessions, is in Violate
- of Parliamentary decorum, and the Chair wou
ao- also inform the persons in the galleries that a.
low plause by them is in violation OF good order al
his breach of the rules Of the House. The Cha
tbs homes therefore, that any demonstrations OIL a
=, plause will not be repeated
Ut --"sIn God is our trust,
'ng And the star spaugled banner forever shall wa
tier er land of the free and the home Oft tue Draw
hey Suppressed applause
vht mTbose who regard II ns mere cloth or bun
hey ing, fail to appreciate us sSp ,Sa o NV
elr Washington is known. II bears 10 its folds Y
not concentrated power of armies and nayes, 81
re. surrounds its yotaries with defence more il
- prcgnnble than hattemented wall or towe
'' Wherever OH the earth's surface an America
an citizen may wander, called by pleasure, buslne
our or caprice, it is a shield to secure him again
our outrage and wrong, save on part OF the soil
lies the land of his birth. ,,..
'''' uAs the guardians of the rights and liberti
ers, 80 ,ha nsonle il becomes YOUR paramount du
uc- 10 make it honored at home as it is respect
Ter. abroad. A Government that cannot comma
the LOYALTY Of its own citizens deserves the co
tempt OF the world. Applause
' ale who would tear down this grande
temple of constitutional liberty thus blastil
forever the hopes of humanity, because its fire
men, in the mode prescribed by the COnstitutio
select n Chief Magistrate not acceptable to hi
and is parracide to his race and should be regard
esi- nc n co,nmon enemv of mankind,
be "This Union, once destroyed, IS a shatter
Ays. vase that no human power can reconstruct IN
row original symmetry. Coarse stones, when tn
rom are broken, may be cemented again preco
hde ones never If the Republic is to be dismemb
4 OH cd aud the sun of its liberty must go out in en-
a less night, let it get amid the roar Of cam
orm md the din of battle, when there is no longer
G. arm 10 strike or heart to bleed in its cause,
lhli, that coming generations may not reproach
cad nrescut with being too imbecile to preserve
mill priceless legacy beQueathed by fathers, so
used 10 transmit it unimpaired to future times.
"Again gentlemen thanking you for yC
ulhe confding kindness. aud invoking for your gu
the ance wisdom from that Divine power that led {
is u Sa,he,s tbronpb the Red Sea Of the.lsevolut
70 III enter upon the discharge Of the duties TO VIII
"A a. -