The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-07-17
ADDRESS Of THE SPE AK Err OF THE
House OF REPRESENTATIVE
The Hon. G. A. Grow. the Speaker-elect. was
escorted 10 the chair by Messrs Blair and Rich
ardscn, and delivered the following address.
Gentlemen # the House OF Representatives. OF
the United States OF America:


ardson, and delivered the following address
Ge.t'enen # the House OF Representatives. OF
the United States OF America:
| Words OF tharks for the honor conferred b,
| the vote just announced wonld but iceblv uX-
press hearts gratitude. While a,pr, cia,ms
The distinguished mark OF your confidence, | All
not unmiud ul of the trying duties incident the
position 10 which YOU have ass sned me. Sur
rounded a, all times by grave responsibility. ii is
doubly SO in this hour OF national disaster, when
every consideration OF gratitude to tie pas, aud
obligation 10 The future gathers around the pres
ent. -Four score years ago. firy-sx bOld mvr
! chants, farmers, LAWYERS, and mechanics. the
! representatives Of few feeble colonies scattered
along the Atlantic scabord, met in convention ,o
found new empire. based on ths inaleuabe
| rights OF man. Seven Years OF blood, conflict
eIsued, ami the Fourth Of July, 1916, l. cn
ized IN the hearts of tie great aud good The
Jubilee Of oppressed natonaltit> ard in the cal.
| endar of heroic deeds, it marks new la the
history OF the race. Three. quarters OF a centu
~ have passed away, and the lev feeble colon
| lists hemmed in by the ocean III front, the wilder
ness and the savage in the rear, have spanned
whole continent with great empire OF Free
States rearing throughout lis vast wilderness the
| temples If science aid of civil slIon the ru-
equaed, has surrounded the domestic frcsde,
aud prosperity unsurpassed has crowned the la
tionsl energies the liberties Of the people been
| secure at home and abroad while the nation al
standard hoated, honOred and respected, in eve
| " commercial mart of the world On the return
of this glorious anniversary, after a period tui
little exceeding the allotted lifetime OF man, the
peoples representatives are convened in the
council chambers of the Republic, To deliberate
on the means fer pres rviRg the Government un
der whose benign influence these Grand results
have been achieved. A Rebellion, the most
cau>eless in the history Of the race, has devel
oped a conspiracy of long standing to DESTROY
the Constitution formed ~ the wisdom of our
fathers and the Union cenented by their blood
his conspiracy, nurtured TOR long years in secre,
councils, first develops itself openly in acts OF
spolaton aud plum, er OF pubic property, with
the cOnnivance, under the protection of treas
on, enthroned in all the high places Of the Gov
ernment and at last in armed rebellion for the
overthrow of the best Government ever devised
by man. Without an effort in the mode pre-
scribed in the organic law for redress OF al
grievances, the macontents appeal To the arb
trament of the sword, insult the nations honor
and tramplc upon its flag inaugarate a revolu
ton, which, if successful would end in establish
ing petty itrriDg COifede acies or anarchv, upon
the ruins OF the Republic, and the destruction O
its liberties.
The 18th of April, canonized in the first strug
, gle tor American nationality, has been reconse
Grated in martyr blood Warren had his coun
terpart in Ellsworth, and the heroic deeds an,
patriotic sacrifices of the struggle for the estab
, lishment of the Republic are being reproduced
upon the battle field for its maintenance. Eve
, ry race and tongue of men almost repre-en
=, ha b.ir nd
ards prOcaiming in language more impressiv,
than words that here indeed is the home of tn,
emigrant and the asylum Of the exile, no matte
where was his birthrlace or in what cline his in
fancy was Graded He devotes his lie TO IN,
defense of his adopted land, the viDdcation Of il
honor, ard the protection of its flag. with th
same zeal with which he would guard his hearth
, stone and ireside. All parties, sects and condi
, tons Of men, not. corrupted by the institution
, of human honda e, forgetting by gone rsncOrs o
preiudices, blend in one phalanx tor the integri
~ of the Union aad the perpetuity OF the Repub
. lie. Long years o. peace in the pursuits OF sor
did gain instead of bluntng the patriotic devo
ton OF loyal citizens seems but 10 have inter
sfed its development, when the existence OF tn
government is assae The merchant the ban
ker ard the uadesman with alacrity unpars
leled proffer their all at the altar Of their couri
.
the pillow, brave hearts and stout arms, ieavin
their tasks unfinished, rush 70 the tented field
the air vibrates with martial strains and the cart
, shakes with armed men. La view of this gram
demonstration for self preservation in the histOr
OF nationalites, despoaGing patriotism may b
assured that the foundations of our nationa
greatness still stand strong. aud the sentimen
:, which beats to-day in every loyal heart will fo
the future be realized No flag alien TO th
sources of the Mississippi will ever float perms
uently over its mouth till its waters crimsOne
with human gore, and not one foot Of America
soil car be wrenched from the Jurisdiction Of tn
United States until it il baptised in fire and blood
:, Vocierou. applause upon the floor and in III
: galleries, which lasted for many minutes Get
rlemen, as your presiding officer it becomes IN
, duty to apprise you that any demonstrations {
;, approval or disapproval oi anything done or sal
:, during your sessions is in violation Of palamer
:, = tary iecorum, and the Chair would also iuforI
the persons in the galleries that applause b
. them il in violation Of good order and a breac
= of the House. The Chair hopes, therefore, tn,
any demonstration OF applause will not be repei
, ted In God is our trust, aud the star-spangle
= banner forever shall wave
Der the land Of TN. And the home Of the brave
n [Suppressed applause Those who regard it
| mere cloth. bunting, fail to appreciate its syn
| bolical power. Wherever on the carth's su'fxS
an American citizen may wander, called by plea
e ure business, or caprice, it is shield securin
Is him against wrong and outrage, save on the 20
- of the land OF his birth. As the guardians
% the rights and liberties Of the people, your pa
amount duty is to make it honored at home
,f it is respected abroad. Government that ca
t, not command the oyslty Of its own citizens
e unworthy the respect Of the world. aud Go
n ernment that will not protect its own 10y al Gil
e zens deserves the contempt OF the world. A
D. plause He who would tear down this grande
r, temple Of constitutional liberty, thu. blasting fo
d. ever the hopes Of crushed humanity. becau
4 iu freemen, in the mode prescribed by the Co
ir stitution, select Chief Magistrate not accept
ble to him, is parricide to hi- race, and shou
be regarded "a a common enemy OF mankind
The Union once DESTROYED is q shattered va
that no human power can reconstruct in IFS orr
e. nal symmetry. Coarse stones, when they q
IN broken, NAV be cemented tOgether-precio
.nes. never If the Republic is to be dismeI
Is bembered, ard the sun OF it's liberty must 60 o
er in endless night, let il set amid the roar
cannon and the din Of battle, when there 10
longer an arm TO strike or heart to bleed in
Cause, SO that coming generations nay not
nc proach the present with being too imbecie
preserve TIE priceless legacy bequeathed by .
fathers, so as to transmit it unimpaired TO futu
times Again. gentlemen, thanking YOU for yo
- confidence and kindness, and Invoking gdfdAn
y from that Divine Power tina. led our fsths
through the red sea Of the Revolution, en'
"a upon the discharge of the duties to which y
N have assigned NE, relying on your forbearan
q. and cooperation, and trusting that your labt
- w;Il contrihu,. NOT n little To the greatness a