The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-03-11
Speaker Grows valedictorH.

y
The House Of Representatives houored
Mr.. GRow, Speaker of the Thirty Sew
enlh Congress, with unanimous vote Of
thanks FOR the ability and faithfulness
with which he had discharged his duties.
The Speaker, amid the utmost quiet and
marked and respectful attention, spoke
as follows:
Gentlemen Of the House of Representatives
Before performing the duty enioined by
the Constitution, permit me TO tender my
grateful Acknowledgements for the uni
form kindness and cooperation received
at your hands, in discharging the duties
TO which you assigned me. II aughthas
occurred in word or deed 10 wound the
feelings Of any, attribute it to errors of
the head rather than intentions of the
! heart, and let il be forgotten in the assu-
rance that | shall recall our past inter-
course only with pride and pleasure.
| We met as legislators of the Republic on
the threshold of its most important era.
| Its sunshine Of almost half a century
was for the first time darkened with
clouds. Grim-visaged war stalked thro'
the land, which it has since drenched
with blood. While graphing in death
struggle with this by headed mon
ster of civil discord, you have, by your
labors, contributed not q little to the
advancement of the industrial inter.
ests, and the promotion of the greatness
and glory of the country. Few Con-
crosses, ii any, will hold a prOuder posi-
tion in the future. Though we separate
with darkness lowering over the horizon,
behind the clouds is the sun shining. IL
seems to be part of the plan of Divine
Providence that every marked advance in
civilization must begin amid the carnage
Of the battle field Over the Marathons
and through the ThermOpol@s Of the
worlds history liberty carved out hel
victories, and the nation has marched OF
to higher and nobler destinies. AS the
lightnings of heaven destroy only to pu-
rify and reinvigorate, so Freedoms can.
non furrow the fields of decayng EN-.
pires, and SOW them anew with human
gore, from which springs more vigorous
race to guard the hopes and cherish tn,
rights of mankind. The boom of cannon
on the plains of Lexington shook con
tinent, and bore an obscure militia Colo.
mel from the shades of Mount Vernon Il
the highest pinnacle of earthly glory, Il
stand forever on that proud pedestal peer
less among men, while IL called Starl
from his granite hills, Putnam from hi
pillow, and Greene from his black
smiths forge 10 immortal fame. Th
iron hail beating on the walls of Sumte
} again shakes a continent, and the Geniu
of Historyis recording the names of thOs
born not to die. The country's martyrs
in this hour of her trial will live Forever
Their tombs will be the hearts of tn
great and good of all time their monu
ments, the granite hills of nation re
joicing in freedom Whether the nigh
of our adversely is to be long or short
there can be no doubt Of the final dawn o
aglorlous day. For, such is the physi
cal geography of the continent, that be
tween the Gulf and the lakes there can b.
but one nationality. No matter wha
! changes may be wrought in its social or
, ganism, its territorial limits will con
tinue the same. The traditions of tn,
past aud the hopes of the future hav
crystalized in the American heart tn
fixed resolve of one Union, one country
, and one destiny from ocean TO ocean,
+ No human power can change that DIES
tiny, any more than it can stay the tide
OF the Father of Waters as it rolls iron
, the mountain TO the sea.
WFreedom 4 battle onoa begun