Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1863-03-21
Speaker GROWS yaIediceory.


WAsHIYGToN, Feb. 4.-The following is
Speaker Grows speech at the close of the
House to-day. The Speaker, amid the ut
most quiet and most respectful attention,
spoke as follows:
Before performing the duty enioincd by
the Constitution, permit me to tender nv
grateful Acknowledgements for the uniform
kindness and cooperation received at your
hands, in discharging the duties to which
you assigned me. If aucht has occurred,
in word or deed, to wound the feelings Of
any, attribute it TO errors of the head rather
than intentions of the heart, and let it be
forgotten in the assurance that shall recall
our past intercourse only with prde 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-visaoed war stalked
| through the land, which it has since drench-
ed in blood. While graphing in death
struggle with this hydra-headcd monster of
civil dIscord, you have, by your labors,
contributed not a little to the advancement
Of the industrial interests, and the promo
ton Of the greatness and glory Of tho
country.
Few Congresses, ;fan-, viii Loll > proud
er position in its future Though we sepc-
rate with darkness lowering over the horizon.
behind the clouds is the sun still shining.
1t seems 20 be a part tho plans of Divine
| Providence that every marked advance in
| civilization must begin amid the carnage of
the battle field. Over the Marathons, and
through the Thermopyaes Of the worlds
/ history, liberty has carved out her victories,
aud tho race has marched on to higher and
| II, low Npgi i'r,t.. Z Ill l,,1,l, T.
en- rcnd and destroy only to purify and rein.
vigorate, so freedoms cannon furrows the
fields Of decaying empires and seeds them
anew with human gore, from which springs
a more vigorous race TO guard the hopes
and cherish the rights Of mankind The
boom of cannon on the plains of Lexington
shook 4 continent, and bore an obscure
Miliila-toonel from the shades of Mount
Vernon TO the highest pinnacle of earthly
glory, to'stand forever on that proud pedes-
tai peerless among men, while it called
Stark from his granite hills, Putnam from
his plG; H. and Green from his blacksmiths
forge 20 Immortal fame.
The iron Lail beating on the walls of
Sumter again shakes u continent and the
genius Of History is recording the names Of
those born not TO die The country's
martyrs in this hour of its trial will live
iDItN u ; lLtlI l'!-NS VIII DC lEt nCuIlS Ol
the great and good of all time their monu-
mcnt3 the granite hills OF a nation rejoicing
II freedom. Whether the night of our
adycrsity is to be long or short, there can
be but one nationality. No matter what
changes may be wrought in its social Or
Gauization, its territorial limits viii con
tinue the same. The traditions OF the past
and hopes If the future have crystalizcd
the fixed resolve in the American heart of
one Union, one country, and one destiny,
from ocean 10 ocean. No human power
can change that destiny any more than it
can stay the tide of the Father of Waters
as it rolls from the mountains 10 the sea.
'Frcedous battle once begun,
Bequenlhcl c-on bleeding sire to son.
Though laalcd OF, + ever Won"
Better one war, though it costs countless
lives and untold treasury than Il dismcmber-
ed Union, with its endless border conflicts,
and !ual Uar,hy and ruin. II he pcople
between the gulf and the lakes cannot live
together one nation, they certainly eau
mot as two. This war, then, must, iE the
nature Of tliurs, a. prosecuted till the last
armed rebel j. suhdayd, and the flag of our
fathers is respected on every foot of Ameyi-
can soil
GcntIcmon, Invoking ou you and our com
mon Couatry the blessings o, Divine ProVi-
dgngt, amt wishing you, each and all, II
long and happy life, not in the unmeaning
compliment OF the day, but in sincerity
aud truth, now declare the House of Rep
IFescntatiycf of the Thirty-soycnth Congress
of the United states adjourned siHe de-