Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-02-27
M0rtester 4ailg Spp,
THE DAILY SPY.
Legislative Reunion.

union (0arDarOuS W0rd) IN Boston on Tues
day. Col. Bullock presided, and prayer was
offered by last years chaplain, Mr.. Stowe
of Boston. Col. Bullock made an address of
welcome, and reported two deaths for the
year-Cornelius Doherty of Boston, and Mr..
Holland Of Belchertown. Among those alb
sent at the war were Mr.. Dewitt of Agawam,
Capt. Tracy p. Cheever OF Chelsea Major
George A. Brastow of Someryille, paymaster
in the army; DIR. Shaw of Upton, surgeon
in the naval service; Capt. Coggswell of Lei
cester; Capt. Fay of Athol, now in the SD
regiment in Louisiana; Major Brown of
Taunton, 33d regiment; Major Rodman of
New Bedford; Colonel Francis j. Parker of
Boston, of the SD regiment, and Mai. Nor
rissey.
a mock session was held in the afternoon,
Colonel A. j. Wright of Boston, presiding,
and w. A. Johnson, reporter OF the Daily
Advertiser, acting as clerk. In the evening
some two hundred ladies and gentlemen sat
down to dinner at the American House. A
letter was read from Governor Andrew, who
was unable to be present. Colonel Bullock,
in answer to the toast, 1.-The Speaker of the
House." spoke as follows =
SPEECH OF HON. A. II. BULLOCK.
Gentlemen We have met this evening in
gratifying numbers, to revive the fellowship
of the session of eighteen hundred and sixty
two. 1t was IN many respects an uncommon
session. In my experience here | never be-
fore knew house of representatives in which
the deliberations were conducted throughout
with so uniform harmony and courtesy Com
ing together in the midst of public war, and
under that sense of S0lemnity which common
ly unites loyal minds under circumstances of
actual and still greater impending calamities,
we passed period of four months in the rep-
resentatives hall not only without anything
which could be called Legislative scene, but
almost without discordant note suppose
we had in our numbers republicans demo-
Gratis, conservatives, radicals-O presume
that you know the present Specification of all
those terms-I do noD; but you will all bear
me witness. that from beginning to end. not
the voice Of a croaker was heard among u.s.
(Cheers.) As a natural consequence, after
a session of such duration, service and ac-
quaintance, in its closing hours general de-
sire was expressed that we should meet again.
And accordingly we are all here, from Berk-
shire to the toes of the capes. Not all
Many have found it inconvenlenU To attend.
some are absent in the military service; but
the committee appear to have taken all
pains to supply their places with those
whose presence adds grace and benignity to
the festive hours. (Applause.) My duty is
chiefly performed in having briefly recalled
the pleasant past, which is to a certain extent
reproduced in the present, and in now extend
ing, in behalf of each to every other, greet
ing and welcome.
n bov ga IL.
and impartially, however unoStentatiously the
duties Of a Massachusetts representative, is
mark of honor in our life. The legislature Of
this commonwealth as Il historical body is sec
ond to no other in this country. In the an
CientneSs of its origin, in its importance as
one of TIL. instrumentalities in the birth of
American liberty, Units relation as parent of a
system of laws not inferior to any which the
world has known, in the long line of its
distinguished members, the living and the
dead, in the manly debates and orderly
usages which have characterized its proceed
ings-in character, in substance, and in form
this house of representatives may safely be
compared with the best parliamentary as
semblies which christian civilization has pro-
duced Its industry and punctuality as
body of business men has often ex-
cited remark. | recollect that during your
session, gentleman who has a seat in the
British house of lords, Nord Frederick PAN
leD happening to visit our hall late
in the afternoon, expressed his surprise
at finding large" number present than the
average attendance in the house of commons.
As proof of the general good sense which
prevails in its deliberations, L might appeal to
such of you as have taken leading part in its
debates, to testify that eloquence and ability,
when enlisted upon the wrong side, against
even weak advocacy of the right side, are
quite uniformly certain to be voted down. |
ought not to conclude this strain of partialty
for our popular assembly without admitting
that there are at all times those in our comrnn
nifty whose measure of wit and satire is salts
fled in speaking OF the general court in terms
quite the opposite to those which | have
learned to use buf [ think you rarely find
one of these persons who was ever known
to decline an opportunity of election to the
house, or who would be eminenty useful if
he should happen to be chosen (Applause.)
Gentlemen, L am called to address you as
representatives Of Massachusetts. There are
those rejoice that they are not here at this
tabe-so embittered, so querulous, SO churl-
lsh, had almost said so unnatural, that they
never appear to be happy except in depreciat-
ing their own homes and state, in underesti-
mating and criticising the qualities of home
lie around them, and, | have sometimes
tto"SH'' "ho are most eXqulStely delighted
when engaged in endeavorlng to tear away
the cypress and the laurel from the historic
monuments of New England. You all know
such men In Massachusetts; so do T And
standing here IN the presence of the renra-
sentative men of New England, of Massacltn-
sets, have the honor to say that | renudi-
ate all such doctrine, and L despise all surh
teachers. Loud applause. 1t is high time
that we should begin to appreciate and
stand by our own. Not all the portents in the
sky are propilious, not all the omens
are good. We are in war-organic, desner-
ate war. No matter what may have been the
cause Of the war-let men differ about that if
they please, though for the life of me L can
not see how they can differ very much-no
matter whether the fault of ill success, alas
too frequent and too protracted, lies at the
door OF the president, or of either or of both
houses of congress, or of one or another of
the generals in command, or lying at the door
OF neither, belongs to the inherent difficulties
OF such war as this-all these matters cast
behind us, all these collateral questions
thrown to the wlnds-We are IN q lcag which
Is likely to try our patience our endurance
and our patriotism to the last practicable ten
sion OF mortal nerves. 1t is, therefore. a
just, essential and honorable source of pride
and satisfaction to us, if we fnd as we do
ind, that this our people, by their accumula-
ton OF stores, supplies. and wealth, by their
flHTpWnf IgartTI Itg,Nt 4