Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1864-03-15
NO. AZ
Mr.. sHEFFEY,s ADDRFsS


# Mr.. sHEFFEY's ADDR ESS
: At the adjournment Of the House Of Dele
! gates. the Speaker Hugh W. Sheffey, Esq ad-
! dressed that body as follows = fts'ss4 y
r Genttemen-Sefore pfonouncing The order &
hnal adjournment wish to say to you, a few par
: ting words l thank You for your approval OF
my offcial conduct, and for all the kindness, for
: os oearaace and courtesy you have shownIne.-
t, Inc confidence you have reposed in ms
has been rarely manifested towards any presid.
: Ing officer And yet l have doubtless err et
8 many times; your ind1lgent good will has shield
: ed my errors lhe labors of my office hay.
also been greatly relieved by the accomplished
: gentleman who has acted as yonr clerk. and by
corps OF officers rarely equalled in fidelity and
{, efficiency. asg ssa5fI.s. ~ 1S 80
And now, gentlemen, with a hesrt,. full oil
glautude Tor kindness received at your hands
| with the consciousness that have striven. with
earnest soilcltndes to- be true and Just in all nv
dealings with you, ! am about to perform the
last duty OF the session; and as the current of
the ever feeting present gdes swiftly past us.
i let 1t bear away with it every memory of ur-
kindness, every trace of undue excitement.
! impression of injustice or wrong which NAV
have resulted from excited debate or erroneous
| Judgment during our long association with each
j other. Gentlemen, we have been singularly
I oAoSoSo. NC yOuUSS tu6 uOpeIuI ana the QlStll-
I gulshed have fallen around us--have been cut
/ down In their. bright career of usefulness and
/ nonor lhe hand ofdeath has been withheld
lrem our ranks. God spares when we deserve
/ Juegment. 10 His honor and our country, q
| cause let our lives be devoted and our vows be-
| renewed.
Gentlemen, your labors are before the coun.
try. Their fruits will be tried by the experi-
ence OF the future, will not comment upon
! Them can only say you have labored diligent-
! ~ to make them perfect, and have exhibited tal-
ents and abilities rarely surpassed by any leeis.
/ lative BODY
| Gentlemen, when we met in this hall, last De-
cember, the portents were gloomy Tie coun-
| try was sad and the hearts of the people were
! despondent. But now the inspiration of renew
! ed hope and energy animates ourselves and our
people-of well founded hope and well regulated
energy. The auspices are now for us-the flight
OF the birds is against the enemy, and we are
cheered and inspilited, while they are cowed.-
Yes, gentlemen, hear already the stirring notes
OF the song OF victory, aint at first, but swelling
on the ear, coming up from every Gutpost of the
army, from every skirmish aud battlefield of the
opening campaign--from the everglades of Flor
ida, and echoed back by the bugle blasts of the
gallant Forrest, growing stronger and more in
spring as they roll along and increase in vol-
ume; and ere loDg their music shall minge with
one triumphant anthem of Thanksgiving to the
God of our fathers, who hath given US the yie-
tory les, gentlemen, the country feels conf
dent and strong, because, for the FIRST time du-
ring the war, it fully relies On itself and on God
and victory must be ours. Let us, then, 90 home
to our people with good cheer for their hearts
let US encourage them to bear hardships like
brave men; ITO scorn delights and live laborious
days" to comfort and care for the wives and
nl1iIH nf he hror bO g..
defence, and to empty their stores for the SOL
der, to share even their scarcity with him and
cur veteran hosts, thus sustained by generous
patriotism ct home, will press forward TO VIC
tory and an honorable peace.
Gentlemen, before an Assembly of Virginia
gentlemen will be pardoned for saying a word
of one of those men of history whom the present
rarely compartments O1e who Is daily making
or moulding events which shall never die I
refer to the President of the Confederate States.
We know him now better than we did, He
came into our midst personally stranger to us.
he was said to be one who, stern, resolved and
seli-reliant, shunned coUnsel, and though true
and honest in intent, was, perhaps preiudieed
and obstinate. He toiled steadily on in the du-
ties of his high office, and into the shadows which
surrounded him the popular eye could net pen~
citrate. Success, the test of administrative ebil--
ity, sometimes rewarded his tolls-disaster, the
objectionable sin of craftsmanship, often con-
founded his councils, ard brought the country
to the verge of doubt and despair. / confess,
gentlemen, the profoundest sympathy with this
historic man in his hidden tolls, and cares and
heavy responsibilities, aboring on thus night
and day for his conntry's good. And when sn
occasional lifting of the curtain he's enabled US
to perceive "the very pulse of the machinen-a'
the heart, and will, aud mind, and purpose
which animate the man, traits of noble patriots
ism aud heroic frmDess--of lofty trQthfulness /,
and chiyalry, and of unsuilled purity aud trust
in God, have given Joy to the popular heart,
and confidence to the mind of the country.
Gentlemen, thank GoD that Virginia, with
the true courtesy of her ancient hospitality, has
never uttered one word to bring a cloud over
his brow, or added one feathers weight to the
burden of his cares. Our people trust him !; our
women revere aAd hoEor him our armies
every VT ere would die for him ; Europe es-
teens and appreciates him, and posterity will
exalt him to the true position he is destined to
fill, as one of the great men of this age!
We have hope, gentlemen, in our public men,
in our prblic measures, in our army and in orr
cause; in such men as our President and the
leaders our gallant armies. had intended,
gentlemen, to have spoken of the measures adopt
ed by Congress and yourselves, for the public
good; but, a. this late hour, and wearied as
we all are by protracted latOrs, must fcrbear.
And row, gentlemen, in this solemn parting
hour, the future all wrapped in doubt, our res
union uncertain, our paths diverg1g from this
common point of concentrated feeling and kind
emotion, can only commend you to the care of -
Him who is our fortress and defence; and,
bidding each CT you a kindly and fraternal fare
well, invoke heavens best blessings on you and
yours. pronounce this House adjourned sine
die.
ANTI-License LAw.-The Legislature adjourn
ed about II O'Clock Thursday night. Be
fore adjournment both Houses passed, by con-
siderable majority, the following anti-license
law
ssBe it enacted by the General Assembly, That
1t shall not be lawful for any Court ofthis Com
monwealth to grant license to keep an ordinary
to any person within city or town, or within
five miles of the limits thereof, or at any depot,
station, or other point on any railroad.
ssAny person who shall, without having first
obtained an ordinary license, sell by retail wine,
ardent spirits, or mixture thereof ale, porter
or beer, or such like drinks, to be drunk in or
at the place of sale, he SHALL in addition to the
penalty now prescribed by law, forfeit the tene-
ment where the sale is made, if he is the owner
thereof, or such interest as he may have therein,
II he is the lessee and shall, moreover, ferfeit
the stock of lIOUOrS all ba