Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-02-23
spEAKER RococK's yALEDIoToRY.

The House of Representatives, before adjourning
unanimously adop'ed the following resolution
RsolveS That the thanks Of the House of Rapresen.
tav are hereby rendered to the Hon. THos. s. BococK
for the dis ngu shed ability and uniform courtesy aud
mparay with which be has presided ts SCI sions
during the preseni Congress.
The Speaker (Mr. BOcocK in response TO this reso-
luton, addressed the House as follows:
Gentlemen Of the House Of Representatives
Before performing my las: Official ac as SPEAKER Of
this House, you viii indulge me In making few part
ing observations Our abors closed our record is
made up and as it stands, il 90 down 70 the
remotest gene ltions This is solemn reflection.
The time of action is always time of feeling OF i'm
pulse and often of prejudice The future ever con-
cealed from the view by thick veil which no human
hand can uplf and no mortal eye can penetrate. The
past alone is fixed and certain.
And now as we stand and look back over The history
Of the last two years. the msts already begin to dis
solve the clouds to lift themselves up aud our path
Way to grow clear and distinct in the calm light Of
reason and reflection We see more clearly than
ever before the dread responsibility which has rested
upon us aud how deeply our action has involved the
safety Of our country and the Interests OF mankind
Az we stand and contemplate, how little appear the
momentaIy ebutions of passion which may have caused
NJ to walk unsteady 10 the path Of duty; and how
criminal it, at any time unhoy seshness has caused
any of us to depart therefrom. IL however, notwith
standing cur best aud truest efforts, we have 10 any
thing fallen short of what the occasion seemed to re-
ou re il is our priviegs to plead IN own defence
that inrmity oil human nature, from which no mortal
man is exempt and the Speaker OF the House OF
Commons is accustomed at the beginning of his term,
To stand before the Sovereign Of the land and claim the
ancient rights and privileges OF the body over which he
presdsg so noN standing here a. the end OF my term
claim in your name, against oil mankind, that charity o.
judgment and klndetss Oh orLcisnI "h!cu AL nave 70
much reason TO d. sire.
In order correctly TO appreciate the action of this
House and OF this Congress, it is proper to bear IN
mind the circumstances by which We have been sur
rounded and the difficulties We have had to encounter
We have been called to leg slate for an nfaut nation,
struggling with Of tie endorsements within that
usually attend new political organizations and as.aed
trom without by war-and such war SO vast in It's
dimensions so uue lmpled in IT'S erccty sltcgether
unchIistan and uuhoy IN It's spirit and so exacng in
its demands- Aud why vagsd-Secause we have as
sailed another people! BY no means but SIMPLY De
cause we have presumed to assert that ioalena6e right
40 dear TO our patriot fathers OF TO add necessary
10 our own satety-the right to govern ourSeves-
To meet the require menis OF tuch VAR, han indeed
been no easy task to give the men and the money
And vet we have not shrunk from the performance OF
ths duty When in the spring OF 1862, the failure Of
the State Legislatures 10 furnish vita sufficient mum
Der of troops raised by SAFE authority rendered it
sena that promp. and strong measures should be taken
by ia we boldly resoIted the meaTure of conscrip
ton then new in this country; and thus we saved alike
our army and our cause And since that time, as the
exigences of the service have requued We have en-
arged the scope Of that law, and essened the number
exempted from It's operation til at lAs b. recent en-.
actment It believed that have made il rs efficient
"A present circums ances will allow. Ii might have ap
psared to some desirable that every able-bcdied
should be put into tie field, but to do SO would be TO
cripple and PROSTATE those industrial aud producing in
eress on which the support OF the army depends On
the ether hand it was necessary so far as practicable to
swell, cur Army, else those producing Interests them
selyts m ght bs sll over run and destroyed.
In order to arm equip feed and pay cur soldiers, it
has been necessary that should have control OF very
large supplies of money or credit The money could
mot be had because it was not sttSnabe in the country,
and the srngsncy Of the bockads cut OF that foreign
trade through which it might have been brought in
To uuh our credit 10 extreme Limits without oppressive
taxation accompanying it, would be to destroy that credit
itself Hence tie fhcultes in which our finances have
become involved.
sbalow thinkes have said that these hcancial Diff
cultes were Easy enough to remove If Congress would
oaly act. They seemed TO think that By some smart
parliamentary mar lyre cunning trick Of egsla
ton our deb 3 could be paid Cf, ana mouey brought
into our coer' 1t is only thoss who have explored che
subject thoroughly, taat have been able to know the full
extent Of these difficulties. Tnis Congress has given TO
this subject long, patent, IAborious and earnest nves
tgation. What the eli. ct of the measures recently
adop;ed will be- need no; detain you to predict Time
mus Determine this. But win say a; they strong
and thorough their character aud afford proof 10 the
people, that those whom they have entrusted with rep
reseutatve duties in this Cor gres have rot wanted the
nerve adopt any MEASURE however s.rong IT IN their
judgment the emergency requiredit
I. should be remembered however, in this connec-
ton, ths. legislation is oiteo, aud especially difficult
subjects but compromi,e Of coGh citing views, no. only
among the different members of the body, but also
between the two todIes that make up the Congress.
When We can not get what we think is best, Ne may
be forced to AXE tie best we get.
LIT it be further remembered, tina; the legislation on
the subjects to which / have alluded has not been
shaped for individual benefit but for the good Of the
country.
If some have been sent to the 6eld il b,caue il
was thought they could there best susserve the
trys Interest," if others have zen left at home it was
not for their own comfort but because that
supposed to be the fell which they could best wage
the war If some have been tsIyd more heavily, while
the hand of taxation has borne lightly others
it has been so devised, because such a system was
thought be- tie WHOLE the best for the couatrys
good There caa be general plan that will not ope-
rate uneoualy in individual cases. ThSt it does So is
therefore no conclusive argument aglins! it, If any
shall be made 10 feel discomfort aud hardship, let tell
them that in war ike this discomfort aud hardship must
be- u Greater or lss degree, the loi Of all. He who
expects now to repose in and comfort
sonabe as the sailor, Wbo while the storm is raging
bilo~s asks to be allowed go down aud take
foi table and quiet snoozs in his berth below
To complain of having to give up part of a mans
property if necessary for the good of thu cause, is of
all things the most unreasonable l. given up
the remainder. II we achieve our independence, we
mast have men aud money. Without both, we are un-
done and what then will we saver
We will not cave our soldiers from the dangers and
prvatons of the battle field; for if triumphant u.s.
IN the irsolenoe of their pride, the Government a.
Washington vii speedily seek TO aVenge some ianeied
wrong, against England or France or both and as well
to rid themselves Of population they fear TO carry
out purposes of revenge, they will put our brave boys
in the front Of their battle. And then these the
plains of Mexico Canada will suffer, in the service CT
hated master, greater privatons and hsrdshps than
thew now feel fighting at their own doors defence of
their homes, their families and their fresidss.
Will We save our property By imperial edict it has
already been declared That aborers longer
property and acts o. cond.csuon stand the Statute
Book ready whenever the power Is gven to clutch
lands and other property DOUBT it who will, subuga-