Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1865-12-05
Marine Disasters !
Gold last night closed f48 IA.
Associated Press Report.
XXXIXth Congress

hOOOEs
WASHINGTON, December 4.-The galleries
of the House are densely crowded. g.
At noon Mr.. Mcpherson, Clerk, proceeded
to call, as required by law, the rollof the
members elect
While the roll was being called Mr.. May
nard, of Tennessee, whose name had not
been placed on the roll by Mr.. Mcpherson,
wanted to suggest something, but the Clerk
refused to be interrupted. After the call
was completed, Mr.. Maynard agaiu arose to
speak, but the Clerk again ruled him out OF
order.
One hundred and seventy-fve members
answered to their namss.
Mr.. James Brooks, of New York, made a
speech characterising the omission of the
names of the members from Tennessee from
the roll as unprecedented unjust and totally
uncalled for. If, he said, Mr.. Maynard was
not loyal man from a Union and loyal
State, then the President of the United
States was not a loyal man but an
alien and a stranger. He charged that the
adoption of the resolution excluding the
Southern members from this House by the
Republican caucus was designed as antag-
Onistic to the Presidents forthcoming mes
sage. The House took no action on the
subject but under the operation of the pre-
vious question proceeded to the election of
Speaker.
Hon. Schuyler Colfax of Indiana, and
Hon. James Brooks, of New York, were put
in nomination.
The House then proceeded to vote with
the following result: =
For Mr.. COltax I39i ; Mr.. Brooks 35.
Mr.. Colfax was declared elected, and,
amid applause, conducted to the chair by
Messrs. Morrell' and Brooks, when he re-
tprrad his fhaDGa IN % brsaf rJ aIo
speech as follows:
Gentlemen Of the House Of Representation:
The re-assembling Of Congress, marking as
it does the procession of our national his
tory, is always regarded with interest by
the people for whom it is to legislate, but it
is not unsafe to say that millions more than
ever before, North, South, East and West,
are looking to the Congress which opens its
first session to-day with an earnestness and
solicitude unequalled on any similar occa-
sion in the past.
The Thirty Eighth Congress closed its
constitutional existence with storm cloud
lowering over US, and after nine months
absence, Congress resumes its legislative au-
thority in these council halls. Inferring
that from shore to shore in our land there is
peace, its duties are as obvious as the suns
pathway in the heavens. Representing in
its two branches the States and people, its
first and highest obligation is to guarantee
to every State a republican form of gov
ernment. The rebellion having overthrOwn
the constitutional State governments in
many States, it is yours tomature and enact
legislation which, with the concurrence of
such a basis of enduring justice as will
guarantee a safeguard to the people, will af-
ford what our magma charta, the Declara-
tion of Independence proclaims protection
to oil in fbsair inn liana hla Y.ir n
plause.
The world should witness in this work the
most inAexible fidelity to the principles of
liberty and humanity, the truest patriotism,
and the wisest craftsmanship. Men by the
hundreds of thousands have died that the
Republic might live. Emblems of mourn
ing have darkened the White House and the
cabin, but the fires of civil war have melted
every feeling in the land in the proud fu-
neral pyre of slavery. 1t is for you, Repre-
sentatives, to do your work as faithfully and
as well did the fearless saviors of the
Union on their more dangerous arenas of
duty. Then we may hope to see the va
cant and once abandoned seats around
US gradually filling up until this
hall shall contain representatives. from
every State and district, their hearts devo
ted to the Union for which they are to legis-
late, jealous of its honor, and of its glory,
of its rights and hostile 10
its enemies, and the stars on our banner,
that paled when the States they represented
arrayed themselves in arms against the ma
ton, will shine with more brilliant light of
loyalty than ever before. [Applause.l
Inviting the guidance of Him who holds |
the destinies of nations in the hollow of His
hand, enter again upon the duties Of this
trying position with a heart filled with
gratitude for the unusually fattering man
ner in which it has been bestowed, and
cheered by the hope that it betokens your
cordial support and assistance in all its
grave responsibilities. l am now ready to
take the oath of Office prescribed by law.
The Speaker took the oath of office and
afterward administered it to the members,
who were called up by delegations.
A resolution was then adopted declaring
Mr.. Mcpherson, Clerk; Mr.. 0rdway, Ser
geant at Arms; Mr.. Goodenow, Door Keep
er; and Mr.. Given, Post Master, until their
successors shall be duly qualified.
The yeas and nays were ordered en- the
resolution with the following result: Yeas,
1876; nays, 35.
The officers of the House were then sworn
in.
Mr.. t. Stevens, of Pennsylvania, offered
a resolution, which was approved in repub-
lican caucus, for the appointment of com
missioner to examine and report whether
any of the so-called Confederate States are
entitled to representation in Congress.
Mr.. Eldridge objected to the introduction
Of the resolution.
Mr.. Stevens moved to suspend the rules.
The motion was agreed to and the resOlu-
ton was then introduced.