Charles City intelligencer., 1865-12-14
ADDRESS.

GsHtlemen of the Houx Of Representa-
tires: The reassembling Of Congress,
marking as it does the progress Of our
national history, is always regarded
with interest by the people for whom
it is to legislate but it is not unsafe
20 say that millions more than ever
before north, south, cast ana west
arc looking to the Congress which OPP
ems its first session to-day with an
earnestncss and solicitude unequalled
on similar occasions in the past. The
Thirty-eighth Congress closed its con-
stitutional existence with the storm
cloud Of war still lowering over it,
and after nine months absence, Con-
gress resumes it's legislative authority
in these council halls, rejoicing 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 the people, its first and
highest obligation is to guarantee to
every State republican form of gov.
ernment The rebellion having over
thrown the constitutional State gov
ernments in many States, it is your
duty to mature and enact legislation
which, with the concurrence Of such a
basis of enduring justice as will guar.
antee all necessary safeguards to the
people, will afford what our magma
charta, the Declaration of Indepen.
dence, proclaims the chief object OF
government: protection to all men in
their inalienable rights. Applause. J
The world should witness, in this
great work, the most inflexible fidelity
the most earnest devotion to the prin-
ciples Of liberty and humanity, the
truest patriotism and the wisest states
manship. Men by the hundreds oi
thousands have died that the Repub-
lie might live. The emblems of mourn
ing have darkened the White House
and the cabin alike !; but the fires oi
civil war have melted every fetter in
the land, and proved the funeral pyre
of slavery. 1t is for you, Reprcsen
tatives, to do your work as faithfully
and as well as did the fearless saviors
of the Union, in their more dangerous
arenas Of duty. Then we may hope
to see the vacant and once abandoned
seats around us gradually filing up
until this hall shall contain representa-
tives from every State and district
their hearts devoted to the Union for
which they are to legislate, jealous OF
its honor, proud Of it's glory, watchfn
Of its rights and hostile to its enemies
and the stars on our banner, that pal
ed when the States they represented
arrayed themselves in arms agains
the nation, will shine with more brill
liant light of loyalty than ever before
(Applause. Invoking the guidanc,
Of Him who holds the destiny Of ma.
tions in the hollow Of his hand, en-
\ ter again upon the duties of this try
ing position with heart filed will
gratitude for the unusually flattering
manner in which it has been bestow
ed, and cheered by the hope that it he
tokens your cordial support and assis
tance in all its grave responsibilities
! am now ready te take the oath Of Of
fee prescribed by law.
1 The Speaker took the, oath Of of6c'
and afterwards administered IL to tn,
members, who were called up by dele
cations. .I
| Mr.. Stevens Of Pennsylvania ofiere'
bill which had previously been az
proved in the Republican caucus, pre-
viding for Joint Committee Of si
Senators and nine Representatives., I
decide the question Of Southern rcr
, resentation. The bill was passed B.
vote of l23 to 80.
In the Senate, on Tuesday, the Hous
bill on reconstruction was receive
and laid over under the rule. Bill