Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-01-08
speech BY schuyler CoIfax.

Hon. Schuyler Colfax, being in Albany
on the first day Of the session of the New
York Legislature, was by special vote in
vited a seat upon its floor. In accepting
the invitation he made a brief speech, in
which we find the following eloquent par
agraph;
Your presiding officer has alluded, in the
very kind and partial remarks he has
made, to the intimacy which, to some e1-
tent, existed between. myself and that no
bic President whose death we all so sin
cerely mourn. 1 was struck, when enter
ing this Assembly Chamber a few moment
ago, at seeing here constantly before you,
as if to remind you of his dying legacy,
that pledge-(referring to the words Of
Mr.. Lincoln which were placed on the
wall of the chamber on the occasion of his
obsequies) which he made to the Ameri-
can people when he assumed, on the steps
of the capitol, the responsibilities of the
Chief Executive Magistracy of the Nation.
He found vi nation weak and disunited.
He found a gigantic rebellion sweeping
over the land with all its fury. Looking
around for elements of strength for the
maintenance of the government he found
our elements of power crippled, and he al
most bound hand and foot at the mercy Of
the enemies of our own household. Yet,
faithful to that oath which he had regis
tered, he walked in the pathway of duty,
firmly and fearlessly, to the end. 1t was
said of a great man in the olden time that
he found his imperial city brick, but he
left it marble. 1t is the prouder boast OF
those whe loved our deceased President
it is a prouder trophy of fame for him
that he found this country weak and
waning and disunited-he found it torn
and sneered at by powerful nations across
the waters-he found every despot almost
in Europe looking for the anticipated
downfall of this republic, which was a
powerful testimony against their tyranny,
but he left it a nation strong and power
full, and feared and respected by every
people, and in every cline, and with the
starry banner of the Union, bright with
the stars Of heaven, and brilliant with the
glories of earth, unstained and unassailed
over every acre of our national domain,
Then, when he had protected our people
by night and day against the dangers
which menaced them-when his work was
fully accomplished, he went home, was
gathered to his fathers, with the weeping
and s~orrowing of a whole people over his
tomb, and standing in q niche in the
Templeof Fame in our National Vallhalla
brighter than was ever dreamed of in
all the years passed. Luther said once
and beautifully, "God buries His work
men, but His work goes on" Our Presi-
dent has passed away, but there are others
to do the work which he set his hand to
so faithfully. And l adiure you, as the
REPRESENTATIVES of the people of the
state OF New York, 70 have that generous
confidence and trust in all clothed with
authority which will give to them the as
surance that you are not disposed to con-
denim them in advance. Have confidence
in your President, who fills the place of
him who is gone. Hints of distrust al
ways beget alienation. Have faith in the
Senators and Representatives of the Am
erican people assembled in their national
councils. Have faith that they, like your
President, will be faithful to those who
elected them and clothed them with this
high authority, so that, gradually cooper
ating together for a common end, they
may walk faithfully in the pathway Of
duty, illuminated by the footprints of the
gallant men who went down tothe harvest
Of death and died that our republic might
live, that this great work of the restoration
Of the Union may be accomplished on a
basis as firm as the ligaments of the
human system, and as enduring as the
solar system itself, .af -