Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1866-01-10
Meeting of the Legislature.

Both branches of the Pennsylvania Leg
islature met in their respective halls on
Tuesday, January 3D. The Senate was or
ganized by electing Hon. David Fleming, OF
Dauphin county. Speaker; Geo. W. Ham
mersly, Clerk; Lucius Rogers. Assistant
Clerk; Eli K Hains, John Z. johnson,
Henry W. Graty, James 0. Graham and
Chancey Rogers, Transcribing clerks, j. G.
Martin, Sergeant at Arms Joseph Riblet,
Doc, keeper; VIM. Dufhe Messenger; and
j. Styers, Librarian. The Speaker upon tax
ing the chair made short address-thank-
ing the Senators for the honor. conferred
on him. in electing him to preside over
their deliberations, and asked their indul-
gence, and assistance in the discharge Of the
duties devolving upon him; and riverted to
the happy termination of our national strug-
gle with treason, as an event of universal con-
graduation, for now the noise of battle is
hushed, and the tread of martial hosts mus
tering for the field of strife is heard no
more, and peace reigns throughout our
land. He also reverted to the death of
ItSiueut hiiiColf, DIS d sdu cNciit ioi liC
nation, and pronounced him as the great
and good, for whom the nation mourned,
and dropped tear to his memory.
The House was organized by electing
Hon. James R. Kelly, of Washington coun-
| ty, Speaker; A W. Benedict, Clerk, and
W. H. Dennison, Assistant clerk. Mr..
Kelly has been a member of the House for
two sessions previous, and is spoken of as a
man eminently qualified for the honorable
position to which he was elected-possess-
| ing the ability and other ess .ntial qualities
| to make him good presiding officer
On Wednesday, the Sd, the Secretary of
the Commonwealth presented the following
message from Gov Curtin:
| To the Senate and House of Representatives.
of the Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania.
GENTLEMEN The tolls and anxieties of
| the last four years have from time TO time
| brought on me severe attacks OF disease.
| From the most severe of these | am now
slowly struggling towards recovery. l find
| that to give my constitution an opportu-
nifty to continue this struggle, it is absolute
| ly necessary that | should, without delay,
make a short sea voyage, and sojourn in a
mllder climate. Under the pressure of this
necessity go to the Island of Cuba. 1t is
my hope and intention to return in good
season to welcome you on your arrival at
the seat OF government. But, ifIt should
be found indispensable that my visit to Gu
ba should be prolonged to the early part of
February, this message will serve to lay be-
fore the cause of my absence at the COM
Increment of your session. In this case
| feel sure that you will adopt such course
as shall consist with your wisdom. and with
| the afft ctionate consideration which | have
always received at your hands.
| 1t would, however, not become me to for
| get that the issues of life are In the hands
| of the One above all, and that many have
found death waiting for them on the for
| eign shore TO which they had been sent in
search of health Should such be my fate,
| shall draw my last breath with sense of
my deepest gratitude to the people of the
Commonwealth and their Representatives
| for the cheerful, manly, unfailing support
| which they have given during the last four
years to the great cause of the right, and to
me in my efforts to maintain it, and with a
prayer of thankfulness to Almighty God,
| that He strengthened me to the end of the
cruel rebellion, and thought me worthy to
be permitted to continue to that time as
| the Chief Magistrate of the people of Penn
sylvania. To have my name connected in
that relation with such people during such
time, ought to be enough to fill the high
est measure of any mans ambition.
ANDREW G.. CURTIN,
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,
HARRISBURG, Nov. 81, 1865.