The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1866-01-11
The Pennsylvania Legislature.


last House, with quorum present. The
reading of the roll of members having
been concluded, the House proceeded to
elect speaker The Republicans nomi-
mated James R. Kelley, of Washington
county; the Democrats nominated VIM. NJ. |
Nelson, of Wayne county. On the first
ballot, Mr.. Kelley had 65 votes, to 80
for Mr.. Nelson. Mr.. Kelley being duly
elected, was conducted to the chair when
he made little speech, in the course of
which occurred the following. eloquent
words:
"The happily changed circumstances
under which We now meet should be a
source of unbounded tha1kfulness and
graduation. Many Of Us, present to-day,
have set here when thick gloom envelop-
ed the land-when the Nations life was
in imminent peril, and the fate of the
Government hung trembling in the bal
ancc-when hearts stilled with dread or
qaivered with JOY, and cheeks paled OF
! flushed as the tide of victory for our arms
ebbed or flowed. Now, thank God the
long agony is over. The dark clouds of
gloom have been lifted. Tie war for the
supremacy of the Government is ended,
and the flag of freedom again floats on
every foot of national territory. The ar
mics of treason are vanqulshed and over
thrown the spirit which animated them
is subdued and above all, the great first
cause and ally of treason and rebellion
| SLAVERY-is forever abolished from the
| land. Ours is now, indeed, FREE GO
vernment. 1t has passed through the
| furnace and come forth brighter and purer
for the trial. 1t has withstood the test Uf
revolution and the battles shock, and
stands to-day upon a frmer foundation
than ever before. The ability of people
to rule themselves is no longer disputed
question. A government guaranteeing
equal rights to all is no more theory
an xperiment-but fixed fact, establish
ed by the seyerest trial the world has ever
seen. Henceforth career of happiness,
grandeur, and glory awaits this nation, if
the people but remain true to themselves
and the principles of Right, Justice and
Freedom. That such will be the case
cannot be doubted for moment. The
glorious career of military victories has
been succeeded by train of civic trt
umphs, and the standard of the Union
floats everywhere upon the breeze"
A. w. Benedict was re elected Chief
Clerk of the House. The Assistant Clerks,
Transcri5ers, Sergeant-at-A Arms, Door
keepers, &c, as previously nominated by
the Republican caucus, were also elected
The Senate also met on Tuesday, with
quorum present, and was called to order
by the Speaker, David Fleming, of Dau-
phin county. On calling the roll, it was
found that all the members were present
excepting two; when the Senate pro-
ceedea to elect Speaker. The Republi-
cans nominated David Fleming the
Democrats nominated William Hopkins,
of the Twenty-sixth district. The result
of the first ballot was as follows: For
Fleming, 20; for Hopkins, II. Mr..
fleming was declared duly elected, and
was conducted to the chair. He returned
thanks in fit terms for the honor conferred
on him, and proceeded to say
"Before taking my seat, permit me to
congratulate you and the people of this
} great Common wealth, whom we unitedly
represent, upon the happy change in the
como; ;;tion Of the country, which has taken
nlace siuc ce our last adjournment. Then,
treason was sill aefant-the rebel hosts
still confronted the veteran armies OF the
Union. The horrid prisons OF our trai.
torous foes still enclosed the emaclated
and dying bodies of Thousands OF our
brave soldiers, whilst the rebel chic! sat
in his 5esieged capital issuing his naughty
mandates for the murder of our people.
But scarcely had you, Senators, who were
here last session, reached your homes, ere
the glad news of Lees surrender was
borne upon the wings of the lightning to
every corner of the Union, and JOY and
gladness filled every patriot heart. Then
swift upon the heels of this glorious news,
came the sad .idings of the assassination
of the great and good Lincoln. 1t was
the lost and crCwning act in the drama OF
hell born rebellion. Joy for time was
turned into mourning. All over the land
men sat in mute astonishment, almost
{ paralyzed aud sad, as if some dear one
had been snatched from their own hearth
stones. The people naourned. These halls
were draped in black, and here, as we'll as
all along the route of the funeral cortege
thousands of patriotic hearts focked to dc
honor to the memory Of their martyred
President, and to drop tear beside his
honored corse.
"But his york was dope-and wei
: done. He has gone to his rest aud hlE
, reward-apd his name is immortal.