Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1867-01-09
OF LOUIS w. HALL.
OF BLAIR COUNTY,
On Taking the Chair as Speaker of the Sem
ate, January l, 1867.

w
sion of the feelings which animate me,
in entering upon my duties as your pre-
siding officer. Whilst the honor you
have conferred, affects me sensibly, I
cannot felicitate myself upon its at
tainment, unless | prove equal to tho
discharge of it's functions. shall con-
slider myself fortunate, if shall be en-
abled so TO preside as to maintain the
dignity of this body, by strict and
impartial observance of parliamentary
rules, whilst every Senator is treated
with proper degree Of Difference and
respect. The Senate Of the ancient
Roman Commonwealth was looked
upon with reverential awe. 1t WAS
not that forced Difference which is paid
to imperial power. 1t was due to the
virtues, tho services, and the illustri-
GUS lives of the Senators themselves;
to the noble sentiments they enuncia-
ted, the wise laws they enacted, and
the gravity and dignity which presi-
ded over their deliberations. Our State
is modelled, to great extent, after the
ancient Republics. Well may we strive
to initiate the Roman Senate in the
Halcyon days Of the Republic, and to
emulate its members in the austerity
Of their morals, the purity of their pa
triotism and the loftiness of their aspi-
rations. By candor and moderation
in council, by firm adherence to our
convictions Of truth and right, by the
utter exclusion of paltry personalities
and partisan rancor, by having an eye
single to the welfare OF our Common.
wealth and of the nation, we may hope
to attain to the true ideal of Repub-
lican Senate
Men may we'll differ in opinion-dif-
fer honestly. The time has passed,
long passed, and passed no doubt for
ever, when good men prescribed men
equally good, because they differed in
opinion. Good men may we'll be in
earnest. Life is no pastime. Since
unquestionably it is an earnest and
solemn thing to die, it is an earnest
and solemn thing to live. The world
SHOULD be growing wiser every day.
We have the ight of experience stream.
ing down from remote antiquity over
fallen States and Empires, to guide us
in the way of national safety. The
session upon which we have just enter
ed, imposes upon Us new duties and
new responsibilities, to which we should
all be found faithful. Our State is one
of great family of States. But whilst
its interests are identified with those
of the Federal Union, and whilst we
as Senators cannot be Indifferent to
the great problems, arising from the
attitude Of the States lately in rcbel-
lion, nothing should be wanting, ON
our part, to promote the development
of the internal resources and mineral
wealth of our entire Commonwealth.
Happily, the rebellion with its ter
rible slaughters, sufferings and desola-
ton, is past. There remains TO US tho
present and the future, and the duty
to read the lessons of the past Alright,
and to apply the truth taught Alright,
SO that our national life shall come out
of the peril which has environed it, so
strengthened, guarded and shielded, as
to make its future perpetually secure.
"New occasions teach new duties.
They must upward still and onward,
Who would keep abreast of truth.
Lol Before US gleam her camp-fresi
Lannch our May-FioweT. and steer boldly
Through the desperate winter sea,
The Past's blood rusted Key"
The rebellion has been very far from
showing that a Republican form of
Government is failure, or indeed that
it has any inherent or essential ele-
mcnt of weakness. On the contrary,
it has conclusively demonstrated its
great strength and durability. Our
weakness lay in this, that our Govern
ment was not really Republican Our
strength in the future will be in the
fact that we will have a Government
truly republican.
Liberty has survived, and come out
purified from the shock of arms.
"Liberty's vitality, IKE truth.
Is still undyng. Like the sacred Are
Nature has shrned IN caverns, still n burns
Though the storm howls without"
All men are to be henceforth equal
before the law, and this an equality.
not in name alone, but in fact The
mighty arm of the Republic will be
stretched forth to protect from oppres.
sion and wrong the weakest and most
humble citizen.
In our legislation, affecting the vast
interests of Commonwealth of three
millions of people, may we all be en-
lightened to faithful and conscien-
tious discharge of our whole duty.
Be pleased to designate Senator to
administer to me the official obligation
| am required to take.