Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1867-01-09
ADDRESS OF LOUIS ". HALL,
OF BLAIR COUETY,
On taking the CHAIR as Speaker Of The
Senate, January |, 1867.

would seem to demand brief expression
of the feelings which animate me, in en-
tering upon my duties as your presiding
officer. Whilst the honor you have con-
ferred, affects me sensibly, | cannot TO-
licitate myself upon its attainment, unless
prove equa! to the discharge Of its tunc-
tions. | shall consider myself fortunate,
if | shall be enabled so to preside as to
maintain the dignity Of this body, by
strict and impartial observance Of pariia-
mentary rules, whilst every Senator Is
treated with a proper degree Of Difference
and respect. The Seoatc 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, the
services, and the illustrious Ewes Of the
Senators themselves; to the noble senti-
ments they enuncia:ed, the wise laws they
enacted, and the gravity and dignity
which presided over their deliberations.
Our State is modelled, TO great extent,
after the ancient Republics. We'll may
we strive to initiate the Roman Senate IN
the iIalcyon days of the Republic, aad to
emulate its mcmbers in the austoylty os
their morals, the purity of their patriot
ism and the lofliness of their aspirations.
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 0.
our Commonwealth and Of the nation, we
may hope to attain to the true ideal Of
Republican Senate.
Men may well differ in opinion-ditfer
honestly. The time has passed, long
passed, and passed no doubt forever, when
good men prescribed men equally good,
because they differed in opinion. Good
men may well oe in earnest. Life is no
pastime. Since uuqucstionably it is ap
earnest and solemn thing to die, it is au
earnest aud solemn thing to live. The
world SHOULD be growing wiser every
day. We have the light Of experience
streaming 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 entered,
imposes upon Us new duties ard new re
sponsibilities, to which We should all be
found faithful Our State is one Of n
great family Of States. But whilst It's
interests are identified with those Of the
Federal Uuicn, aud whilst we as Senators
cannot be Indifferent to the great prob-
lens, arising from the attitude Of the
States lately in rebellion, nothing should
be wanting, on our part, to promote the
development Of the interna! resources
and mineral wealth Of our entire Com
monweal'h.
Happily, the rebellion with its terrible
siargh,crs. sufferings and desolation, is
past. There remains to US the 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 na-
tionai life shall come ont of the peril
which has enyironcd it, SO strengthened,
guarded and shielded, as to make its fu-
lure perpetually secure.
'sNew occasions teach new duties.
Time makes ancient good uncoG,h,
They must upward still and onward,
Who would keep abreast of truth.
Lo. Before US gieam her camp fires!
We, ourselves must pilgrims be,
Launch our May Flower, and steer boldly
Through the desperate winter sea,
Nor attempt the futures portal, with
The Pasts blood rusted Key"
! The rebellion has been very far from
showing that Republican form of Gov
ernment is a failure, or indeed that i:
has any Inherent or essential element of
weakness On the contrary. it has con-
cIusiyely demonstrated it great strength
and durability. Our weakness lay in
this. that our Government 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, aud come out
purified from the shock of arms.
"Liberiy's vitality, like truth,
Is still undying. Like the sacred fire
Nature has shrined in cayerns, still it
burns
Though the storm howls without"
kll men are to be hencetorth equal be.
fore the law, ard this an equality, not in
name alone, but in fact. The mighty
arm of the Republic will be stretched
forth to protect from oppression and