The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1867-03-19
II. W. MCALARNEY, EDITOR.
SPEECH or SPEAKER COLFAI.

! Hon. Schuyler CoItaX, who was elected
Speaker of the Fortieth Congress, address
ed the House as follows on taking the chair
Elected for the third time to this re
sponsibe and trying position, appreciate
more than ever before the inheritance OF
this trust, and realize more than when first
entering on It's difficult duties the absolute
necessity of your confidence and support.
Nor 60 l ove,rate the gravity of our posi-
tiop as American Legislators
THE year has never dropped their sand
! On mortal issue vast and grand
AS ours to-day"
A nation decin ated by the conflicts OF fra
ternal strfe-a land desolated by the des-
tructive marches of hostile arrnies-a peo-
pie with the fruits Of prolonged war ripeRed
into the gloomy harvest dead with the
bullets as we'll az hearts heavy with bereave
r1ents and broken with anguish-l,ok anx-
iousIy from North and South alike to this
capital of continental domain. But there
is pathway Of duty luminous with light,
and Iy that light we should walk. 1t is
to guide our steps hy the justice OF God and
the rights oil man. 1t is 10 Danish all NAL
ice and revenge, and to Justify our faith by
our works 1t is to anchor our legislation
on what the gre t commoner of England
John Bright, declares to be the simple bat
sublime principles on which great national
questions should be settlled-the basis Of
,ternal rights. 1t Is to write on onr ban
ner those words that will shine brighter
Than the stars that gem the frmament-
Liberty, Loyalty, and Law. 1t is to make
history that posterity will rise up and call us
blessed The Congress which has just asse |
away has written record that Will be long
remembered by the poor and the friendless,
whom it did not forget. Misrepresented or
misunderstood 10y those who denounced it
as enemies, harshly and uninstly criticised
by some who should have been its friends,
It proved itself more faithful TO human
progress and liberty than any Of It's prede
cessors. The outraged aud oppressed found
in the these congressional halls champions
and friends It's kev-uotA Of policy was pro
lection to the doXn-trolden. 1t quaiIed
not before the mightest and neglected lot
the obscurest 1t lifted the slave whom
the nation had freed up to the full stature
Of manhood. 1t placed on our statute
book the civil rights bill as our national
Magma Charta. grander than all the enact
nents that honor the American govern
ment had been destroyed by vanquished
rebellion, it dec 'ared, as a guarantee of de-
fence to the weakest, that the freedman s
hand should WELD the freedman's ballot,
and that none but loyal men should govern
land which loyal sacrifices had saved.
Taught by inspiration that new wine could
not be safely put in old bottles, it proclaim
ed that there could be no safe or loyal re-
construction IN foundation Of unrepented
treason or disloyalty. Fortunate will 1t be
for us if, when we surrender these seats to
our successors, we can point to d record
which will shine on our historic page ike
that of the Congress which has just expir-
ed. Three fortunate il, when we leave
this Capitol, our whole national structure
shall be permanently restored, resting on
the sure foundations stones OF LOYALTY, unity,
liberty, and right With such convictions
of duty | come to this chair to administer
your rules, but not as a partisan 1appesl l
to you for the generous support by which
alone a presiding officer can be sustained
pledging you in return An infeXihle impair
tialitv- which shall be proved by my deeds,
and invoking on your deliberations the ia
yor of Him who holds the destinles Of ma
tons in the hollow of His hand. | am
now ready to take the oath of office pre-
scrihed by law.