The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1867-03-05

the destructive marches of hostile ar
mics; people with fruits of prolonged
wars ripened into hRrvests of hearts.
dead with the bullet. As hearts heavy
anguish, looking from the North
and South alike, and by that light
| should we walk. It is to guide
our steps by the justice of God and
the rights OF men. 1t is to Danish all
malice and revenge, and to justify our
faith by our works. 1t is to anchor our
legislation on, in which the Commoner
of England, John Bright, declares to be
the simple but sublime principle on
which great national questions should
be settled, the basis of eternal rights.
1t Is to write on our banner these words
that will shine brighter than the stars
which gem the firmament-''liberty, 10y
atty and law It is to make histo-
~ SO that posterity shall rise up and
call US blessed. The Congress that has
Just passed away has written a record
thai will be long remembered by the
poor and friendlesS whom il did not
forget. Misrepresented or misunder-
stood by those who denounced as enc
mics, harshly and upjustihed, and
criticised by some who should have
been its friends. 1t proved itself to be
more faithful to human progress and
liberty than any of its predecessors.
The outraged and oppressed found in
Lnccc nd1lS anu lElenQS.
Its key note of policy was protection
t0the down trodden. It failed not be-
fore the mightiest, nor neglected not
the Obscurest- 1t lifted the slave whom
the nation had freed, to the full stature
of manhood. 1t placed on our statute
books the civil rights bill as our ma
tiOnal magma charta, grauder than all
the enactments that honor the Ameri-
can Code, and in all the region whose
civil government had been DESTROYED
by a vanquished rebellion, il declared
as u guarantee OF defense to the weak
est, that freemans hands should WELD
a freeman's ballot. 1t proclaimed that
there could be no safe or loyal recon-
struction on H foundation of unrepent-
ant treason and disIoyalty. Fortunate
it will be for us if, when we surrender
these seats to our successors, we can
point to record which will show on
our histories page like that of the
Congress which just expired. Thrice
fortunRteif when we leave this Capitol
our whole national structure shall be
permanently restored, resting on the
sure foundation stones of loyalty,
unity, liberty and right. With such
convictions of duty come to this chair
to administer your rules, but not as
partiZan which alone as presiding OH
Ger can be sustained: pledging you in
return an infiexible impartiality, which
shall be proven by my deeds, and in
voking on your deliberations the favor
of Him who holds the destinies of ma
lions in the palm of His hand. am
now ready to take the oath of Office
prescribed by law.
The Speaker was sworn into office by
Mr.. Dawes, the member having :Ihe
longest continued service, and then the
Speaker proceeded to administer the
oath to members by States.
TheSHouse, by resolution, elected
Edward Mcpherson, Clerk.
The Speaker announced that the
President had signed. the bill in refer
ence 10 wool and woolens, also the
army appropriation bill with a protest.
The Presidents message on the same
subject was read and laid on the table.
The House adjourned at . o'clock