The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1868-06-05

at this table (Mr. Deirccs) who knows
much ofit about as well as mysclt-whcn
struggling against poverty aud adverse
fortune sometimes, | sought in the pro.
iession to which you have devoted your.
selves, 10 earn am honest livelihood for my.
self aud family, aud position, humble, but
not dishonorcd, among the newspaper meu
of America. ! eau not remember the exact
evening to which he alludes, when, eighteen
years ago, stranger then as am glad he
is not now, he saw me through window
in my office. with the midnight lamp be.
tore me- and heard the commentary on my
lie from the lips ot some too partial friend
among those who from my hoyhood have
surrounded me with so much kindness and
attention. But well do remember, in the
eNly history Of the newspaper that mum.
bcrcd but two hundred and fifty Subscrib
ers when established il, | was often com.
PEELED to labor far into the hours oi night.
Aud little did dream, at !hat time, | was
ever to be a member of the American Con
gress and far less that | was TO he the
recipient of the honor whose contcrnent
Nou commemorate AMI indorsc tonight
| can say Of that paper that its columns,
from its very first number. will bear testi
mouy to-day that in all the political cau,
VasScs in which | was engaged, | never
avoided frank aud ouSpokeu expression
of opinion on any question before the
American people. And ,hat, as these
opinions had always been honestly enter
tanned, could not have heSilated to frankly
and martully avow them Though the
effect of these avowals was from the pult
ice complexion OF the district and the
State, to keep me in minority. the people
among whom live viii bear testimony
] Fl. E., ,T,l Al
than have been when, in later years, that
minority has 10y the course OF events been
changed into majority
Ii the same speech VIC find another
| passage which we appropriate showing as
| it does the elevated opinion which Mr..
| ColraX holds of journalism, and it's position
aud it fucuce in the country. How char.
actcristically does he preface it 10y his
| tell aud his speech reflects back upon
himself the elevated OF Iuion he held of
lhat profession while engaged in it:
81 can not avoid saying few words in
relation tO the profession to which we
| have devoted our lives. | think you can
not but acknowledge that the American
Congress has not overlooked the press.
! Not ouly have they seen iit for the first
| timo in the History of Congress- to select
a printer for the grave responsibilities
which CHESTER around their presiding Offices.
hut from the ranks Of tie same profession
! they have taken gentleman for the next
Office in order the Clerk of the House, and
one whom, with modesiy equal to his
WORTH sec bushes as al'ude to him
! (Alr. McPhcrsou). Aud besides these we
have also in the American Congress another
| tor
Of the House. Having thus generously
given a majority of tie offices to the press
they have maguauimousIy allowed &" the
rest of mankind" to take tho remaining two
offices. Laughter and applause. In the
other branch Of Congress we have u Secro-
tary of the Senate (John w. Forney), one
Of the most gifted and distinguished Jour.
ualists Of our time. The Vice PrcsideI OF
! the United States also was newspaper
man, and doubt not a good one. And SO,
also, was the Scrgeant-at.Arms of the Sen.
ate, MIR. Brown of Illinois. Aud if our
excellent President (Mr Liucou) was not
directly connected with the press, | think
we can bear testimony to the fact of his
having furnished material for innumerable
editorials i'll its columns.
"You do not expect me to make an elab.
orate afterdinner speech to night, because
the usuage of a Speaker is not to make
speeches, but to listen to them. ard | eX-
pect to have considerable of that latter
duty to perform during the cVentiul Con.
gress Just opening. A few words before
sit down in regard TO your proies.
sion. Next to the sacred desk, and those
who minister in it, there is no profession
more responsible than yours. The editor
can not wait like the politician to see the
set OF the tide, but is required, as new
necessities arise, not only TO avow at once
his sentiments upon them, but to discuss
! them intclligently and instructively. IT is
also his duty to guard and protect public
opinion in the proper channels, and to lay
before the readers Of his sheet such matter
as shall tend to the elevation Of their char
acter. | have sometimes thought that
newspapers in their sphere might be com
pared to that exquisite mechanism Of the
universe whereby the moisture is lifted
from the earth, condensed into clouds, and
poured back again in refreshing and fertil
| izirg showers to bless the hus bandman and
produce the abundant harvests. So, with
the representatives. of the press. they draw
from public opinion, and finally reflect and
re.distribute it back again iu turn TO iii
elevation and purilcation"
In the year lS4S Mr.. Colrax was ap
pointed delegate from his adopted State
to the Wing National Convention, of whcl
he was elected secretary, and although eX
tremely young. he discharged the lunctiont
of his office commercially. In 1850 he wa,
elected member of the Indiana State Con
yention, having for its object the prepara
ton of IA State Constitution. In this body
he proved very efficient in bringing ahOu
the adoption of the present constitution o
his State. In 1851 he was the candidate o
the Wing party in his district for seat il
the House Of Representatives at Washing
ton. The result was uniavorable TO him
yet as an indication of the increasing
strength Of his political party in Indiana
it was regarded as very encouraging. Ia
1851 he was again sent as delegate Il
the Wing National Convention, of which
also he was appointed Secretary. In 1884,
Mr.. Colfax was elected TO Congress as
Republican nominee aud from that time t.
the present he has always occupied lii
seat as representative.
AT the opening of the 'Thirty.fourth Con
gress occurred the memorable contest 70
the Speakership, resulting in the election
of Mr. Banks to that position. During tha
session Mr.. Coliax took his stand as one o
the most promising OF our Congressional
debaters. His speech upon the then all
absorbing topic of the extension of slaverl
and the aggreseions of a slave power wal
mpsteriy effort, and stamped him at onci
as most Influential orator. This speed
twas circulated throughout the country a
the time, and was used as a campaign doc
ument by tho Fremont party during III,
canvass o. 1885. Mr.. Cofax labored zeal
| E. I,b, n Era al. 1.