Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1869-03-11
Cslfax,s Address to the House.

House, in the following neat and mani,
speech:
GENTLEMEN: The opening of the leg
islative day at the close OF which l mus
enter upon another sphere of duty, re
Quires me to tender to you this resigna
ton of the Office which by your kind
ness and confidence have held, to tax.
effect ON the election of Speaker fo
the brief remainder of this session. The
parting word amongst friends about tt
separate is always a regretful one, bu
the farewell which takes me from thi.
hall, in which so many years have beer
spent, excites in me emotions which il
would be useless to attempt to conceal
The fourteen years during which have
been associated with the representatives
of the people here have been full ei
eventful legislation, of exciting issues
and of grave decisions vitally affecting
the entire republic. All these, with the
accompanying scenes, which so often
reproduced in this arena of debate, the
warmth of feeling of our antagonizing
constituencies, have passed into the do
main of history, and but repeat them
to express the Joy which is apparently
shared by the mass of our countrymen,
that the storm-cloud of war which has
SO long darkened our national horison,
has at last passed away, leaving our inn
perilled Union saved, and that by the
decree OF cur people, more powerful
than Presidents, Congress or armies,
liberty was proclaimed through the land
| to all the inhabitants thereof.
But l cannot leave you without one
word of rejoicing over the present con-
ditien of our Republic amongst the ma
tions of the earth. With our military
power and almost illimitable resources
| exemplified by the war that developed
them with our rapidly augmenting po-
pulation, and the welcome at our gates
| of the oppressed of all other climes, with
our vast and increasing agricultural, me-
chanical, manufacturing and mining
capacities, with our advantage on the
two great oceans of the globe. and our
almost completed Pacific Railroad, uni
ting these opposite shores and becoming
the highway, the United States of
America command that respect among
the powers of the world which ensures
the maintainance Of all its citizens from
oppression or injustice abroad. Nor is
this all. The triumphal progress Of free
institutions here has had its potential
influence beyond the sea. The right of
the people to govern, based Oh the sacred
principle of our revolution that all gov
ernments derive their just powers from
the consent of the governed, is every
where advancing, not with slow or meas
ured steps, but with a rapidity that with
in few years has been so signally il
Illustrated in Great Britain, Spain, Italy,
Prussia, Hungary, and other lands
May we not hope that by the moral but
powerful force of our example, fetters
may everywhere be broken, and some
of US may live to see that happy era
when slavery and tyranny shall no more
be known throughout the world, from
the rivers to the ends of the earth.
l cannot claim that in the share have
had in the deliberations and legislation
of this House, as member and as an
officer, have always done what was
wisest in action and word, for none of
us are infallible: but that have striven
to perform faithfully every duty that de-
volved upon me, all know; the prin-
ciples that 1 have deemed correct, the
honor and glory of our country have al
ways been paramount above mere par
ty ties, L can conscientiously assert and
that / have sought to mitigate rather
than to intensity the asperities which
the collision of opposing factions SO often
evoked must be left to my fellow mem
bers to verify. In the responsible du-
ties of the last six years l have endeav
ored to administer the rules yeu have
enacted for your guidance beth in letter
and in spirit, with an impartiality un-
influenced by political antagonism, and
may be pardOned for the expression of
qualification that while no decision has
been reversed, there have been appeals
sometimes taken, as they are by min
ority, as a protest against the power un-
der the rules of majority, which has
been decided by strictly party VOTE
If in the quickness with which a pre-
siding officer here is often compelled to
rule hour after hour on. parliamentary
points and in the performance of his
duty to protect all members in their
rights. to advance the progress of busi-
ness, and to preserve order, any word |
has fallen from my lips that has justly |
wounded any one, desire to withdraw |
it unreservedly. l leave this room with |
ne feeling of unkindness to any men,
ber with whom have been associated |
In all the years of the past, having |
tried to practice that lesson of |
life which commands us to write our
on the sand, but to engrave our
on the granite.
But the last word cannot be longer
delayed. bid farewell to the faithful
and confiding constituency whose affec-
tionate regard has sustained and encom-
passed me through all the years of my
public life; farewell to the hall which,
in its excitements and restless activities,
80 often seemed to represent the throb-
Oings and the intense feelings of the ma
5ional heart; and finally fellow MEM
Ders and friends, with sincere gratitude
Tor the generous support you have al
ways given me in the difficult and COM
plex duties of the chair, and with the
Tarmest wishes for your health, happi-
ness and prosperity, one and all, bid
you farewell.
The following resolution was then un-
animously adopted:
ReSOtued, That the retirement of the
Hon. Schuyler Colfax from the Speak
,r's chair, after long and faithful dis
,harge of its duties, is an event in our
current history which would cause gen.
,ral regret, were it not that the country
S to have the benefit of his matured
alents and experience in the higher
phere of duty to which he has been call
ID by majority of his countryrnen. In
parting from our distinguished Speaker,
he Heuse records with becoming SEN
ibility its high appreciation of his skill
n parliamentary law, of his prompt
less of administering rules and facilia-.
ing the business of the body, of his ur-
zane manners, and of the dignity and
with which he has presided
'ver the deliberations of the House
lie will carry with him into his new
ield of duty, and throughout life the
lind regards of every member of Con-
,ress.
Jehnson's Last Kick.