The national Republican., 1869-03-04
INTERESTING PROCEEDINGS.
Resignation of Speaker Colfax
Election Of Mr.. r. N. Pom,roy Q, Speaker

messed ", tfhnspiTeu III tuo uoubo Vi hePiV- Il
sentatives yesterday. As soon as the House
was called 10 order, Hon. Schuyler Colfar |
rose TO tender his resignation Of the Office OF |
Speaker, position he has so ably allied for
the last six years.
The announcement that the resignation
would be rendered to-day was made some
days ago, and the greatest desire was mani
fest in all quarters to witness the interesting
proceedings Incident thereto. 1t was, there
fore, not surprising to flnd the galleries OF
the House crowded at so early an hour as
o'clock.
Not only was every seat taken at au early
hour, but the halls and corridors and door
ways were so closely packed that It was i'm
possible to approach even within hearing
distance.
On the aoor every scat was occupied, there
being not more than half q dozen absent
members Of the Fortieth Congress, while
members elect to tho Forty-arst Congress
occupied seats upon the sofas, or stood In
the area back Of the outer row Of seats. It
is doubtful whether such good order wis
ever before maintained In galleries so
crowded, and upon tho floor Of legislative
hail SO thronged with members. Every one
seemed to be deeply impressed with the
scene, and the old members Of the House
who for six, eight, ten and some OF them
even for fourteen years have served In Con-
srs-s with th- retiring speaker, seemed to
bo deeply affected.
Mr.. McPherson, Clerk of the House, and
his immediate assistants occupied seats at
the Clerks desk, and tho doorkeepers and
other employees Of the House were ranged
about In different parts Of the hall, and all
seemed to regret the necessity that compelled
the resignation.
Mr.. Colfax, addressing the House, said;
GENTLEMEN The opening Of the legisla-
tive day, at the close Of which / must enter
upon another sphere Of duty, requires me to
tender to you this resignation OF the Office
which by your kindness and confidence i
have held, to take effect on the election Of q
| Speaker for the brief remainder Of this ses-
| sion.
The parting word amongst friends about to
separate Is always a regretful one, but the
farewell which takes me from this hall, In
which SO many years have been 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 Of eyentful
legislation, Of exciting issues, and Of grave
decisions vitality effeeting the entire Repub-
lie. 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 domain Of history. And l
but refer to them to express the Joy which
apparently Is shared by the mass Of our
countrymen, that the storm-cloud Of war
which so long darkened our national horizon
| at last passed away, leaving our imperilled
Union sayed and that by the decree Of the
people-more powerful than Presidents, or
Congresses, or rarmies-libertywas proclaimed
throughout the land to all the Inhabitants
thereof.
But cannot leave you without one word
Of rejoicing over the present position Of our
Republic amongst the nations Of the earth.
With our military power and almost illimit-
able resources, exempllaed by the war that
enveloped them; with our rapidly augment
ing population, and the welcome at our gate
to the oppressed of all other elimes; with
our vast and increasing agricultural, me-
chauical, manufacturing and mineral capac-
tiles; with our frontage on the two great
oceans Of the globe, and our almost COM
pleted Pacific railroad uniting these opposite
|
tions, the United States of America COM
mands that respect among the powers of
the world which insures the maintenance
Of all Its national rights and the security Of
all Its citizens from oppression or injustice
abroad. Nor Is this all. The triumphal
progress Of FREQ institutions here has had
Its potent influence beyond the seas. The
right Of the people to govern, based on the
sacred principle of our Revolution that all
Governments derive their just powers from
the consent of the governed, Is everywhere
advanced. Not with slow and measured
steps, but with rapldity that within a few
years has been so signally Illustrated in
Great Britain, Spain, Italy, Russia, Hun
gary and other lands. May we not all hope
that by the moral but powerful force Of our
example, letters may everywhere be broken,
and that 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 end Of the earth.
cannot claim that In the share have
had In the deliberatlon Of the legislation OF
this House, as a member and an officer,
have always done that which is wsest and
best, In word and in acti for none of us are
infallible. But that l have striyen to per-
form faithfully every duty, and that devoted,
as all know, to principles that / have
deemed correct, the honor and glory OF our
country have always been paramount and
above all party ties, l can confidently assert.
And that | have sought to mitigate the
harshness and asperlty which the collision
Of opposing parties so oftcn evoke must be
left TO my fellow-members to verify.
In the responsible duties Of the past six
years have endeayored to administer the
rules you have enacted for your guidance,
both In letter and spirit, with an impartial
ity uninHuenced by political associations or
antagonlsms. And may be pardoned for
| . ba ~
decision has been reversed there has been no
appeal-sometimes taken as they are by o
minority US q protest against the power un-
der the rules of majorty-whlch has ever
been decided by strictly party vote. If, In
the quickness with which a presiding officer
here Is often compelled to rule, hour after
hour, on parliamentary points, and In the
performance OF his duty to oprotect all men,
bers In their rights, to advance the progress
of public business and to preserve order, any
word has fallen from my lips that has
Justly wounded any one, desire to withdraw
II unreseryedly.
leave this Hall with no feeling of unklnd-
ness to any member with whom l have been
associated in oil the years Of the past, hay
Ing earnestly tried to practice that lesson OF
: life which commands us to write our enml-
ties OH the sand, but to engrave our friend
ships on the granite. But the last word can
not longer be delayed. bid farewell to the
faithful and conndlng constituency whose
affectionate regard has sustained and en-
compassed me through all the years Of my
public life. Farewell to this Hall, which In
Its excitement and restless activities so often
seems TO represent the throbblngs and the
intense feelings Of the national heart; and
finally, fellow-members and friends, with
sincere gratitude for tho generous support
you have always given inc In the difficult
and often complex duties Of this chair, and
with the warmest wishes for your health,
happiness and prosperity, one and all, bid
you farewell.
Speaker Colfax read his yaledlctory in a
voice SO clear, and the order maintained was
SO good that his every uttcrancc was dis,
tlnctly heard, and as the last word rendering
his resignation fell upon the ear, the whole
House manifested It's appreciation Of his re-
marks by round Of hearty applause.
Mr.. Colfax Immediately retired from the
chair, and In accordance with his expressed
wish, Mr.. Wilson, Of Iowa, assumed II as
Speaker pro tenn