The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-03-04
.IoUsE........ wAsu1seros. March 5.


The galleries are crOWed.
A message was received from the Senate
stating that the Post office anu legislative
Appropriation bills had passed. The
House nOn-cOncurred in the Senate
amendments, and asked for conference.
Colfax then delivered farewell speech,
which, at its conclusion, was greeted with
applause.
Coifax spoke as follows:
GENTLEMEN: The opening of the legisla-
tive day. at the close oi which 1 must
enter upon another sphere of duty, re-
quires me to tender to You this reslgna-
ton of the office which, by our kindness
and confidence, L have held, 10 take eff .eJ
ON the election of u speaker for the brIef
remainder OF this session. The parting
word amongst friends about To separate
j. a ways u relretful ne, but The farewell
which lakes me from this hall, in which
SO many years have been spent, eXc1tes IN
me emotions which it would be useless To
attempt TO conceal. The fourteen years
during whfch nave been associated with
the representatives OF the people mere, nave
been Iull OF eVentiut legislation, OF eXclt-
ing issues, and of grave decisions, vitality
affecting the entire kepub1c All THESE
with the accompanying scenes, which so
often are reproduced, in tue arena OF
debate, The warmth of feeling of our
antagoni zing constituencies, have pass
ell mo the domain OF history, and
but lefer - them to express The JOY
which, apparently, Is shared by the IN ass
of our cOu ttrymen, that the Storm cloud
of war, winch has so long darkeued our
national horizon, has stt last passed away
leaving our lmperrted Union saved, anu
that BY the decree OF our people, more
powerful than Presidents, Congress or
armies Liberty was proclaimed through
bu1 l cannot leave You without one word
OF rejoicing over the present condition OF
our Republic amongst the nations of the
earth. with our military power, and
| almost illimIta bic resOurceSas eXempAhed
BY the war 6haJ developed them; with our
rapidly augmenin pOputatloh, ana the the
welcome AT our gates OF the oppressed OF all
s.ther cliines; with our vast and lnereas'
ing agricultural, mechanical, InanuIactuf-
ing lad mining capacities; with Que van
tage on the tvcO great oceans of the gIooe,
aud our almost completed Pacific Railroad
uniting those opposite shores, and becOm-
ing the highway of the United states or
America, That respect amoAg the powers
of the world which iuSureS the mainten~
ance of all s citizens from oppression or
| Injustice abroad. Nor is this all The trl-
nas mad It's potential 1nhuenee beyond the
sea. The right of the people 10 govern,
/ based on the Sa red principle OF our reVo-
/ tuition, that alt governments derive bneiE
! in t powers from the consent Ot the govern
| ed Is eve y%neTe advancing, not with
| slow and N a. uied cps, but with ra-
| pIdity That Ia a few years has been so sig
| naIy illustrated ia Great Britain, spain,
Italy, Pru >Ia, Hungary and obner lanus:
but powerful force our example ana
| effolts may everywhere be taken,
ana and smnS so!e eT o. w5en US sIavery and tyranny
| should no more be known throughout the
world from The rivers TO the ends OF Inc
| earth. L cannot claim that in the share
| have had 10 the CieIlberations and legisla-
1 tionS of this House a member and 3S an
| officer | nave always done what was wlSeSt
| in action and wo q, for none of US are IN
fallibIe; but l have striven to- perform
my duty, and Dean devoted all know to
| principles that have deemed correct and
for the honor and glory of our country,
| and which have always been paramount
| above mere party ties. l can conSci6ntl-
/ oQsly assert that have sought to mitigate
| rather than to intensity the aSperlties
| which the collision of opposing parties so
! often involved. This must be left to my
| fellow members to verify. In the respOn-
| SGhle duties of the last six years / have en-
| deavored to administer the rules you have
! enacted for your guidance both in letter
| aud spi ri with impartiality, untnhuenced
nv noiitfcal utagonisIn and may be par
| d1ned for the expression OF qualification,
/ That whlIe no decision has been reversed,
/ There has been an appeal somei mes
/ t1t.sff as they are by q minority, as
9,rofest against the power und~r the rules
| of a rnafority, which has never been de-
/ eIded by n strictly party vote. III, IN ne
/ ouiekness With winch presiding ollceF
! here is often compelled to rue, hour atGer
| hour ON IlArIiaElsn tzry points, and IN the
| performance of his duty TO pr Eect ali
| ineni bers in their rights, to advance the
| progress of business, and to pI eserYe
order any word has Iatlen from my lips
that has justly wounded any one, desire
to withdraw 1T unreSerVedly. L leave this
| room with no feeling of unkindnesS to
any member with whom have been asso-