Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1869-03-12
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Vice President CO1fax.

Preparatory to entering upon the du-
| ties of Vice President, Hon. Schuyler
Colfax resigned the Speakership of the
House March 3rd. The House paid a
just tribute to their distinguished and
faithful presiding officer by the unani-
nous adoption of the following reso1u-
ton:
ResoLved, That the retirement of the
Hon. Schuyler Colfax from the Speak
er's Chair, after long and faithful dis
charge of its duties, is an event in our
current history which would cause gen
eral regret were it not that the country
is to have the benefit of his matured
talents and experience in the higher
sphere of duty to which he has been
called by a majority of his country
men. In parting from our distinguish
ed Speaker the House records with
becoming sensibility its high apprecia-
ton of his skill in parliamentary law,
of his promptness in administering
the rules and facilitating the business
of the body, of his urbane manners,
and of the dignity and impartiality
with which he has presided over the
deliberations of the House, he will
carry with him into his new field of
duty and throughout life, the kind re-
CARDS of every member of this Con-
! gress.
Mr.. Colfax spoke the following words
of farewell:
GENTLEMEN The opening of the
| legislative day, at the close of which I
must enter upon another sphere of
| duty, requires me to tender to you this
resignation of the Office which by your
kindness and confidence have held, to
| take effect on the election of a Speaker
| for the brief remainder of this session.
The parting word among friends about
to separate is always regretful one,
| but the farewell which takes me from
this Hall, in which so many years have
| been spent, excites in me emotions
which it would be useless to attempt
to conceal.
The fourteen years during which I
have been associated with the repre-
| sentatives of the people here, have
| been full of eventful legislation, of ex-
| citing issues and grave decisions, vital
/ ly affecting the entire Republic. All
| these, with the accompanying scenes
| grI.ieb ofbe1A-zeIs-o3y 4 La this arena
/ of debate the warmth of feeling of our
| antagoniZing constituencies have pass
/ ed into the domain of history, and
/ 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 has so long darkened our
national horizon, at last passed away,
/ leaving our imperiled Union saved,
1 and that by the decree of our people,
more powerful than Presidents, Con-
| crosses or armies, liberty was proclaim
ed throughout the land to all the inhab-
/ itants thereof.
/ But cannot leave you without one
word Of rejoicing over the present con-
1 dition of our Republic amongst the
| nations of the earth, with our military
power, and almost iIlimitable resources
exemplified by the war that developed
1 them, with our rapidly augmenting
population, and the welcome at our
gates of the oppressed of all other
climes, with our vast and increasing
| agricultural, mechanical, manufactur-
ing and mining capacities, with our
vantage on the two great oceans Of the
| globe, and our almost completed Pacific
Railroad uniting these opposite shores,
and becoming the highway, the United
States of America commands that re-
spect among the powers of the world
which insures the maintenance of all its
citizens from oppression and 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 on the sacred principle of ouI
resolution that all Governments de-
rive their just powers from the consent
of the governed" is everywhere Rd-
vancing, not with slow and measured
steps, but with rapidity that in few
years has been so signally illustrated
in Great Britain, Spain, Italy, Prussia
Hungary and other lands. May we moi
hope that by the moral but powerful
force of our example efforts may every,
where be taken, and that some of u.
may live to see that happy era wheT
slavery and tyranny should no more bC
! known throughout the world from the
i rivers to the ends Of the earth.
] can not claim that In the share
have had in the deliberations and legis
lations of this House as a member anC
. as an officer have always done wha
? was wtsest in action and word, for nont
Of as are infalhble, but that hav,