Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-03-25

concurrence in the resolves and remarks that
have been made. For almost three months
enc hundred and fifty men, members OF TINS
House have been intimately associated mere
and become familiar with each other. When
this House assembled in January last, the
majority of were strangers TO each other'
The associations of this winter have made us
acuuaintances and friends, and now we are
about to separate. All of these pleasant as
sociations are about to be be severed and the
saddening thought comes home to us, all shall
we ever meet again? In spite of all our hopes
TO the contrary, in spite of all the sem
timents of lofty cheer. the sad conviction
is forced upon us, that all shall never
meet again. The beautiful spirit of the
! christian theology teaches us that hereafter
we are to meet. hut not then as legisla
to-s. In this hour il : fitting that we should
f,rL,. the animo>!,it> k.ndi,d by legislation
and partisan strife. and remember that we are
of one common fanAjy with a good or evil
destiny hanging over as, and that an All-Wise
Providence has given Us tae honor and OPP
portuuity Df taxing the good or evil.
/ And may we 80 act that when We shall be
summoned hence from all mundane affairs we
may be entitled to the happy greeting OF "Wrll
done good and faithful servants.
Mr.. FARwtlI of Augusta, said.
Mr.. CLERh i feel tina, should do lasting
injustice 10 my own feelings and the good will
OF nv constituents. ii failed to give my
hearty approval and generous endorsement OF
, the resolution presented ly the gentleman
from Biddeiord.
The faithful manner in which the speaker
| has discharged the delicate and laborious du-
ties of his high and honorable ofiicc-his
: rigid and impartial enforcement of the rules
= of this House upon friend and stranger alike
: fad but suitable recognition in these manly
! tributes of respect.
f 1t will be among the pleasant and agreeable
; remcmbrances of my life that, coming into
I this House with him, under circumstances OF
, peculiar embarrassment, have ever received
that kindly consideration and encouragement
, from the chair, which spices life with the
beauties and gcncrosities of christian mag
nanimty.
| think we may claim for this House that
we have been actuatcd by desire to promote
: the true interests of our great State. l am
sure that in the discharge of our responsible
duties we have sought to add weight and
r wealth and happiness to the good State we are
chosen to serve. If Judgment may, at any
r time, have failed us, for our good purposes we
may confidently hope for honorable mention in
history. Surely we have not purposely al
lowed any interests to suffer at our hands
. while we have lal,ored to transmit our State
. with unimpaired honor and with augmented
value to our successors.
single word personal. TO my associates
= in committee and on this floor, | beg to ten
. der nv acknowledgements for uniform cOur-
tesy and kindness, and to say that If in the
excitement of unstudied debate l may have
dropped any words untitled for this high
forum, they were only the utterances of the
moment--to be no more remembered forever.
In the future and mellower years of life |
shall review. with kindly remembrance, the
agreeable relations growing out of our MEM
bership in 1870.
Mr.. BAKER said:
Mr. CLERK Il feel that it is only Just and
due to me- under the circumstances in which
the question of the Speaker was determined
| at the early part of the session, and as 1t is
well known that favored the election of an
other instead of the one who has presided over
our deliberations, to say what think upon
this occasion. 1t was not from the want of
personal respect and attachment to the Speak
er that | was in favor of another individual.
NV relations with him have always been of
the most pleasant kind, and we have been very
much associated together in our profes sional
/ life. | wish to say that have carefully watched
his presiding over this body, in the anxiety
manifested in the selection of committees
which is a very difficult and delicate task-in
the ease and urbanity, and gentleness tenn
pered with tirmncss with which he has presided
and ruled in all the varied questions of order
that have come up during our session-and
the entire satisfaction as far as know, which
! those rulings have given, so that no one APP
| peal has been taken from those decisions dur
ing this entire session, which is saying
great deal Tor anew Speaker and Il young
man. With no less than three individuals,
who have occupied that Chair heretofore up
on the floor of this House, and presumed to
be acquainted with all the difficult rules Of a
deliberate assembly, it is an uncommon COM
plment that no appeal has ever been taken
| endorse, therefore, most sincerely and fully,
the appropriateness of that resolution and the
opinions which have been expressed in rela-
ton to it.
Let me say to you, gentlemen, that enter
ing this House almost stranger to you, all
your faces have become familiar. and feel that
there is a tie binding us together that we shall
never forget, whatever may betide us or where
ever we may 60. | have felt or known no
difference and think no one here has as re-
CARDS political parties. In fact cannot point
out the minority of this House. | do not
know that we shall all ever be here again, but
! do know this, that if our constituents are as
sensible as think they are we shall all be
back here next session.
Mr.. SLOWER said:
Mr.. CLERK Il should do injustice to my
feelings if | did not take this opportunity to
add my testimony to what has already been
said in regard to the able and impartial man.
ner in which the Speaker has performed the
arduous duties of presiding officer of this
House. His uniform courtesy and his manly
firmness, tempered by strict justice, has not
only produced our respect, but won our affec-
tons.
The other officers of this House from our
affable and accommodating Clerk down to the
sprightly Page have performed their duties
with ability and untiring energy Among the
members, though most of them entire
strangers to each other, there has sprung up a
| feeling of brotherhood which does credit to
humanity.
/ must acknowledge sir, that although
have looked with anxious longings for the close
of this session. to be again free troin lcgisla-
tive cares enjoying the comforts Of home, yet
a wave of sadness sweeps over my reflections
as the hour draws near. when these pleasant