Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-03-08
nnr Washington LNiicr.



cfosR or the ilsr CONGRESS.
It is generally the case that final action is taken
upon more measures Of legislation during the
last few day If n session Of Congress, than during
the same number Of weeks in the earlier part Of
the term The session just closed has been no
exception to the general rule. Daring the past
week evening sessions have been held by both
houses, which have extended far into the night ;
and Friday night the members knew neither rest,
relreshment nor sleep. The galleries were crowd
ed during all the weary watches Of the night by
hundreds Of stupid spectators, who always set
out the hours Of an expiring session, under the
vain belief that there is something moro interest
/ ing or important in night session than occurs
at any other time. At FIVE o'clock in the morning
n recess was taken until ten o'clock, to enable
the exhausted members 70 rush home to get their
bittors and breakfast, and perhaps to clear their
heads with an hours nap,
At ten O'Clock the machinery was set in motion
again and bill. and joint resolutions were ground
out amid such noisy hustle as utterly bewldcrcd
the galleries, If il did not confuse the mcmbcrs
/ The President, accompanied by the entire cabi-
net, was in waiting in the Presidents room. to
sign the bills ms fast as they passed the Senate,
and during the last hour he approved and signed
sixty-seien. Either by intentional omission, or
because - O'Clock overlook his pen before it had
completed 10. work some ten or twelve bills failed
20 receive his signature, and consequently lost
the power Of beneiting those interested therein.
During the morning, while the chair was oc-
cuped by Mr. Ferry. as Speaker protem., Mr. s..
:. Cox of New York arose and offered the follow
ing unexpected but graceful
TRIBUTE no SPEAKER nAiNE
Rs'oisf, That n view OF the difficulties involved in
ur performance of The duties Of speaker cd Chi. House.
and of the conpcuously ablc courteous dignaed and
q Blaine during the present Congress, % IS ominonty
becoming thnt our thanks Doe rendered. and they arc
hereby rendered Co hm therefor"
This was followed by a short speech. 200 which
be spoke of Mr.. Blaine i'm terms even moro COM
plimennry than the language of Che resolution.
and in which he declared that hc had been de-
signatcd by the Democratic side Of the House 20
give expression to it- respect fr and satisfaction
with all the official act-or thc Speaker. The ros-
olution was adopted unanimously, with the eN.
ception Of one yote-that of Mr. Muurcn Of
Ohio.
As illustrating the ease with which one man
oan sometimes defeat the will Of a majority. il
may be mentioned that as The hour of twelve APP
preached the question occurred upon "a motion
that the House rccede from its disagreement 10
the Senate amendment to the bill aboli,hing the
ranks Of Admiral and Vice ADMIRAL in ihe navy
Upon the question being taken hy tellers the
vote stood, yeas lO3 nays ia sufficiently dc
cisivo majority, it would seem, to clearly expires.
the Will OF the House Gen. Butler, who &, OPP
posed TO the Senate amendment. glanced eagerly
at the clock and Immediately demanded tie yea.
and nays Doubtless hoping ;hat he might get
through the clerk began calling the roll with a
mpidity that rcsemblel the rattle ur o. drum. lie
was only able to reach the name of Michael G.
Kerr, however, when the hands upon the dial
pointed 20 twelve, and the hammer of the speaker
fell, and with il the pending bill, which five min
utes before had passed the House by a large ma
jority, aud which in five minute. more would
have passed again By sin larger vote.
40 1890 O'Clock senator Bayard. of Del.
aware, arose and offered a resolution rendering
the thanks Of the Senate to Vice President Col.
fax for the ability and impartiality with which
lie had presided over the deliberations Of the sem
ate, which was unanimously adopted This res
oution, well as the one passed in the House.
was particularly significant. and more highly
complimentary, being diycs,edofa partizan char
acter, as both were moved by mcmber. Of the OPP
position
At precisely II O'Clock the Speaker interrupted
the proceedings with sharp stroke Of the glyel.
and hy declaring the Forty-Grst G sgress adjourn
ed sine die.
OPENING OF tue i2l cosoHss.
Almost with with the same breath the Vice
President called the SENATE Of the Fortysecond
Congress 70 order, and directed the Secretary to
call the roll of names Of the senator. elect. who.
as their names were called, advanced and took
the oath Of Office When the name Of Mr.. Gold
thwat. of Alabama. was called, Mr. salisbury.
of Delaware (whose term bad expired with the
list Congress ten minutes before), arose and
undertook to address the Senate. Several
Senator'S Immediately objected and reminded the
gentleman that he was no longer Senator
whereupon he retired in some confusion AZ one
O'Clock the Senate adjourned to ruesday
IN THE HOUSE,
lmme iately upon the adjournment, Mr. Blaine
vacated the Speakers chair, and the new House
was called to orde. by Mr. Mcpherson, the Clerk
who proceeded to call the roll Of members by
states, emitting several whose seats are contested
and from New Hampshire Connecticut. Califr-
MIA and Texas, in which states no elections have
yet been held. The first business in order being
the election of Speaker, Hon. James g. Blaine
was reelected receiving l2G vote. against Hon.
Geo W Morgan, Democrat, 49,
The Speaker then arose and formally declared
the House adjourned in the following neat and
appropriate speech
REMARKS OF SPEAKER BLAINE.
Gentlemen Of the House Of Representatives our Lahore
arc at an end, but delay me final ADJOURNMENT long
enough to return my most profound and respectful
thanks for the commentator which you have been pleas
ed TO bestow upon my Official course and conduct In
deliheatye body of this character presiding officer g.
Of his political dyOcatos Beyond that you Civ me the
assurance that have earned The respect and good viii
.Aes'ln' aiv u9, ~ 60 he ana arc most crate
/ fully acknowledged The Congress whose existence
ceases with this hour enjoys memorable distinction. It
is tho hrst IN which Az nc hatos have been represented
on THIS luor since the lalefu winter that preceded
late and bloody war Ten years have passed away since
thenyears oi trial and Of trIumph Of Wild de-
sructon and years Of careful rebuilding and amer ALL
and az the result Of ALL the national government here
.o-lay united rtfong grand defiant and great with q
territorial area vastly expanded and with three addi-
Ioha states represented on the luiuE Of It's iing
these prosperous fruits Of great struggle let us hum
bly, give thanks to the God Of battles and 10 the Prince
Peace. And now, gentlemen with more express lon
Of the obligation feel for the consderae Kindness Will
which you have Away sustained me- perform the onl y
remaining duty Of my Office In declaring, rs now do.
that the House Of Representatives Of the forty hrst Con-
/ gress Is adjourned without day.
~ THE SENATE,
The last hours Of the session were spent in con-
sideriug the various appropriation bills as they
were reported from the Committees Of Conference,
all Of which were finally passed. The appropri-
atoms had been finally been cut down to the low
est possible limit, and every expenditure not alb
solutey and Immediately necessary had been
stricken out. Only one appropriation of any
magnitude for public buildings was retained, viz
| 100000 with which to commence the erection Of
a new building for the State, War and Navy de-
partments. This building is to conform in size
and general design with the Treasury Building
and is to be located upon the present site Of the
] War md I..sI d