Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-02-09
THE END.

We are not personally acquainted with
the Honorable Mr.. Perkins, Speaker of the
late House of Representatives, but had
been led, from what we had seen Of him,
to regard him as grave gentleman, his
elongated countenance scarcely ever being
lit up by even smile. But his last official
act removes any doubts we may have en-
tertained on the subject, and entities him
to reputation as the greatest joker in the
State. In accordance with q long estab-
lished custom, resolutions were introduced
in the House on the day of adjournment
returning thanks in kind of mutual way.
Mr.. Perkins took occasion to make some
what lengthy speech, in which he perpe-
trates some heavy, and, considering the
mental calibre of his auditors, cruel jokes.
Hear one of them. He addresses the little
men around him thus:
You have avoided the danger of an extreme
course and casting aside petty animosities and
lingering resentments, you have legislated in
the spirit of charity and forbearance."
This he, as matter of course, spoke in
an ironical sense, and, considering that he
was indebted to brainless partisans, by
whom he was surrounded, for the position
he held, it looks little like ingratitute on
his part. We say he spoke ironically, for
he has too much sense and too high re-
gard for truth, to seriously insist upon
what the words imply. He adds:
II am forced to say that you have SO demean-
ed yourselves that no future truthful historian
will be able to record one act of yours unworthy
of the demands of the hour, or that you We're
recreant to the trust confded to you.''
All cruel Perkins how could you thus
trifie with them?
He told them the following i'm regard to
the condition in which they found the
State Treasury:
When you assembled, you found the State
burdened with an enormous debt, with an
empty Treasury and lettering on the verge of
bankruptcy"
After this, they, of course, inferred that
they were leaving plenty of money in the
vaults, which caused their eyes to
sparkle with the prospect of o plethoric
Treasury from which to draw their per
diem.
He then grew pathetic, and alludes to
their return home. He says:
"a few brief hours, or days at most, will re-
turn you TO your families, to your friends and
to your constituents. May they meet you with
a smile of affection and greet you with words of
approval"
Now, about those ''smiles of affection
and words of approval" Why harrow
up their feelings by calling to mind the
left-handed approval they have already
met with. Out of the whole crew, only
about bakers dozen were returned to the
next Legislature, while five-sixths of them
were aspirants. Words of approval, in
deed! Bad Perkins, to thus call up an un-
pleasant subject at such an inopportune
time. But, perhaps, remembering the un-
pleasantness of the allusion, and calling to
mind that all sublunary things are trans
itory, especially the pleasures and emolu-
ments of official position, he turns his face
upward and gets off an invocation as fol-
lows
Whether you be engaged in the exciting
scenes OF life or retired to the quietude of home
may the blessings of God be with you, and the
smiles of heaven rest On you. Though we may
never meet again on earth, my prayer to God IS
that We all May finally be permitted to enter
into that rest prepared for the people of God in
heaven"
An appropriate conclusion would have
been for them to join in singing
While the lamp holds out TO burn,
The yilest sinner may RETURN
but instead, the Speaker said farewell,
when the members went to VIII. Morrow,
drew the balance of their per diem and ad-
journed to the nearest grocery. BY the
time they were through there, they were
in condition. not to be alarmed at pro-
spectiye ''smiles of affection from their
families, or swords of approval from their
constituents