Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-01-05
In Convention Of Members elect the House
Of Representatives.


sttution of the State of Maine for the assem-
bling of its Legislature, the members elect
appeared in the Hall at 10 Id and took their
seats
S. J. Chadbourne, Esq, the Clerk of House
for 1870, called the assemblage to order, and at
his request prayer was offered by Rev. Mr..
Martin of Augusta.
A quorum was ascertained to be present in
the manner provided in sec. !. chap. 60 of the
public laws of 1869, entitled ian act to regulate
the organization Of the Legislature"
On motion, Mr.. COUSINS of Kennebunk,
port was charged with and conveyed the mes
sage to the Governor informing him that
quorum of the members elect of the House of
Representatives had assembled in their Hall,
and requesting his attendance to administer
the oaths required by the Constitution to quail
fy them to enter upon the discharge of their
official duties.
Subsequently Mr.. Cousins reported that he
had discharged the duty assigned him, and
that his Exccllency the Governor was
pleased to say that he would forthwith at
tend.
Thereupon the Governor, attended by the
Council came in, and the members elect of the
House Of Representatives, took and sub
scribed to the oaths necessary to qualify them
t. enter upon the discharge OF their official
duties
VIM. T. johnson of Augusta and William
Tabor of Unity were qualified by affirmation.
The Governor and Council then withdrew.
In HOUSE.
On motion, Messrs Robe of Gorham,
Woodbury. of Houlton, Thompson of Dover,
Jones' of Norway, Cleayes Of Portland, Rey-
nolds of Lewiston and Bartlett of Harmony
were appointed a committee to receive, sort,
and count the vote for Speaker of the House.
Having attended to that duty Nr. ROBBIE
from the committee reported:
Whole number of votes l31
Necessary for choice 60
Edwin b. Smith had 100
Edmund Wilson 26
Frederic Robbie
Cornelius Wilson /
The report was accepted and the Hon. Ed
win b. Smith was declared duly elected
Speaker of the House of Representatives for
the current political year.
The Speaker was conducted to the Chair by
Mr.. Wilson of Thomaston, and addressed the
House as follows.
Gentlemen of the House of Representatives.:
With unaffected diffidence l assume the
duties of the position to which your Partially
has called me. That they may be discharged
with any degree of satisfaction to you or me,
or of advantage to the State, is only possible
through the aid and counsel of the older and
more experienced legislators before me, (es-
pecialIy those who have preceded me here)
and the courtesy and forbearance of every
member.
Having carefully considered the compost
ton of the House, fell that can confident
ly rely upon this needed assistance and kind
ness.
TO this desk can only bring an earnest
desire faithfully L perform the duties it ex-
acts for heretofore my studies and labors in
the law have been mainly devoted to the mar
rover fie Id of applying it to individual cases,
rather than adapting its general principles to
legislation affecting the whole commonwealth
and all its citizens. My practice has been in
those Courts in whichsare tried causes between
party and party, and not in this highest
General Court which presides over the
destinies of all.
I One of the early masters of the subject,
declares that the Parliamentary Law-the
source of all human laws-eught to be sought
and attained BY all, but that it is ignored by
most and known to few. Among the few who
know it have no clam to be counted; but
in the pursuit of its knowledge l shall be
willing if not an apt scholar; ready to receive
and grateful for instruction, from any quarter
On motion of Mr.. Bliss of Washington,
Carleton of Whitefeld, Cousins of Kenne
bunkp0rt, Aarrlnlan OF Dellast, Bean OF LEN.
mark, Berry of Damariscotta, and Atwell of
Orono were appointed a committee to receive,
sort and count the votes for Clerk.
! Having attended to that duty, Mr. Bliss re-
ported
Whole number OF votes 134
/ Necessary for a choice 6s
! Sumner J. Chadbourne had 107
Frederic Lyford 27
! The report was accepted and S. ]. Chad
bourn was declared duly elected Clerk of the
House of Representatives for the current po-
| ltical year.
! On motion of Mr.. DINGLEY Of Auburn the
same committee proceeded 10 receive, sort
and count the votes for Assistant Clerk.
| Having attended to that duty, the chairman
reported
| Whole number of votes $50
/ Necessary for choice 66
Z. A. Smith had l04
VIM. II. Anthony 26
! The report was accepted, and u. A. Smith
was declared duly elected Assistant Clerk.
message was received from the Senate
informing the House of the organization of
that branch, by the choice of the Hon. Chas
Buifum as President, and S. w. Lane as Sec
Rotary.
On motion of Mr.. BoNSEY,
! Ordered, That j. y. Walker be Messenger,
I M ~ apI i'm