Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-03-20
,nnd,eds of decisions made by

If the many hundreds OF decisions MADE Dy
me oflen on the instant, none have beeo re
vers4d and scarce any seriously questioned.
How much owe to the uniform kindness
and support of the members over "noM
have presided it is difficult to express in
words. Il has been bounded by no party
ines and controlled by no party affiliations,
I'D 7 rejoice that have been able TO attest
nv orpreciation OF this support: "hile
i.ayousiy defending principles before inc
people, this defense mas never peen eoupiuu
rx,1h personai assaults on any OF the puehc
men with whom / have differed. NO asper-
sions on their character have dishonofeo my
tongue no epithets or invectlVes nave ia'ieh
from my lips. .ha
ror1y-second Congress has already PASSED
into history, and wishing you. Senators, use
fnl lives for your country, aud happy iives
for Yourselves and thanking you tor the res
CLINTON spread on your Journal, ana lnVohins
the favor OF Him no holds the destinles OF
natinns in the hollow Of His hand, l am
rasdu IN administer the oath of Office to the
vice President elect, whom / now introduce
V,ce-President Wilson then addressed
the Senators as follows:
SENATORS: Ia assuming the position as
signed me by the voice OF the nation, am
not, | trust, uI mil d1ul OF the ophea
tions it imposes. A service here some"nd'
u,
great events, and an association mere win
nearly two hundred and thirty Senators,
many of them statesmen OF large ana Vaileu
experience, have Impressed upon me exalted
ideas of the responsibilities resting upon Id Z
occupant of this chair under the rules or
| the senate. parliamentary law and the con-
stitution Ia passing then from the seat L
| have held for more than eighteen years to
| this chair, trust I comprehend something
of its just requirements, something, too, OF
| the tone and temper of the Senate. In
| reeiding over your deliberations shall ever
strive to be free from personal prejudice and
partisan bias. A sense of public ducy ana
| obligations of personal friendship alike re-
| auire that l shall be as considerable, as just
| and as impartial as the lot of humanity per
mits. To the justice, generosity and tIleno,
| lv regard of the Senators trustfuliy appeal
| for that counsel and encouragement, that
| forbearance and indulgence, which | am
| snre I shall often require as your presiding
officer. e[&sE& ~
| At the conclusion Of the proceedings
of the House, On the 4th, Speaker Blaine
said:
| GENTLEMEN: For the forty-second time
| since the Federal Government was organ
| lied its great representative body stands on
| the eve of dissolution. The final word which
| separates US is suspended for moment that
| may return my sincere thanks for the kind
| expressions respecting my official conduct,
which, without division of party, you have
caused to be entered on your Journal. At
| the close Of four years. service in this re-
sponsible and often trying position, it is a
source Of honorable pride that have SO ad-
ministered my trust as to secure the conf
| dence and appreciation of both sides of the
| House. 1t would not be strange IL in the
necessarily rapid discharge of daily business
l should have erred in some Of the decisions
made On points unexpectedly arising, and
| often without precedent to guide me. 1t
| has been my good fortune, however, to be
always sustained by the House, and in no
| single instance to have had ruling re-
versed. Iadvert to this gratifying fact to
| quote the language Of the most eloquent of
my predecessors-"i in no vain spirit of emu
iation, but as furnishing a powerful motive
for undssembled gratitude''-and now, gen
| tlemen, with a hearty God bless you all, l
| discharge my only remaining duty in declar
| ing that the House of Representatives of the
Forty second Congress is adjourned weh
| out day.