The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1873-03-08

Our superiority OF strength and
advantage of civilization should
make us Ienieht toward the Indian.
The wrong already inflicted upon
him should be taken into account,
snd the balance placed to his cred
it The moral view of the question
shonld he considered, snd the ques-
ton asked Csn-~-tle Iadian be
made productive member OF So
ciety by proper teaching and trcat-l
tmente When tie effort is made
in good faith. We will stand better
before civilized nations Of the
earth, and in our own conscious
ness for having made it.
All tbeae things are not to be
accomplished by one individual.
but they will receive support and
such recommendation to Congress
as will, in my Judgment best serve
to carry them into effect / beg
our support and encouragement
1t has been and is my earnest
desire to correct abuses that haYe
grown up in the civil service OF tho
country. To secure this reforma-
ton, rules requiring methods Of
appointment and also remodeling
were established and tavc Le.n
traced. My efforts for such refor-
nation shall he continued. To the
best of my judgment the spirit Of
the rules adopted will be maintain
ed.
l acknowledge the honor of this
assemblage, representing, as it
does, every section Of our country,
the oblig alton am under to my
countrymen for the great honor
they have conferred on me by re-
turning me to the highest Office
within their land, and tie further
obligations resting on me to rcndc:
them the best services within my
power. This promise, looking ior-
ward with tho greatest anxiety to
the day when I shall be rel q ed
from responsibilities that at times
are almost overwhelming, and from
which ! have scarcely had q res spite
Silence the eyentful firing upon Fort
Sumter. in April 1861, to the pres,
ent day. My services were then
rendered and accepted under the
first cali for troops growing out of
that etent. did not ask for place
or position, and vac entirely with
out influence or the acquaintance
Of persons Of ir fluence; but was re-
solved to preform my pert in
struggle threatening the very exist
ence Of the nation. / have per-
formed q CONSCIENTIOUS duty with
out asking promotion or command,
and without q revengefrl feeling
toward any section or any indivis>
uala. Notwithstsn ding,this though
not the wsr and from my candidacy
for ms present office in 1863 to
the close of the last Presidential
Campaign. l have been the sub
ject of abuse and Islander scarcely
ever eaqualed in political history,
which to-day / feel that can afford
to disregard in view Of yonr YER
dict, which I greatfully accept 90
my vindication.
ADDRESS BY MR. coLFAx.
| SENAroRs:-The time fixed by the
Constitution for the dissolution of
the Forty-second Congress has ar
rived, and with q few parting words
/ shall resign this gravel to the hon
ored son of Massachusetts,, who has
been chosen by the people as my
successor.
| Administrations terminate and
Congress expires as years pass by,
but the nation lives and grows and
| prospers, to be served in q future
by those equally faithful to its in
terests and equally proud Of its
growing influence among the ma
tons of the earth. To be called by
the representatives of the people,
and afterwards by the people them
selves, to the responsible duty OF
presiding successfully over the two
Houses of Congress for the past
ten years-from the era of war
through the era of reconstruction
to the era Of peace more than full
fills the measure Of an honorable
ambition. Looking back over these
ten exciting years, I can claim not
only that I have committed no act
which has proved the confidence
misplaced that has called me to the
position, but also that I have
striven in it's official duties to ad-
minister the parliamentary law with
the same impartialty with which an
upright Judge upon the bench de
cides in questions of life and iber
} ty, to faithfully protect the rights
of the minority as well as to uphold
.. the rights of the majority IN advance
ment Of public business; to remain
calm and unmoved amid the excite
ments Of debate; to temper and re
strain the asperities, and to guard
against personal antagonisnl; t.
perform acceptably the complex and
often perplexing duties of the chail
without partisan bias, have beer
my constant endeavor. It is graft
flying, therefore, that of the man,
hundreds Of decisions made by me
often ON the instant, none have beer
: reversed, and scarce any seriousl,
questioned. How much I owe Il
the uniform kindness and supper
of the members over whom I hav
9 presided, it is difficult to express il
9 words; it has been bounded by n,
party lines and controlled by n
: political affiliations, and I reioic
y that I have been able to attest m
9 appreciation of this support Will