Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1873-03-13
Speeches Of Messrs. COlfax, Wilson and
Blaine n sra I


The following are the valedictory remarks
OF Vice President Celfax before the Senate,
on the 4th.
SENATORS: The time fixed by the Constitution
for the dissolution Of the Forty-second Congress
has arrived and with few parting words shall
resign this gavel to the honored son of Massachu-
sets, who has been chosen by the people as my
successor. Administrations terminate and Con-
crosses expire years pass by, butthe nation lives
and grows and prospers, to be served in future by
those equally faithful to its interests and equally
proud OF its growing influence among the nations
Of the earth to be called by the representatives of
the people, and afterward by the people them
selves, to the responsible duty of presiding sue
cessivey over the two houses Of Congress for the
past ten years, from the of the war through an
fills the measure of an onorable,smbition. Look
ing back over these ten exciting years, 1
can claim not not only that ! J., have com,
misplaced that called to this position, but also
that have striven in its official duties to
same impartiality with which an upright judge
upon the bench decides in questions of life and
TO % Isfhi1y m the sa gh1s 81 tne m
ity, in the advancement of public business, to re-
main calm and unmoved amid excitement Of de-
bate, to temper and restrain from asperites and to
guard against personal antagonisms. To perform
acceptably the complex and often perplexing du-
%
that of The many hundreds of decisions made by me,
often on the instant, none have been reversed and
| scarce any seriously questioned. How much owe
to the uniform kindness and support the members
over whom have presided is difficult to expires in
| words, 1t has been bounded by no party lines anc
that have been able to attest my appreciation of
this support. While jealously defending princi-
| pies before the people, this defense has never
been coupled with personal assaults on any of the
eminent public men with whom l have differed;
No aspersions on their character have dishonored
i my tongue, no epithets or invectives have fallen
| from myl lips.
second Congress has already passed into history.
and wishing you, Senators, useful lives for your
country, and happy lives for yourselves, and
| thanking you for the resolution spread on your
journal, and invoking the favor Of Him who holds
the destinies of nations and of men in the hollow
Of office to the Vice-President-elect, whom /
now introduce to you.
Vice-President Wilson then addressed the
Senate as follows: = fEis
SENATORS: In assuming the position assigned
me by the voice of the nation, lam not. 1 trust,
| unmindful of the obligations it imposes. ser
vice here, somewhat prolonged, covering period
| with nearly two hundred and thirty Senators
many Of them statesmen of large and varied ex-
per1ence, have impressed upon me exalted Ideas OF
this chair under the rules of the Senate, parlia-
mentary law and the constitution. In passing
eighteen years to this chair, I trust, I compre-
hend something of its just requirem ents, some
thing, too, of the tone and temper Of the Senate.
In presiding over your deliberations shall ever
strive to be free from personal prejudice and par-
san bias. A sense Of public duty and obligations
of personal friendship alike require that shall be
as consderate, as just and as impartial as the lot
of humanity permits To the Justice, generosity,
and friendly regard of the Senators trustfully ap
peal for that counsel and encouragement, that for
bearance and indulgence which am sure shall
often require as your presiding officer.
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 organized its great
representative body stand on the eve of dissolu-
ton. The final word which separates us is sus-
pended for a moment that may return my sincere
thanks for the kind expressions respecting my
official condact which, without division of party,
You have caused to be entered on your journal.
At the c'ose of four years service IN this RESPONSE
Bile and often trying position 1t is q source OF
honorable pride that 1 have so administered
my trust as to secure the confidence and
appreciation of both sides of the House 1t
would not be strange il in the necessarily
| rapid discharge of daily business / should have
erred in some of the decisions made on points un-
expectedly 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 reversed. i
advert to this gratifying fact, to quote the Ian
| guage of the most eloquent of my predecessor
"in no vain spirit of emulation, but as furnishing
powerful motive for undissembled gratitude 7-and
now, gentlemen, with hearty God bless you all,
discharge my only remaining duty in declaring
, that the House of Representatives OF the Forty
|. | second Congress is adjourned without day.