Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1873-03-05
Closing Scenes in the House and
Senate of the FOrty-SeeOnd
Congress.
ValedictOries of Yice-President
COlfax and Mr.. Speaker
Blaine.
Business TranSacted-LiSt of Bills
that Failed in Either
House, Etc.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE SENATE
FORTY-SECOND COSGRESS.

WASHINGTON, d. c., March L.
The senate recOnvened at half-past
nine O'Clock in the morning, bat there
was no quorum. A brief recess was
taken, after which the bill providing for
the purchase of a site for q public build
ing at Pittsburg was passed.
The bill to remove the political disa-
bilities of r. NJ. I. Hunter, of Virginia,
was passed.
Mr.. Ferry, of Michigan, called up the
bill extending the time for the restora-
ton to the market of the Ottawa and
Chippewa lands in Michigan, which
was passed.
Mr.. Conkling offered a resolution,
which was agreed to, for the appoint
ment of 8 committee of two to wait
upon the President and inform him that
unless he had some further cOmmunica-
ton to make, the two houses, having
finished the business before them, were
ready to adjourn. The Viee-President
appointed Messrs. COnkling and Trum-
bull as such committee.
Mr.. Kelly called up the bill giving
portions of certain military reservations
to the Oregon insane asylum.
At ten minutes past eleven o'clock
Mr.. Conkling reported that the Presi-
dent had been waited on, and that he
! had no further communications to make
to the Senate.
A few minutes before twelve O'Clock
| the President elect, escorted by Senator
| Cragin, chairman of the committee of
arrangements, followed by the members
| of the cabinet, entered the chamber.
| Vice-President ColfaX then addressed
| the senate as follows:
SENATORS = The time fixed by
the constitution for the dis
solution of the forty.seeond congress
has arrived, and with a few parting
words l shall resign this gavel to the
honored son of Massachusetts,, who has
been chosen by the people as my sue
| cessOr. Administrations will terminate
and congresses expire as years pass by,
but the nation lives, 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 peo-
pie themselves, to the responsible duty
of presiding successiyely over the two
houses of congress for the past ten years
from the era Of war through the era o
reconstruction to the era of peace, more
than fills the measure of an honorable
ambition. Looking back over these ter
exciting years, l can claim not only thai
[ have committed no act which hai
proved the confidence misplaced thai
called me to this position, but also thai
l have striven, in its official duties
to administer the parliamentary Law
with the same impartiality with which
an upright judge upon the bench decide:
question of life and liberty, to faithfully
protect the rights of the minority 81
well as to uphold the rights of the ma
jority in the advancement of public
i business, to remain calm and unmoveC
amid the excitement of debate, to tenn
per and restrain asperity, and to guarC
against personal antagOnlsms; to per
form acceptably the complex and oftel
4 perplexing duties Of the chair withou
partisan bias, has been my constant eh
deavor. 1t is gratifying, therefore, tina
, of the many hundreds of decisions mad
by me, often on the instant, none hav,
been reversed, and scarcely any serious
ly questioned. How much | owe to tn
, uniform kindness and support of mem
bers over whom L have presided, is diff
! cult to express. 1t has been bOundel
by no party lines, and controlled by n
: political affiliations, and 1 rejoice that
have been able to attest my appreciation
of this support. While jealously de
Tending principles before the people thi
: defense has never been coupled witt
personal assaults on any of tn
, eminent public men with whom
have differed. No aspersion
: on their character have dishonore
u my tongue, no epithets or invective
i have fallen from my lips, bu
| the clock admonishes me that th
forty second congress has alread
passed into history, aud wishing yo
/ senators useful lives for your country
: and happy lives for yourselves, an
/ thanking you for the resolution sprea
2 on your Journal, and invoking the favo
! of Him who holds the destines of ns
f tions and of men in the hollow of Hi
: hand, l am ready to administer th
2 oath of Office to the Vice-Presider
2 elect, whom l now introduce to yot
e The Vice-President, standing a th
| secretary's desk, then addressed tn
senate, as follows:
~ sBNAToRs-In assuming the poslti3