Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-03-19
CLOSING SCENES IN THE SENATE
AND HOUSE.

CLOSING SCENES IN THE SENATE
AND HOUSE.
Speeches of the r. etIring and Incoming
-Vice-Presidents, and Speaker Blaine.
At 11:50 A. M, Tuesday, the hour for
the final adjournment of the Senate
having nearl y arrived, Vice-President
Colfox arose and addressed the Sena-
tors as follows .-s 5 .....y
SENAToRs:-The time fixed by the constitu-
ton TOR the dissolution of the 42d CONGRESS-
mas arrived, and with few parting words I
shalIreslgnthis gavel to the honored son of
Massachusetts who has been chosen by the
people my successor. Administrations ter
inmate and congresses expire as the wears pass
by, but the nation lives and grows and pros
pefS, TO be served in future by those equally
i IA 10 ITS interest and equally proud of
It's growing influence among the nations of
the earth. To be called by the re oresenta-
| tYes OF the people and afterwards bv
! the people themselves to the resnonsi
PIE duty OF presiding successfully over
| the TWO houses of Congress for the mast
ten years, from an era of war, through the era
| OF reconstruction to an era of peace. more
| than Hills the measure OF an honorable ambi
ton. Looking back over these ten exciting
years, can claim not only that I have com.
| mltted no act which has proved the conf
dehce misplaced that called me to this posi-
lon, but also that have striven in its official
duties to administer the parliamentary law
with the same 1mpartiality with which the up-
right judge upon the bench decides on cues
tlons OF life and liberty; to faithfully protect
the rights OF the minority as we'll as to uphold
the rights of the majority in the advance
meh5 OF pubhc business to remain calm and
unmoVed amid the eXcitements of debate to
! temper and restrain asperities and TO Guard
against personal antag0nisms. To perform ac-
ceptably the complex and often perplexine
4uCieS OF the chair without partisan bias has
| peeh my constant endeavor. It is gratifying
therefore, that of many hundreds of the decis.
| ions made by me, often on the instant none
nave Deen reversed, and scarce any seriousiv
| questioned. How much | owe to the uniform
Kindness and support of the members over
whom nave presided is difficult to express in
words. 1t has been bounded by no party lines
and controlled by no political affiliations. and
| reJolce that have been able to attest my APP.
preciatlon OF this support while jealousy de-
dehdlng principles before the people. This de-
fence has never been coupled with personal
assaults on any OF the eminent public men
with whom have differed. No aspersions on
! their character have dishonored my tongue
no epithets or lnyectiyes have fallen from my
| lips.
But the Clerk admonshes me that the
Forty-second Congress has already passed
/ y
tul lives Tor your country and happy lives for
| yourselves, and thanking you for the resolu-
tion:spread on your Journal, and invoking the
favor OF Him who holds the destinies of the
nations and Of men in the hollow of His hand
| am ready to administer the oath of office to
the Vice-President elect, whom 1 now intro
duce to you.
Vice President elect Wilson, stand
ing at the Secretary's desk, then ad-
Hraccp1 tho Son - fol
SENATORS: In assuming the position as
signed me by the voice Of the nation. am
not, l trust, unmindful of the Obligations it
imposes. & service here somewhat prolonged
covering a-poriod. crowded with great events,
and an association here with nearly two hun
bred and thirty Senators, many of them states
men of large and varied experience, have i'm
pressed upon me exalted ideas of the respon-
sibilities resting upon the account of this
char under the rules of the Senate, parlia-
mentaTy law and the constitution. In passing
then, from the seat | have held for more
than eighteen years 10 this chair, trust
l comprehend something of its Just require
ments-something too of the tone and tenn
per Of the Senate In presiding over your
deliberations. J. shall ever strive to be free
from personal prejudice and partisan bias. A
sense OF public duty and obligations of per-
sonal friendship alike require that l shall be
as considerate, as just and as impartial as the
lot OF humanity permits. To the justice, gen.
crosby and friendly regard Of the Senators,
trust, fully for that counsel and encourage
ment, that forebearance and indulgence, which
Lam sure shall often require as your pre-
siding officer.
The retiring Vice President admins
tered the oath of office to the Vice.
President elect, and then said "The
time for the expiration of the Forty
second Congress having arrived, [ de-
clare the Senate of the United States
adjourned sine die"
In the House, as the hands on the
dial OF the clock were making rapid ap-
preach to noon, the Speaker rose and
delivered his valedictory. He said:
GENTLEMEN: For the forty-second time
since the Federal Government was organized,
It's great representative body stands on the eve
OF dissolution. The final word which separates
US Is suspended for a moment that [ may re-
turn my sincere thanks for the kind express
sions respecting my official conduct which,
without division OF party, you have caused to
be entered on your journal at the close of
four years OF service in this responsible and
often trying position. It is a source Of hon
Orable pride that I have so admins ered ny
trust as to secure the confidence and appro--
baton Of both sides OF the House. 1t would
not be strange if, in the necessarily
rapid discharge Of daily business, should
have erred IN some OF the dici- |
sions made on points unexpectedly arising. |
and often without precedent to guide me. 1t |
has been my good fortune, however, to be al
WAYS sustained by the House. and in no sin |
gle instance to have had ruling reversed.
advert to this qualifying fact, to quote the |
language Of the most eloquent of my Trede- |
ceSsOrs, " in no vain spirit OF emulatOn,' but |
as furnishing a powerful motive for undissem- |
bled graft ude. Aud now, gentlemen, with a |
hearty God bless you all, / discharge my only |
remaining duty in declaring that the House
of Representatives. # the Forty-second Con-
gress is adjourned without day.
The remarks of the Speaker were
generally and heartily applauded on
the floor and in the galleries., and then |
the members formed a procession, with |
the Speaker at their head, and went to |
the Senate Chamber TO participate in |
the inaugural ceremonies.
EVER since last Christmas millions of
robins have been roosting in the cedars
on the Pickett place, four miles west
of town. Hundreds of people visit the
roost nightly and bag as many as they
want. Up to this date thousands of !
these birds have been caught. but there
appears to be no diminution in their
numbers. --M1tTJ1'ecSbOro Tenn J Meas.
The first mule ever taken into the
Hoosac Tunnel was brought up recent
ly, after a three years residence in the
bowels of the earth. He began to kick
as soon as he reached the
surface thing he was never known
to do before.
THE Chinese have an aphorism very
similar to our g Man proposes, but
God dispOses." It is: Jen schwo,
500 tire ! 500 ire Tien schwo, wei jau
y Man says, SO! so! Heaven
says, no! no
DIR, E. Y. PIERCE, of Buffalo. NJ