Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-03-10
The Congressional Adjournment and
Sneaker Rlainp'S Address,

The closing hours of Congress last
Thursday witnessed nearly the same ron
tine of scenes usually enacted on such oc-
caslons. The Senate had an all night 5
session, and much of the business trans
acted in those hours was hurriedly ant
loosely done. Contrary to the usual Gus
tom, the vice.-president made no farewell
address in declaring the Senate adjourned
The House also continued in session dur.
ing the ni.ht. but took Il recess of an hour
and Il half ut s o'clock in the morning
refreshed by this recess it finished up it,
work in better temper than usual.
At the close Speaker Blaine made 4 very
fine farewell speech to the members, de-
clared the House adjourned sine dic. and
Immediately vacated the chair and took :;
seat ut the clerks desk. The splendid
ovation that Immediately followed is said
to have been unprecedented in spontaniety
and hcartiness. All over the floor and in
the space in the rear of the seats, which
We're denSely packed, as well As the CALLER
S
les, there WAS the widest enthusiasm,
with waving Of handkerchicfs by the ladies'
and clapping of hands by everybody.
The following is the full text of his ad-
dress:
close with this hour a six years ser
vice rs speaker of the House of RcpreSen-
tatives-a term surpassed by but two of
my predecessors. and cqualledb by only two
others. The rapid mutations Of personal
and political fortune in this country hav,
limited the majority Of those who have oc-
cupied this char to shorter terms of office.
1t would be the grave>t inSensibility to the
honors and responsibilities of life not f.
be deeply touched by so signal a mark OF
public esteem Is that which | have thrice
received at the hands Of my political as~o-
%ciateS. | desire in this last m to r.-
new to them, one and all, my thanks and
my gratitude. To those from whom |
differ in my party relationship minority
of this House, tender my acknowledge
mcntS Tor the generous courtesy with
which they have treated me. BY one OF
those sudden and decisive changes which
distinguish popular Institutions, and which
conSplcuously mark a free people. that
minority Is transformed in the ensuing
Congress to the governing power OF the
House. However it might possibly have
been under other circumstances. tina
event necessarily renders these words
my farewell to the Chair. The Speaker
ship of the American House of Representa-
tivrs is Il post of honor. Of dignity. of pow
er. of responsibility. Its duties arc at
once complex and continuous: they are
botl onerous and delicate; they are per
formed in the broad light of day, under
the eye of the whole people, subject at all
times to the closest observation. ana ALWAYS
attended with the >harpc>t criticism. |
think no other official is held to such in
slant and such rigid accountability. Par
llamcntary rulings in their very nature are
p~eremptorv; almost absolute in authority.
ana instantaneous in effect. They cannot
always be enforced in such Il way a> to
win applause or secure popularity; but |
am sure that no man of any party who i
worthy to fill this chair will ever see Il ,i-
yidlng line between duty and policy.
Thanking you once more. and thanking
YOU most cordially for the honorable tc~-
timonial You have placed on record to my
credit. | perform my only remaining duty
in declaring that the Fortv-tAirI Congress
has reached its Constitutional limit. and
that the House of Representatives stands
adjourned. without day.