The Republican journal., 1875-03-11
Closing Hours of Congress.

A correspondent gives the following
sketch OF the last hours of the late House
of Representatives which has now passed
into history
There was an immense crowd of spec
tators in the galleries of the House to wit
ness the closing proceedings, and thous-
ands went away, unable to obtain admit
lance, After half-past II O'Clock ladies
and gentlemen began to be admitted to
the floor OF the House. and the whole area
was thus filled during the last halt hour
ol the session. Some OF the members
brought their wives and children and gave
them prominent seats on the floor. Most
OF the members occupied their seats But
Ter, as usual, was at his place in front.
Judge Poland looked smiling and serene,
the happiest man in the House. A bou-
quet on his desk intimated that some friend
had remembered his efforts tor Arkansas.
Messrs Dawes, Maynard, and Cox were
appointed committee to call on the Pres
ident and inquire whether ne had any fur
Their communications to make. AS the last
minutes were wearing away, the speaker
was engaged in signing and the clerk in
reading the titles OF enrolled bills. Mean
while members and others INDUCED in
rather loud conversation, and everything
betokened more than the usual hustle and
confusion of an expiring Congress. One
of the last acts Of the speaker was the
signing OF an enrolled bill affecting the
District OF Columbia, when suddenly the
delegate from the district Chipman) seized
the precious document and rushed turlously
toward the other end Of the capital to get
the Presidents signature to the bill before
the fatal hour of noon His rapid transit
through the hall, with his long blonde
beard floating meteor-like behno him,
created great merriment. Soon after
another Mercury, bound on a like errand,
rushed in the same direction with another
sheet Of parchment. At minute before
y, Mr.. Dawes from the committee to
wait on the President, reported that the
committee had performed that duty and
been informed by the President that he
had 40 further communication to make
to Congress The last act enrolled and
signed was one for the benefit of A. NJ.
Green, and before the messenger bearing
it to the President had got out OF the hall
the speakers gravel fell and he took his
farewell OF the house and announced the
dissolution of Congress in the following
words:
SPEAKEE BLAlNE'S FAREWELL.
To those from whom differ in my party re-
ations The minority Of this House, tender
my acknowledgements for the generous courtesy
with which they have treated me. By one of
those sudden and decisive changes which dis
tingui>h popular institutions, and which con-
splcuOusY mark free people, that minority is
transformed in The ensuing Congress to The gov
erning power OF the House. However it might
possibly haze been under other circumstances,
that event necessarily renders these words my
farewell to the chair. The speakership of the
American House Of Representatives is Il post of
honor, Of dignity, of power, of responsibility.
Its duties are at once complex and continuous;
they are both Onerous and delicate they are
performed in the broad light of day, under the
eye Of the whole people, subject at all times to
the closest observation, and always attended
with the sharpest criticism. | think no other
official is held to such instant and such rigid
accountability. Parliamentary rulings in their
very nature are peremptory, almost absolute IN
authority. and instantaneous in effect. They
cannot always be enforced in such Il way as TO
win applause or secure popularity; but | am
sure that no man of any party who is worthy
10 I'LL this chair will ever see a dividing line be-
tween duty and policy
Speaker Baine's address was listened to
with the utmost attention, and when he
finished the whole audience, members,
galleries, and all, applauded him for sew
eral minutes. The clapping of hands was
almost universal, only few soreheads,
like Butler, refraining. At one time it
seemed as if the applause would break
into cheers, but did not The audience in
the galleries and the members on the floor
then slowly retired Mr.. Blaine was con-
graduated personally by nearly every one
on the floor