Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1875-12-11
ASSEMBLING OF CONGRESS.
M. c. Kerr of Indiana Elect
ed Speaker of the House.
SPEECH OF J. Q. c. LAMAR.


90 votes To C3 for Samuel j. Randall of
Pennsylvania, and 8 scattering. On mo-
ton of Mr.. Randall the nomination was
made unanimous.
The organization Of the House was
completed as follows: Clerk, George NJ.
Adams of Kentucky; Sergeant-at-Arms,
John q. Thompson OF Ohio; DoOrkeeper,
S. II. Fitzhugh of Texas; Post Master,
James Stewart of Virginia Chaplain,
Rev. J. i. Townsend of Washington.
The caucus was called to order at ?. IL
=. NJ. by Fernando Wood, and j. Q. c.
Lamar of Mississippi took the chair, as
had been previously agreed upon; Mr..
Banning of Ohio acted as Secretary.
On coming to the chair, Mr.. Lamar was
warmly greeted, and after silence had
been restored he made stirring speech
which was frequently applauded. After
thanking the gentlemen present for the
distinction conferred on him, he alluded
to the Democratic victory gained in the
last elections, and said that while 1t
brought honor to the party it also brought
responsibility, and if they did not improve
their opportunities by honest and upright
conduct the country would lose the fruits
of the great revolution which had taken
place. The people had placed in the
hands of the Democratic party the most
| important branch of the Government, the
coner- stone of our fabric of liberty, the
only branch directly responsible to the
people and which received its power
direct from the masses.
There has been for some time in the
public mind conviction profound and
all-pervading that the civil service of the
country has not been directed from
considerations of public good, but from
those of party profit, and for corrupt,
selfish and unpatriotic design. The
people demand at our hands sweeping
and thorough reform, which shall be
conducted in spirit that will secure the
appointment to PLACES of trust and
responsibility the honest, the experienced
and the capable. There is, also, an
imperative demand that Il viSilant eXamin-
alton be made into the administration of
the public revenue of the coutry, both in
its collection and its disbursements, that
all the public accounts shall be scrutin-
lied by us. as it is the solemn privilege
and duty oc this House to do, and that
corruption be ferreted out, and wrong
doors, no matter how high or how low,
shall be fearleSsly arraigned and fully
exposed and punished.
One of the highest and most pressing
demands upon us will be, not only to in
sist on bringing down the expenses Of the
government to the needs of economical
admins tration, but to perfect and adopt
such iyStsm of taxation as will bring in
the required revenue with the feweSt re-
StriCtiOns upon commerce and with the
least burden to the people, and that bur
den equitably distributed und skillfully
adjusted. Owing to the eXigencieS of one
of those great internecine conflicts Incl
dent to the life of almost every country,
and also to pernicious system of legisla-
ton, our peoples business investments,
our commerce and all the diversified inter-
eSts of the country are suffering from the
evils of an irrcdeemable currency In
meeting and graphing with the Difficult
ties of this vital and perpleXing question,
it will be orr duty to take care that moth
ing is done which would impair the good
faith of the country or tarnish the public
honor, or lower or disturb the credit of
our Government.
The apprehension and distrust of ono
part of the nation that a portion of the
Southern people who were arraycd against
the authority of the Federal Government
in the late war, would be an element OF
disturbance to the American Union, has
mainly disappeared, as is evidenced by
your election, and in its stead have grown
Il more fraternal feeling, which regards
us of the Southern States as fellow-Citi-
zen. of the same great nation. On the
other hand, the people of whom | speak,
of whom l am one, arc here today as their
chosen representatives, ready to honor
any draft which the American nation may
draw upon their patriotism, or their faith
in the glory and the beneflcent destiny of
American institutions. (ApplauSe.) No
hindrance shall be placed ia the way OF
| a vigorous development ofthe experiment
introduced in the Southern States. 1t has
been said that the day of sentimental
politics has passed away; but, gentlemen,
there is one part of the Union-that part
which | know heSt-which asks for this
great moral sentiment to q spirited and
noble people. We want q Government
that we can love, and revere, and serve,
from the motive of reverence aud love.
We hunger for patriotism which shall
knit all people together in generous and
loving brotherhood, and which shall be
as broad as the territory over which the
national flag floats.
After dwelling at some length on the
necessity of patriotism and loyalty to the
/, Constitution, Mr.. Lamar said:
Reforms are urgently needed. Let us wisely
make them. 4 renewed prosperity is everywhere
| N. tltr nj Inv
determinations, by imposing q rigid economy
, by restoring a sound currency, by securing thu
equal rights of all States and all the people, maxi
the Democratic party the authors of a new pros
, perty so we may begin for our party new anC
glorious career in which its history shall be oncO
more, formerly, the story of the Unions great
est grandeur, and the peoples universal happi
ness and contentment. Great applause.)
;. ZEN PICTURE OF MIR. KERR.
Mr.. Kerr is tall, strongly built man, with
I fine, frank, open Countenance, impressive anC
agreeable manners. He has good voice, clea
and distinct utterance.and huency of Language
, which does not detract from his purity of dction
+ He is q native of Titusve, Penn, where he wa
born not qnite half century ago, March II, 1927
AT twenty-four years of age he graduated at TIN
Louisville University, and in 1852 began the prac
tice of law in st. Louis. Two years later he wa
elected City Attorney, and in 1855 he was chosei
Prosecuting Attorney of the county. In 1856, TIN
, year or Fremont's Presidential campaign, Mr.
, Kerr was elected to the Indiana legislature and
five years after his legislative service, he wa
chosen on the Democratic State ticket, in 1862, a
f reporter to the Supreme Court of the State, il
which Office he edited five volumes of the reports
, In 1864 he was elected to Congress, beginning hi
oil In fbot had y i'm In
1868 and 1870 he was reelected to Congress. III
Il thua nj, In aI Iot