The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-12-07
.EQRIZ EQIRIH CONGRESS


and Elections inquire whether in the re-
cent election inI South Carolina, Louisi-
ana and Florida the right of every citi-
zen had been denied or abridged.
In the House the vote on Speaker was
Randall 16l Garfield S2.
Messrs. Cox and McCary conducted
Speaker Randall to his chair, when he
read his speech from manuscript, as fol-
lows:
Speech Of Speaker Randall.
GENTLEMEN OF THF HOUSE OF REPRESENT
ATIvEs: Called to this position because
of the death oftbe late Speaker, Mr.. Kerr
of Indiana, only express the universal
sentiment in saying he was a good and
great man whose public and private life
was characterized by purity, patriotism
and answering integrity. No one can
more completely appreciate than l do the
high honor of presiding over the delibe-
rations Of the representatives of the
American people, and for this mark of
your esteem aud confidence l return my
profound and heartfelt acknowledgment.
In the discharge of the important duties
confded to me, 1 shall endeavor to be
absolutely fair and impartial. While
enforcing the rules and upholding the
constitutional prerogatives of the body,
| shall at the same time protect each and
every member in the rights and privi-
leges to which he may justly be entitled.
ain the exercise of the parliamentary
power of the Chair, it will be my duty
and my pleasure to give true expression
in the appointment of committees to the
opinions and wishes of the House upon
every question presented. believing my
self. as l really am no more than the
voice of the House itself.
We stand in the presence of events
which strain and test in the last degree
our form of Government. Our liberties
consecrated by so many sacrifices in the
past and preserved amid rejoicing of an
exutant people to our Centennial ami
versary as one among nations of the
earth, must be maintained aqevery haz-
ard. [Applause.l The people look con-
fidentIy to your moderation, to your
patient, calm, firm judgment and wisdom
in this time fraught with so many perils.
l beseeCh of you disappoint not their
lust expectation and their keen sense of
right, but by vigilance prevent even the
slightest departure from the Constitution
and law, forgetting in the moment of
difficulty that we are adherents of party
and only remembering that we are
American citizens, with country to save
which will be lost if unauthorized and
unconstitutional acts on the part of ex-
ecutive officers be not frowned down at
once with relentless and unsparing con-
demnation-
The closing words were delivered with
great force and emphasis and were loud.
" applauded on the floor and galleries.
The oath of Office was then admins
tered to the Speaker by Mr.. Holman.
The credentials of the member from
Colorado were referred and he was not
allowed to take his seat.
Visiting committees were appointed to
inquire into the action of the Returning
Boards in Florida, Louisiana and South
Carolina, and whether the electoral votes
of these States should be counted for
President as follows, Republicans in ital-
les:
On South Carolina-Messrs. Sayler of
Ohio, Abbott of Massachusetts, Cochran
of Pennsylvania, Eden of Illinois, Jones
ofKentucky, Phillips of Missouri, Banks
of Massachusetts, Lapham of New York,
and Laurence Of Ohio,