Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-12-09
Opening Of Congress.
SENATE.

Opening Of Congress.
WAsnlSoroN, Dec. I.
SENATE.
The interest manifested by til,
public in the opening proceedings OF
tho Senate to-day was not 80 great
Ne that In tho House, though tn
galleries Of the chamber were well
Oiled before ~ o'clock. Many Dem
0cratic Senators were In their scat
before the body was called to order
but the Republican Senators being
III caucus, did not occupy their sea,s
till y few minutes prior to noon up
Oh the floor Of the Senate, and IL
adjoining Offices the usual activity
preparatory to tho opening Of thu
session was noticeable. A chang,
in the arrangement Of the desks to
accommodate tho new Senators
from Colorado and to give Senator
who occupied seats under tho gale
~ more desirable ones, was mad'
by placing three desks upon either
side Of tho chamber on the fourth
or last platform, which heretofore
has not been used for desks. The
seats Of the Republican side vert
assigned to Blaine and Chaffee, aud
Teller, the new Colorado Senator,
and Oh the Democratic side to Mr.
Price, the new Senator from Wes'
Virginia, james Of Florida, and
Randolph. The Senate met ut noon.
Messrs. Blaine of Maine, Chaffer
and Teller, the Senators from Colo.
ado, and MIR. Price, the new Sena
tor from West Virginia, vice Caper
ton, deceased, were sworn in. The
Senators from Colorado drew f0l
their respective terms, when Mr.
Chafffe secured the long term end
ing March, 4, 1870, and Teller thu
short term ending March 4, 1877
Committees were appointed to mott
fy the President anG House Of Rep
resentatives that the Senate was
ready for business, and at 1924
o'clock recess for three.quarters VI
all hour was taken.
HOUSE.
The opening of the session of thu
House was witnessed by All immense
concourse of spectators. There were
very few absentecs. The Speakers
chair was drapel in mourning
There being no presiding officer.
the House was called to order al
noon by Mr.. Adams, it's Clerk, VIII"
thereupon proceeded to call the list
of members. After which Mr.. Hol
man introduced IL resolution thai
the House proceed to the election OF
il Speaker vivG roce.
Samual j. Randall was nominal.
ed by Mr.. Cox Of New York, and
James A. Garfield of Ohio by Mr..
McCrary Of Iowa. Whole number
of votes cast, 24G. S. j. Randall
had 1874; j. A. Garfield had 80;
Morrison, Potter aud uoar, l each
The announcement Of the resul,
was greeted with applause from the
galleries.
The Speaker elect was escorted
to the chair by Messrs. Cox and
MtCrary. The Speaker thereupon
addressed the House as follows, de
livering it with his usual marked
emphesis:
Gentlemen of the House of Representa-
tives:
Called to this position because of
the death of the late Speaker, Mr..
Kerr of Indiana, only express the
universal sentiment in say ing thai
he was good and great man, whose
public and private lite was charac.
terized by purity, patriotism and
answering integrity. Nobody can
more completely appreciate than J
do the high honor of presiding oven
the deliberations of the Representa-
tives of the American people, and
for this mark of your esteem and
confidence 1 return my profound
and heartfelt acknowledgement. In
the discharge of the important du-
ties contided to me, shall endea
vor to he absolutely fair and impair.
tial. While enforcing the rules and
upholding tho constitutional pre-.
negatives Of the body, shall at the
same time protect each and every
ihemoer III the rights ana privileges
t" which lie may justly be entitled
In the exercise of the parliamenta
ry powers of tho CHAIR it will he my
duty and my pleasure to give true
expression in the appointment OF
committees to the opinions and wish
es Of the House upon every Ques.
ton presented, believing myself as
really am, no more than the vUice
of the House itself. We stand IN
the presence Of events which strain
and test in a degree our forms OF
government. Our liberties, conse.
Grated by so many sacrifices in the
past and preserved amid rejoicings
Of an exultant people to our centen-