The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-10-18
THE MEETING Of CONGRESS.

Congress convened in extra session at
Washington on last Monday, and as this
is the first session of the body elected
last fall, the first business before it was
organization. Clerk Adams, of the
former Congress, called the roll of dele.
gates, recognizing those having cersif'
Gates from Governor Nichols, in Loui.
Siam. Objections to the roll were made
by the Republicans, but We're voted
down by the Democrats, and an election
for officers was proceeded with. The
Democrats had nominated Hon. Samuel
j. Randall, of Pennsylvania, in caucus
for Speaker, and the Republican caucus
had nominated Gen. Garfield. of Ohio
These were the only candidates for the
position, and the vote when taken stood
Randall, 149; Garfield, 1872.
Speaker Randall, on taking the chair,
made the following temperate and sensi,
bic address:
GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF REP
REsENTATIvEs: Elevated for the second
time by your generosity, to the dignity
of Speaker of this House, 1 thank you
with grateful heart. I shall endeavor,
with even temper and rigid frmness, to
perform the duties of the Office, and re-
spond adequately to the confidence re-
posed in me, by conforming my action to
the clearly expressed will of the House.
Yet, fully realizing the delicacy and diff.
Guilty of the position, solicit your ad-
vice and assistance, feeling sure of your
forbearance and indulgence. We meet
under circumstances imperiously de-
manding that all considerations of class,
section and party shall be subordinated
to the loftier and more patriotic object OF
doing what is best for the whole country
and all its people.
Since the adjournment, an administra-
tion has been indicted into office which
is obeyed as the actual government, re-
gardless of the grave events which mark
ed its birth, and this House, animated by
a spirit of true patriotism, desiring first
the public tranquility, under the law,
will frankly approve any sincere and
permanent policy looking to complete
paci6cation and the advancement of all
constitutional methods for the general
public welfare, and it should be your
sacred duty to provide legislation which
will render impossible a repetition Of the
wrongs which have occurred and of the
dangers which threatened us.
assume you will take no step back
ward in the work of retrenchment and
reform, so auspiciously begun by the last
House under mature and definite plan
of reduction of the expenses of the gov
ernment. It is certain that still greater
reduction can be made without impair
ing the efficiency of the administration.
To have an honest administration, it
should be frugal. Never before was it
more urgent than now. With general
financial distress and labor depressed,
when the iron rule of hard necessity
darkens every house in the land, extrav-
agance on the part of the peoples servants
would be an objectionable crime. 1t is
partly because this wholesome policy was
so faithfully carried out that I am per-
mitted to speak from this place.
Invoking for our deliberations toler-
ance of opinion, which secures harmo.
nious action, right and clear judgment,
which puri6es legislation, and hoping
that mutual confidence and respect will
subsist between the House and its presi-
ding officer, am now ready to take the
oath prescribed by law.
He then took the iron-clad oath.
All the members present were sworn
in except Cain and Rainey from South
Carolina; Darrell, Elan and Robertson
of Louisiana, and Pacheco, of California,
who were objected to, and requested to
stand aside. The House will, under any
circumstances, have a Democratic ma
jority of at least fifteen. Its organiza-
ton was completed by the election, in
one resolution, of George M. Adams, of
Kentucky, as Clerk; John G. Thompson,
of Ohio, as Sergeant-at-Arms; John w.
Polk, Of Missouri, as Doorkeeper; James
M. Stewart, of Virginia, as Postmaster,
and Rev. DR.. John Poisset, of Maryland,
as Chaplain.
The Senate was organized last March,
and therefore pending the organization
of the House, no business was transacted
by it. The Republicans have been eau
cussing as to the course to pursue in the
cases of Butler, from this State, and the
Democratic Senators from Louisiana.
1t is probable they will be admitted upon
a split Republican vote. The first fight
upon President Hayes Southern policy
and civil service reform will be made in
the Senate over the confirmation of his
Federal appointments. Such of these
as are fair men will no doubt be con-
6rmed by the Democratic vote, combined
with portion of the Republicans; but
wherever the Democrats are disposed to
reject, there is very little doubt that they
will be able to succeed. This session
will no doubt be one of the most inter-
esting ever held, and will do much to
settle the aspect of the next canvass for
the Presidency.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.