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

|
Congress convened in extra session at
Washington on last Monday, and rs this
is the first session Of the body elected
last fall, the first Business ',etfo5o It aa&
organization. Clerk Adams, Of the
former Congress, called the roll of dele
gates, recognizing those having cer;iii-
Gates from Governor Nichols, in I.oui.
siana. 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, I49; Garfield, 1872.
Speaker Randall, on taking tie chair,
made the following temperate and sensi-
BILE address:
GENTLEMES Of THE IIOUsE OF Rep
REsENTATIvEs: Elevated for the second
time by your generosity, to the dignity
of Speaker of this House, thank YOU
with grateful heart. shall endeavor,
with even temper and rigid firmncss. to
perform the duties Of the Office, and re-
spond adequately to the confidence re-.
posed in me, by conforming my action 70
the clearly expressed will Of the House.
Yet, fully realizing the dcicacy and diff.
Guilty of the position, solicit your adj
vice md assistance, feeling sure of your
iorbearancc and indulgence. We meet
under circumstances imperiously de-
manding that all considerations of class,
section and party shall be subordinatcd
to the loftier and more patriotic object Of
doing what is best for the whole country
and all it's people.
Since the adjournment, an administers
ton has been inductcd into office which
is obryed rs the actual government, re.
gardlcss of the grave events which mark
ed its birth. and this House, animated by
n spirit nf true patriotism, desiring first
the public tranquility, under the law,
Will frankly approve any sincere aud
permanent policy looking to complete
pacificatio.i and the advancement of all
constitutional methods for the general
public welfare, and it should he your
sacred duty to provide legislation which
will render impossible repetition of tile
wrongs which have occurred and of the
dangers which threatened us.
| | assume you will take no step back
ward in the work Of retrcrchmcnt and
reform, 80 nuspiciously begun by the last
House under mature and definite plan
OF reduction Of the expenses Of the gov.
ernncnt. 1t 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
dHrkcns every house in the land, cxtrav-
agance ON the part of the peoples servants
would be nm unpardonable crime. 1t is
partly because this Wholesome policy v.s
SO faithfully carried out that am per-
mittcd to speak from this place.
Invoking for our deliberations, toier-
'nce OF opinion, which secures harmo.
NOUS actor, right and clear Judgment,
which purifies legislation, and Ropinp
\ that mutual confidence and respect will
subsist between the House pud it's presi-
| ding officer, | am now read to take the
oath prescribed by law.
He then took the iron-clad oath,
All the members p-cscn. wero sworn
In except Cain and Rainey fron South
Carolina; Darrell, Elan and Robertson
of Louisiana, and Pacheco, of California,
who were objected TO, -i;d requested to
stand ;s;do. The House viii, under any
circumstances, have Democratic ma
jority of ut least fifteen. It's or ,;aniza-
t'oa was completed by The election, in
one resolution, of George NJ. Adams, Of
Kentucky, as Clerk; John 6. Thon,r rson,
OF Ohio, as Sergeant-at-Arms; John w.
Polk, OF Missouri, as Doorkecper; James
NJ. Stewart, Of Virginia, as Postmaster,
and Rev. DIR. John Poissct, of Maryland,
rs Chaplain.
The Senate Wa organized last March,
and therefore pending the organization
g. 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 upcn
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
rs are fair men will no doubt be con-
firmed by the Democratic vote, combined
with portion of the Republicans; but
whereves the Democrats are disposed to
reject, there is very little doubt that they
viii! be able to succeed. This session
will no doubt be one of tho most inter
esting ever held, aud will do much to
settle the aspect of the next canvass for
the presi.lency