The Plymouth Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1878-1901, 1879-06-19
"REMINISCENCES.
Ofa Pennsylvania Clergyman Who was
q Member OF the 3Sth Congress.
indianapolis Journal

Rev A. Myers, of Pottsville, Pa, who
occupied very acceptably the pulpit
OF the FIRST Baptist Church, last Sun
day, has only been engaged In the
work OF clergyman about five
years. Until about fifty years OF age
he was member Of the legal profes-
sion, and also took a very active pait
in politics. He was then a resident
of Western Pennsylvania, and was
elected as a member OF the House OF
Representatives to serve in the men,
orable Thirty y-eighth Congress, from
the Twentieth district, known at that
time as the Oil district. The rever-
end gentleman yesterday. In conver-
sation with a Journal reporter, made
reference to some OF his congression-
al recollections:
Meeting a gentleman on the
streets OF your city. the other day."
ht said, Il at once recognized him as
Thomas A. Hendricks, who was also
a member OF the House during the
Thirty eighth Congress, when the
emancipation OF the slaves received
the endorsement OF the representa-.
tives OF the people. 1 always liked
Hendricks personally, and therefore.
when we met I accosted him by
namc. Your Ex-Governor seemed a
little taken aback at first, but when /
reminded him we had served in Con-
gress together. he at once remen-
bered. and said: "Why, yes, Myers,
Republican, FROM Pennsylvania, isu't
it, and the recognition was complete.
Mr.. Orth was also a member OF the
same Congress, and occupied the
next seat TO mine, SO that we became
we'll acquainted. Orth's name, 1 re-
momber. was just about In ths middle
OF the list OF members. and the clerk,
in reading his name, did not always
say 1t quite plainly. A man was sit
ting by me one day who had been
quite frequent listner to, the pro-
ceedings OF the House, and when
some vote was being taken he made
a curious inquiry: Tell me, Mr.
Myers. why does the clerk alw ays
when he gets to the middle OF the
roll-call say God love US alp" Upon
his being informed that what tho
clerk really said was God love s..
Orlh, instead OF God love US all, he
didn't look as though he wanted to-
ask for any more information that
day.
Those were memorable days and
exciting times. No one who vas i'm
the Thirty eighth Congress will over
forget the scenes that were witnessed
on more than one occasion. / re-
member as well as il it were but yes
terday the night when the decisive
vote on emancipation was taken and
the momentous question decided.
just for moment there was perfect
silence, and then the storm broke
forth. The members on the Rcpubli
can side were wild with boy. Speak
er Colfax mildly raped for order.
but dill not seem as IL he wanted very
much to bring the House to order
He was as much ela.ed as any one
over the result. The colored people,
OF whom quite number were
present, shouted GLORY to God and
manifested their 10y in their own
peculiar fashion. and cheer after
cheer came from all parts OF the
House.
~Some OF the scenes were very fun
ny, but people didn't study the atti-
tudes they placed themselves in.
Griggs, OF Michigan. had a package
OF seed in his hands he had just OBJ
tanned from the department OF agri-
culture. and in his excitement the
paper burst and they were all split
on the floor. Pm sowing the seeds
OF freedom he said meyer mind
Two fat members ran across the floor
OF the House aud threw their arms
about each others necks, and hugged
and cried with joy. 1t was such a
scene "a is only witnessed once In a
lifetime. l was young man then
almost the youngest member OF the
House. can never forget the wild
tumult or joy OF that moment when
the right triumphed and the great
struggle was over.
Another thing that remember Is
remark that President Lincoln
made to me on one occasion when 1
had an interview with him. / had
occasion to visit him in regard to
some official business, and when /
was through with that asked him II
he had any objections to talk politics
a few minutes. He said, i don't
know as have and then / said, Mr..
Lincoln. they are talking Of giving
you a renomination.' 1t was then
within two or three months of the
date OF the Baltimore convention.
He replied: We'll, 1 do not desire a
denomination. except for the reason
that such action on the part OF the
Republican party would be an en-
phatic endorsement OF the policy OF
my administration In reply to re-
mark Of mine that the most formid-
able candidate spoken OF by the
Democrats was Gen. Grant, Mr.. Lin