Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-04-03
LAST HOURS OF THE LEGIsLA.
TURE.
Presentation Of a Cane to Speaker
FOwlkes by Mr.. Mathes, Of Shelby
Resolutions, Etc.
Nashville American, 2d.l
HOUSE REPORT.

uI. DrlNeT OHered the following
joint resolution, on which no action
was taken.
Resolved, That in gratitude to the
illustrious services to the country of
General Andrew Jackson, the legisla-
ture of the State of Tennessee hereby
gives to his adopted daughter, Sarah
York, during her life, the use and
occupation of the Hermitage property.
the late residence of the said Andrew
Jackson provided, that any gross
neglect of the tomb of jackson or the
Hermitage property shall work a for
feiture of the rights herein granted. :"
BY Mr.. Gardner = rendering the
thanks of the house to Speaker
FOwlkes, for his uniform Kindness
and courtesy to the members of the
house, and to the clerks for the eff
cient manner in which they have dis
charged their duty. Adopted.
PRESENTATION TO SPEAKER FowLKEs
Mr.. Bryan being in the chair, Mr..
Mathes took the floor and spoke as
follows.
Mr. Chairman The hand upon the
dial points to the hour when the labors
and official proceedings of this body
will come to an end. In few mo.
ments the regular session of the Forty
first general assembly of Tennessee
will be adjourned sine die The rec
ord is made up Our votes and our
actions are recorded, and the time has
come when we must look each other
in the face and say farewell. While
we are all true Tennesseeans, proud of
State which has occupied SO promi-
nent place, IN and ont of the
Union, for nearly eighty-three years,
We met on the 9th of January com
paratlve strangers, representing many
different degrees of latitude and lon
gitude, a variety of local and general
interests, and have advocated still
greater diversity of ideas and methods
in dealing with the live issues of the
day, demanding practical and con-
servatiye legislation. But | trust and
believe, sir, that we separate as old
and tried friends, inspired by senti-
ments Of mutual respect, patriotism
and forbearance. Honest differences
Of opinion do not constitute grounds of
estrangement among true men, but
lead, at last, to good understanding
and to fair and equitable settlements
Of such differences. We met here
under peculiar circumstances; unusual
responsibilities rested upon this legis
lature. Its acts have gone upon the
statute books, and we return once
more to the people who sent us herein a
representative capacity and must abide
by the record we have made. This is
another chapter in the annals of the
State another great milestone passed
in our own individual lives. 1t re
mains for the sovereign people to de-
eide how well we have discharged the
solemn and important trust confded
to us. The highest satisfaction that |
can ever derive from the recollections
of this eventful period will be in a
sense of duty performed and a con-
scientlous desire to adhere to the
right. Next to this comes the pleasure
of lasting friendships formed, which no
political line nor wave of political nor
partisan strife can obliterate. This |
shall cherish as something pure and
valuable so long as my little span of
life shall be heightened out. Coming
here to represent county which re.
Gently had been peculiarly afflicted.
and the recipient of the most lavish
generosity and the sympathy of the
world, we had to tax the goodsna-
ture and occupy much Of the time
OF this most magnanimous, patient
and sympathetic legislature in the
passage of purely local bills. All
that we asked of importance has been
granted, and | take this occasion again
to thank this general assembly for
the consideration of matters in which
we were especially interested. We
have endeavored to reciprocate the
many cOurtesies received, and vet feel
that large debt of gratitude and
heartfelt thanks remain unpaid.
Shelby county will long have cause
to remember the forty-first general
assembly, and her citizens will ever be
ready to bear their share of the bur
| denS of government and to turn good
Samaritan when occasion requires, as
the only way in which such debt
can be discharged
But, sir, | did not arise to speak so
much of this, though it wells up in
my heart and | could not say less. |
am delegated, and it becomes my very
agreeable duty, to speak Of another
matter This relates to the distin-
guishcd young gentleman who has so
efficiently, faithfully and gracefully
presided over this house as speaker
since its organization, Mr. H. p.
| Fowlkes, of Maury and Williamson.
| He has filed this position, occupied
by so many prominent predecessors,
with high credit and distinction to
himself and the noble people he rep
resents. He has worn the wreath of
success with which he was crowned
with becoming modesty, frmness and
dignity, and by close application to
the duties of his trying Office, has dis.
played rare familiarity with the in
tricacies and principles of parliament
ary law and usage BY his efficiency
and positive discipline he has greatly
contributed to tho dispatch Of bust
ness as well as tho decorum of the
house. We honor him for what he
has accomplished.
Turning to Speaker Fowlkes, who
was sitting on the left of the speakers
stand, Mr.. Mathes said. 0l
| Mr.. Speaker Fowlkes; On behalf Of
your many friends and admirers on
this floor, members and clerks Of the
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