National Republican., 1881-12-07
THE AcrlNo vicE-PREsrpENT.
Hc Drnncs Isis Position ma n senntor-Tbe
Division OF Parties.
Tho Prosidont of the Sennt!

The President of the Senate addressed
that body yesterday as follows:
A solemn event, which excited the sympathy Of
the civilized world, recently brought about an un-
expected change IN the Presidency. The Forty
seventh Congress now meets undcr the consttu-
auguratcd last March. and who was stricken down
in the maturity OF his manhood after but four
short months OF experience in the Executive
| Ghuir These stern fnctS are full OF admouitton
| They teach us how frail are human hopes and
| how tmnsitOry is human power In presence OF
| this sad instruction ambition may well pause,
and all of us may learn how vain are the aspira-
tons to which too much of our lives is devoted.
Great as was the bereavement which spread sor.
| row over the land, and which touched the heart
| ofcvery hrcsde, II was sauctifed by the consoln-
ton that the people Of all sections were brought
nearer together by n common grief. and thus came
| to understand each other better through kindred
| emotions. Asporilios that had long estrangcd
| them were sofencd, and the violence of faction
was chastoned by atlliciion.
ALTHOUGH PRESIDENT ARTHUR REPRESENTS
| tho party that elected General Garfield, his per-
sonal position Is necessarily delicate aud trying.
| He is entitled by his whole bearing, through a
critical ordeal TO generous countonance. As
| Senator propose 10 extend 10 his Adminstra.
ton candid treatment, sustaining Il wien right
| and opposing IL whom wrong on all public quos-
tions. Holding to this purpose, and intending TO
insist on q pure, an economicql, and q Just
new President ought TO be aided by
| all proper legislative corporation In carrying
out the general policy he may propose to the cOun
tits entitled to mir trial and to patient hearing
| With this view Of my duty shall vote willingly
to continue the committees in this body as they
| are now constituted. IL is best that the party
which has the President and the House of Repre-;
scntatives should be held answernble for all
measures Then there will be no divided ruspOn.
| sibility.
| If THE OPPOSITION ARE WISE
| they will accept this conclusion. At the special
session In March they made but n brief and feeble
stand against the organization of the committees,
| which shape the great legislation of tho country.
| Indeed they almost conceded thatimpOrtunt point
/ TO their adyersarics. But In the protraoted con-
| test for the Offices of the Senate, under the samo
pGlea pnlS conditions my FROM Dep9ST"G tss bo,inSms ehHs
| to the end of II. Doubtless they had salts.
| factory reasons for this course of policy.
why my vote should be given for the then exist
/ ing Organization of the Senate. Although the
| circumstances have materially changed Hncc that
time the obligation which voluntarily assumed
has not been altered. Hence. | adhere to that
of rejecting offensive candidates
IAN GREATLY ENCOURAGED
in this decision by the course of my distinguished
friend from Vermont eminent rs q leader OF his
party, ho IN also eminent for public and for pri
vatc worth. Upon his motion the present Chief
Clerk distinctly appointed MS Democrat, was
unanimously made acting Secretary. That grace.
pleasure TO applaud publicly, because ths Is the
first place where an example should be set against
the common scrambling for office that dis
figures our political life. The country was
almost equally divided between the two great
In the House of Representatives Is small, aud In
this Chamber the Republicans aud Democrats con-
ffont each other with like numbers, The COM
| of the Senate arc held by the other party. From
my standpoint IL would In unwise TO disturb this
condition of things, and do not propose to en-
| gage in any struggle that looks TO that object
| AS OUR roIITics ARE ORGANIZED,
public man, who steps outside the party lines, is
always exposed to harsh criticism, no matter how
proper his motives may he. The machinery OF
| both enforces rigid discipline and denounces re.
volt as treason For the last ten years my political
organsaiion. i have accebted the good wherever
! II was found and have voted for the best men,
whether they were called Republicans or Demo-
crnts.
CONSISTENCY IS NOT VIRTUE
| if II means dogmatio adhesion to given idea,
| when change would be meritoriOus. The greatest
statesmen of modern times have been courageously
inconsistent, and have become public benoiactors
by abandoning mistaken policy. II conviction
satisfied me that the opinions formed long ago, aud
| followed since them were erroneous, II would not
cost me moments thought to east them off like
wOrnout garment. / believe them to be sound,
and so believing, shall stand by them Us mod.
orator between extremes. IL pleased majority of
the Senate to confer upon me the highest dstinc;
ought to be- 1t is doubly valuable in my estima-
| tion, because II came wholly unsought and with
out the exchange Of single word, directly orin-
directly, that could by possibility impose an obli-
THIS Is THE ONLY ANSWER
/ shall ever make TO unworthy minds, that would
measure the integrity of others, by their own low
standard of personal honor The day is drawing
near when shall retire from this Chamber. My
only ambition while here Is to be instrumental in
| bringing about perfect peace between tho North
and the South us the best means of promoting the
permanent prosperity of the Union. When the
rude voice of faction, which for fifteen
years past In time of peace has disturbed the ma
iiorai fellowship, that should have been restored
at he close of the civil war, shall be slenced this
country will bound forward in u career of gran.
deur and glory that will astound mankind.
| Reconciliation has nOblcr aim than mere ma
tcrial wealth II this last experiment OF
rcpnbiiean government Is TO endure
and to be pcrpetuaied. as we all
humbly pray God IL may be, for
unborn generations, then tho spirit OF forbearanco
aud of liberation, in which IL was created by the
patriotism of tho fathers, must be revived and
| initiated. In no other way can the more perfect
| Union which their inspired wisdom formed out of
| the disjointed confederation be preserved as the
| shining light of higher civilization and us the
| refuge of the oppressed from all lands.