Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-03-05

Az 1'oO MI. hS6So OI6r6Q the following
resolution. which was unanimously adopt
ed:
Resolrd, That the house has just heard
with the deepest sorrow of the death of
| hon Alexander II. Stephens, governor of
Georgia, and SO long a useful and distin.
guished member of this house, that this
kouse express heartfelt sympathy with the
| people, not only of Georgia, but with the
people OF the whole country, III the loss of
statesman and patriot.
| On motion for committee to wait on IL e
president and inform him that congress
was ready to adjourn, it was ordered and
appointed.
Mr.. Bingham, from the postofice COM
mittee, reported a postal telegraph bill,
which was referred to the committee of
| the whole.
Various requests to take up and pass bills
by unanimous vote and consent were made,
| but invariably met with shouts of obiec-
| ton; but when, through some inattentiou
or on account of the tumult in the hall.
one such attempt was successful lin regard
to bill fixing the terms of the United
States courts in Texas there was a loud
roar of laughter.
At 1855 the committee to wait on the
munication to make to congress, Then
the speaker began his closing address. He
said:
Gentlemen of the House of Representa-
| tives: The time has come when our official
relations as representatives in the Forty
seventh congress are to be dissolved. Ina
moment more this house of representatives
will be known only in history. Its acts
will stand, many of them, it is believed,
through the future history of the republic.
On the opening day of this congress ven
tured the suggestion and expression of the
hope that it would be marked ''peculiarly
as business congress-" It has success
fully grappled with more of vital material
and moral questions of country than its
predecessors. Many of these questions have
been settled wisely, and will be appropri
ate legislation. 1t would be quite impos-
sible, at this time, to enumerate the many
important laws which have been enacted
to foster and promote the substantial in
terests of the country.
This congress enacted into law the first
3 per cent. funding bill known to this
country, and under it a considerable pro-
portion of the government debt has been
secured at lower rates than ever before.
1t did not hesitate to take
hold of the question of
polygamy and struck the first effective
blow in destroying that greatest remaining
public crime of the age. Laws have been
passed to protect the immigrant on his
way across the sea and upon his arrival
in the ports of this county. Laws have
also been passed to extend the charters of
banking institutions 80 that financial
disorder cannot take place which would
otherwise come at the expiration Of
the old bank charters. Many public
acts will be found relating to the Indian
policy and land policy of this country,
which will prove to be wise. The post
office laws have been so changed as to
reduce letter postage from three to
two cents-the lowest rate ever known
in the United States. No legislation of
this congress will be found upon the stat
ute books revolutionary in character or
which will oppress any section or individ-
ual in the land. All legislation has been
In the direction of relief. Pension laws
have been enacted. Laws nave been en-
acted which were deemed wise. Liberal
appropriations have been made to pay de-
serving and unfortunate pensioners. In
ternal reveaue taxes have been taken Of
and tariff laws raised. Sectionalism has
been unknown in the enactment of
laws. In the main, fraternal spirit
has prevailed among members from all
portions of the Union. What has been said
IN the heat of debate and under excite
ment, and sometimes with provocation, is
now not to be regarded in the determined,
genuine feeling of concord existing be-
tween the members.
The nigh Office which 1 have filed
through the sessions of this congress, has
enabled me to judge better of the true
spirit Of the members that compose it,
than could otherwise have done. It is
common to say that the house of repre-
sentatives is very turbulent and disor-
derly body of men. This is true more in
appearance than in reality. Those
who look on see more apparent
confusion than exists. The disorder that
even appears on the floor of the house,
grows out of the active spirit possessed by
the members coming from all parts of the
United States, indicating the high degrees
of their Individuality and their great zeal
in trying to secure recognition in the
prompt discharge of their duty. No more
conscientious body than compose this
house of representatives, in my opinion,
ever met. Partisan zeal has, in some in
stances, led to fierce word contests on the
floor, but when the occasion which gave
rise to it passed by, party spirit went
with it.
am very thankful for the consider
ate manner in which have been treated
by the house in its collective capacity. l
am also very thankful to each individual
member of this body for his personal treat
ment of NE. 1 shall lay down the gavel
and the high Office which you have
clothed me with, with my heart filled with
good feeling towards each member. Ihave
been at times impatient, and sometimes
severe with members, but 1 have never
purposely harshly treated any member.
have become warmly attached to and
possessed of high admiration, not only of
the high character of this house as a par
liamentary body, but for its individual
members. I heartily thank the house for
its vote of thanks. The duties of speaker
are of the most delicate and critical kind.
His decisions, in the main, are made with
out time for deliberation, and are often
very far reaching and controlling in the
legislation of the country on important
matters, and they call out the seversst crit
icism. The rule of this house which leaves
to TIE sneaker the OnarouS dutv