The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1883-12-08
House of Repre- sent II tives.

son took his stand at the clerks desk,
raped the House to order and proceeded
to call the roll of Representatives elect.
The State of Mississippi having been
reached the clerk said that he wished to
make a statement as to his failure to put
upon the roll the name of any Represen-
tative-elect from the Second district.
The reason for this was that no paper
which could be considered a certificate
of election in the sense of the law had
been presented to him. Mr.. Chalmers
had sled four exhibits in support of his
claim for the seat, but neither individu-
ally nor collectively did these exhibits
afford the clerk of the House sufficient
authority for the enrolment OF Mr..
Chalmers. If the Governor of Mississ-
ippi had issued certificate of election
to any one it had not been presented to
the clerk.
In regard to the First district of North
Carolina, the clerk stated that he had
not received the certificate of election of
the successor of Walter r. Pool, who
died in August last.
The roll-call disclosed the presence of
316 members. Nominations for Speaker
being then in order, Mr. Goddess said:
II nominate for Speaker of this House
for the Forty. eighth Congress the Hon.
John G. Carlisle, of Kentucky, a man of
acknowledged prominent qualifications
for the place."
Mr.. Cannon Ull.) presented the name
of J. w. Keifer, of Ohio, and Mr. Lyman,
of Massachusetts,, presented the name of
the Hon. G. D. Robinson, of Massachus-
etts
Mr.. Morrison Oll.), Mr.. Tucker (Va.),
Mr.. Reed (Me.) and Mr.. Calkins (Ind
were appointed as tellers and the clerk
proceeded to call the roll.
The result was announced as follows:
For Carlisle, 1911; for Keller, 112; for
Robinson, FLAMES On W and Lyman
Mass. }; for ]. S. Wise (Va.). York
IN. c.; for ]. w. Wadsworth On. ",
1-Ochiltree (Tex. }, for Edward S. Lacey
(Mich.), White (Ky.)
The Clerk thereupon declared Mr.. Car
Isle to be elected, and Messrs. Randall
(Pa.) and Keifer CO., escorted that gen.
tleman to the chair. His entrance into
the chamber was the signal for loud ap-
plause.
Upon taking the chair Mr.. Carlisle
said:
Gentlemen of the House of Represen-
tatives:
thank you sincerely for the high
honor conferred upon me by the vote
just taken. To be chosen from the mem
bership of a great body like this to pre-
side over its deliberations is distinction
upon which any citizen might properly
congratulate himself, and l assure you
that your kindness and partially are
f,,ll
realize the fact that the position to
which you have assigned me is one of
very great labor and responsibility, and
while profoundly grateful to you for
this manifestation of your confidence, I
shall enter on the discharge of its duties
with a serious distrust of my capacity to
meet in an acceptable manner the re-
quirements of this Office, promise, you,
however, to devote to your service all
the zeal and all the ability Of which 1 am
possessed.
Gentlemen, the maintenance of order
on the floor is essential-absolutely es-
sential-to the intelligent and system
attic transaction of pu bic business, and l
earnestly invoke your assistance in the
enforcement of the rules adopted for the
government of our proceedings. The
large addition to the membership of this
House. resulting from the late appor-
tionment of Representatives., makes this
duty even more difficult :nan it has been
before, and without your cordial CO.
operation and support l cannot reason
ably hope evenly to discharge the ordi-
nary daily duties of this Office. That
you will cheerfully cooperate with me
in every proper effort to preserve order
and to facilitate the business of legisla.
ton have no doubt. But, gentlemen, I
shall ask something more of you than
mere cooperation in the discharge of my
duty.
Assuring you of my earnest desire at
all times to be just and impartial, still l
cannot expect to avoid mistakes, and
shall be compelled, therefore, frequently,
no doubt, to rely on the friendly forbear-
ance of gentlemen on both sides of the
House. l am sure, gentlemen, that all
matters Of legislation presented during
this Congress will receive from you such
careful consideration AZ the magnitude
and character of the interests involved
require, and that your action upon them
will be wise, conservative and patriotic.
Sudden and radical changes in the laws
and regulations affecting the commercial
and industrial interests of the people
ought never to be made. unless impera-
lively demanded by some public emer-
gency, and in my opinion, under existing
circumstances, such changes would not
be favorably received by any considera-
BILE number of those who have given
serious attention to the subject. Ap-
plause.
Many reforms are undoubtedly neces-
sary, and it will be your duty, after
careful examination of the whole sub
ject in all its bearings, to decide how far
they should extend, and when and in
what manner they should be made.
[Applause.l If there be any who fear
that your action on this or any other
subject will actually be injurious to any
interest, or even afford reasonable cause
for alarm, l am quite sure that they Will
be agreeably disappointed. Applause.
What the country has right to expect
is strict economy in the administration
of every department of the Government,
just and equal taxation for public pur-
poses, faithful observance of the limi-
tations of the Constitution, and a scrupu-
lous regard for the rights and interests
Of the great body of the people in order
that they may be protected, as far as
Congress has power to protect them,
against entertainments from every direc-
ton. Whatever can be done, under the
circumstances surrounding us, to meet
this expectation ought TO be done, in my
judgment.
But, gentlemen, without OBTAINING you
further, | am ready to take the oath of
office prescribed by the Constitution and
the laws, and proceed to the complete
organization of the House. Applause.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Carlisle's
speech the oath of Office was admins
ter ID to him by Mr. Kelly (Pa }, the
oldest member in point of continuous
service. The members were then sworn
in by the Speaker.
Very little in the way Of business was
done in either House this week. beyond
the offering of bills by the members. Of
these there was large number. On
Thursday Senator Groome introduced
bill in the Senate to provide for the con-
struction of the Maryland and Delaware
free-ship canal as a means of military
and naval defense and for commercial
purposes. The canal is to connect the