Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1886-06-24

bers OF different Legislatures.
volunteer speeches being in order, Rel
resentative McNab, of Newaygo, was calle
out. He began by extolling the pine ella
hills OF Newaygo, its babbling brooks an
swift-rolling rivers, declaring that while b
I loved Michigan, the center of his affection
was devoted to his own county. He ha
come to renew old acquaintances and to en-
JOY himself with the boys, and was not pre-
pared for q speech. Proceeding then
discourse OF Detroit, its beautiful river an
; crystal waters, and the obstinacy of il
Representatives, the laughter became s
great as to interrupt the speaker, and h
sat down, leaving his remarks unfinished
Ex- Congressman Horr was next calle,
upon, and the rules were suspended be
! cause he objected that not being membe
he could not speak. He continued, how
ever, In an entertaining vein to contrast
Michigan audience with q Massachusetts
one, and to descant upon the appearance,
OF the members before him, declaring tha
II michigan had got along for fifty year
with such countenances as were before hin
there was hope that she would continue tC
survive to the last. He eulogized the labori
OF the Legislators, and described the pleas.
ure that the reunion had given him.
| Senator Conger spoke for ten minutes
|
which this reunion of old friends had af-
forded him. and related an anecdote of the
tendencies OF the Senate Of 'G5 to amend
the bills OF the House, with the result
winch 1t had upon stalwait Representa-
tive.
Senator Palmer followed in brief
speech, saying that the happiest half wear
OF his life was passed in the Legislative ses-
sion at Lansing, and recalling incidents of
| that session.
| AT the second days session ex- Governor
BLAIR, one of the four great war Governors,
made an address on Michigan in the war.
The Governor paid tributes to the memory
OF General Israel Il. Richardson, of Pom
Ilac, and General Woodbury., of Adrian
The Fourth Regiment was also praised as
having met every requirement. The Sew
enth 1t was that fixed the pontoons at Fred
ericksburg, service which the Governor
did not which 10 forget
Let me assure you, my friends" the
Governor said, in conclusion, "that SO well
have our soldiers done their great work
that never again in our time, nor in that OF
our children, shall we be menaced by the
cruelties of civil war. Too vast indeed is
this victory, too far reaching are its conse-
quences to be properly estimated or too
much honored. AS said Lincoln at Gettys-
burg: 1t is not what we say here, but what
they did here that will live hereafter And
SO say II"
Hon. Edwin Willis delivered n LENGTHY
address on Michigan Schools and Col
leges." Mr.. Willis reviewed the early
school-fund laws, showing how Michigans
were superior to those several neighboring
States, and, as q result, how it is that we
are so well-founded in this respect to-day.
Isaac n. Crary and John ID. Pierce have
performed a noble work for the schools of
the State. The rise of our present school
system, from the log school to the Univer-
sity dome, and its statue of BENJAMIN
Franklin in the front yard. was we'll traced
President Willis paid such O glowing
apostrophe to the old loo school and .iis y
boys that many ladies were tempted to cry,
but instead vociferously applauded.
Ex- Representative Koon made few re-
marks on early education, stating that in
1874 two of the three members of the
Legislative Committee on Education were
too conservative to do much, thinking the
country was too new. He was the third
member but couldn't do anything alone.
w. l.. Bancroft was called to tell some
thing of old-fashioned railroading, but did
not respond.
Mr.. Enos Goodrich, member of the
Constitutional Convention of 1850, arose
and said, referring again 10 early educa-
ton, that he, at that time, believed the
children belonged to the State, and should
be educated at State expense, and that the
conservatism spoken of by Mr.. Koon was
only too manifest.
EX-SENATOR SIMEON r. BILLINGS
told of his first speech and how proud he
felt when he got into the press as having
given "the eagles tail a twist!" When he was
young he envied Congressman because they
could frank, all their mail, using no postage
stamps, but simply writing an. c." in the
corner. That feeling has now passed
away. [Applause.l
Mr.. Enos Goodrich, the member of 1850,
again arose, speaking of the uncertainties
of life and the liability of persons being
visited by the grim destroyer any time,
wherefore he counselled preparation for
the end.
J. J. wooDMAN
spoke feelingly of the Legislature of 1861,
TO whose work is due the stable and sue
cessful financial policy of our State. He
wished to speak specially of the Chaimen
of the respective Finance Committees, j.
+. Joy, of the House, and II. p. Baldwin,
of the Senate, who, among others, favored
not the issuing of bonds and contracting of
loans but present payment of expenses.
"Pay as You GO and do not tax posterity,"
Mr.. Woodman considered the true basis of
financial prosperity, and which, as far as he
knew, had been inaugurated by his old
love, the Legislature of 1861.
Ex- Senator James Birney, of Bay City,
returned to the educational question, espe-
cially favoring the apprentice system,
which, while part of the Prussian system
we initiate, seems to be overlooked at
present.
Ex-senator Charles T. Gorhnm, of Mar
shall, desired it to be known that the tree
under which the two gentlemen alluded TO
in Mr.. Willis paper as having done great
service for the educational system OF the
Sta'e, sat, is still standing and can be seen
any day in Marshall, where it is held as a
relic.
The fate of the first bill for uniform
militia was rehearsed, as was also the yicis-
situdes of early elections, with O, necdotes
of members.
REPRESENTATIVE o. N. CASE,
of Detroit, expressed his great pleasure at
the privilege of meeting the fathers of the
State. He also hoped the legislative re-
union would be held yearly.
Representative Chas. p. Parkhill, of
Shiawassee, declared that he had beaten
Gladstone, as on one occasion he had car
ried the whole House, having arisen and
called on the Speaker to adjourn.
Ex-Representative William Ball, when
called on to speak, declared that to ma ntain
his present great reputation as an orator he
would on this occasion forego talking TO the
House, as being very weary himself, and
being sure that the members were more than
satisfied with speeches already.
The reunion closed with a valedictory aud
benediction by Rev f. j. Welker