The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-03-12

achievements of the House, would net
be suitable to tins time or to this place.
Nor is it in the least needfui that / should
here and now rekindle old disputes cr
fan the dying embers OF struggles
passed and gone Whether we have dis
posed OF questions of finance With the
wisdom OF broad craftsmanship time
Will surely show Whether i.iti5e things
We have done, and the things NE have
attempted for the furtherance Of human
liberty. We We're actuated by high amt
honorable motives, will lie visible to all
the world at no distant day. Our ac-
items need no catalogue, and all eau
hlerati0n and praise BY ourselves would
he in vain. Ii orr deeds do not praise
us, our words cannot. Confident as am
OF the verdict of time Oh what we have
done, | am still more confident that the
highest commentator Will be given us
IN the future, not tor what measures we
have passed. valuable as they are, bnt
because we have taken so long stride
in the direction Of responsible govern
ment Having demonstrated to the
people that those who have been elected
to do tlleir will can do it, henceforth ex
cuses will not be taken for performance,
and government by the people viii be
stronger in the land.
Toward those vino have opposed what
the majority Of the house have desired
we have no unkindly or personal feeling
Whoever offers battle TO old convictions
and faiths must expect battle, and the
vigor of the resistance must always bear
some proportion to the vigor of the on
set. To members on my left with whom
| am politically associated, | beg to ten
der my most most sincere and heartfelt
acknowledgements. No man ever re-
4
support from a band OF men more patri-
otto. am proud to acknowledge in all
that has been done have been but one
in the multitude, and that the honors of
the Fifty first Congress belong to you
alone. | now declare this House to be
adjourned without day.
A REMARKABLE CONGRESS.
The Fiftystirst Congress was, in the
opinion of lnanyveteran Legislators, the
most remarkable Congress since the war
From first to last the sessions were inter
esting and eventfui, and fer 10 long pc
Rod were they ever characterized by the
dulness which occasionally, for DAYS at
a time, marks the proceedings OF nearly
every Congress-and especially of these
Congresses in which the first session is ln-
usually prolonged The actual working
time Of the Fifty-frst Congress exceeded
nominal working time of all except the
Fiftieth Congress, and in the number Of
measures brought to its attention, and
the number, variety and Importance of
those acted on, it likewise surpassed all
previous Congresses. This working or
cuisines feature was perhaps the most
distinguishing characteristic OF the
Fifty first Congress. 1t seems the more
remarkable when the magnitude, char
acter and long tendency Of many OF the
topics considered are taken into ac
count Three measures, and, in ntrin
sic Importance and popular interest,
would be sufficient for a national issue,
stand forth pre- eminent among all others
First, the Mckinley tariff bill, which
became q law; sc condi the silver bill, en-
which, in the first session, a compromise
was effected, based on monthly purchas
es of 4 500, 600 ounces of silver, which, in ]
turn, was followed by more radical
measure, that failed of passage; and
third, the Federal elections bill, which,
after a protraated, bitter, holly fought /
and intensely exciting preliminary strug-
gle, failed in the Senate to reach {, de
csve vote on its merits.
Radical innovations in The rules of the
House added interest to its proceedings,
and determined, but ff1itiess efforts to
adopt the most vital Of these innova- /
tons formed a part Of the history Of the
latter part OF the sessions OF the Senate
Even in its lnortnafy record the Con
gress was remarkable, the call Of death
having summoned no fewer than twelve
of its representatives and three Of its
Senators The list contains the names
of Senators Beck, of Kentucky, Wilson,
of Maryland, and Hearst, of California;
and Representatives W. ID. Kelley, Sam
uel J. Randall and Lewis E. WATSON, of
Pennsylvania; S. S. Cox, David Wilbor
and Newton ]. Nutting, OF New York; +
Richard Townshend, Of Illinois; j. NJ.
Burnes and James r. Walker, of Mis-
souri,; James Laird, of Nearask;s Edward
j. Gay, OF Louisiana, and james s. Pie F.
Ian, of Tennessee.
Many of the bills enacted into laws APP
propriated an unusually large amount
of money, and the expenditures author
lied will exceed those OF any peace
congress since the foundation of the gov
eminent. The total appropriations
made by the Fiftieth Congress were,
during the first session S:95 a321} ,aid, and
during the second session, s493, 526, 343, I
or an aggregate Of Sst5 1850. while the
appropriations for the first session OF the
Eifty-frst Congress were S46G,527. 5a7
and those Of the second session will prob /
ably bring the total appropriations for
the Congress to billion Of dollars.