The Lamar register., 1891-03-07
THE END OF THE SESSION.
Close of the Fifty-Firss Congress
Speeches by Presiding Officers

the memory of the Senators, the aniusine
little scene OF old Captain Bassetts mareh
to the locality of the clock, with long white
wand in hand in order TO put BACK the
minute hand to suit the emergency oil tue
occasion, was to be omitted. Those VINO
imagined SO, however, were anlsingly
disappoiuted-for the venerable gentle
man. wand in hand, and with his eharac-
terlstic gait, strode solemnly up the center
aisle amid the hardly suppressed laughter
of a thousand spectators-and turned oacS
by about three minutes the hands upon
the dial. Once again and third time
still, the time killing operation was per
formed, and finally, when the thing was
oyerdone, he stalked back FOR the fourth
time and advanced the hands q few mia
utes.
Meanwhile the clerk OF the House had
brought over a joint resolution Just passed
to correct an error in the enrolment Of
the agricultural appropriation. The joint
resolution was passed-the last piece Of
the Senate legislation OF the Fifty-nr
CouGress-but it was OF no force or eject
Tor, before it could be sent back TO tho
House, that body mot having had re
course to the Bassett method OF post
boning the hour OF noon had adjourned.
When no other scrap OF business re
mained to be transacted, and when the
clock had taken three minutes step
forward at touch OF the old wizards
wand. the vice president arose and made
his farewell speech. He SAID
~ am admonished by the dial that the
life Of the Fifty-first Congress is ended
md that the hour OF separation aud fare
well has again arrived, 'rhc record Is
made up and has gone into history. No
the Of US can be uumiudful, as we part, OF
the fact that all are not with US who an
swered to the first roll cali OF this Con
gress.
"Three members Of this body, all taken
from one side OF the chamber, have an
swered the last summons and gone out
forever from the haun-s Of men. They
were worthy Of the love we bore them and
will be cherished in the hearts Of the peo-
pie as able, honorable and patriotic publlc
tervants.
"Without previous experience as q pre-
siding officer, came with distrust TO the
discharge OF tie duty imposed by the con
stitution upon the vice president In his
relation to the Senate, certain only o.
unfal;ering purpose to do right aud Of the
patience and forbearance Of this great
body,
~ acknowledge with grateful sensibility
the courtesy and kindness which, even in
critical aud complicated Situations, tAc
members Of the Senate lave been aCcus
toned to accord to me aad the honor coa-
ferrod by the resolution just adopted IN
my absence from the chair. Vita the
earnest hope that each member OF this
body may be blessed in every relation Of
life, now declare, that the constitutional
period ofthe Fifry-hrst Congress having
been completed. the Senate stands adjourn.
ed without day"
In the House, Mr.. Burrows Of Michigan
------- --.... .ssssssss4-., -
Ohio onvre3 Tic isaawyszl
That the thanks OF thLs House are Ji4o.
sented to the Hon. Thomas d. Reed Tor
the able, impartial and diguiHed manner
in which he has presided over Its deliber-
ations and performed the ardaous azd lu-
portAnt duties OF the chair"
Mr.. Mills demanded the yeas and aays.
The resolution was agreed to-yeas lsl,
nays Ii6-a strict party vote. The Ro-
puhlicaus Immediately burst into a yolley
Of cheers. which were only rc5oubloI
when Mr.. Mills inquired whether thls
was part Of the funeral services.
Speaker Reed then rose and sald AFTER
two long and stormy sessions. ia some re-
spects unparalleled in hundred years.
the House Of Representatives Of the Eifty-
first Congress Will soOn pass with com
pleted record into the history Of the
country and its works will soon follow il
What we have done is in large measure
political. Whatever Is political roases
the sternest, the most turbulent, the most
unforgiving passions OF the human race
Political action can never bo Justly viewed
from near standpoint Time aud dis
lance are needed for ripe Judgment, aud
the verdict Of history is the 0aly verdict
worth recording. To state ia language
which would seem 10 nc TO be aac1uate
the achievements OF the House would not
be suitable to this time or 10 this place
Nor Is 1t in the least necdfuI that should
here and now rekindle old disputes or fan
the dying embers OF struggles past and
gone. Whether We have disposed OF
questions Of finance with the wisdom OF
broad craftsmanship time Will surely
show. Whether in the things we have
done and the things we have attempted
for the furtheranee Of human Hberty,ge
-ETsre actuated By high and honorable
motives will be visible to all the world al
no distant day. If our ueeds do not praise
US our words caEnot.
Confident as | am OF the verdict Of
time on what we have done, am stll
more confident that the highest commeu-
dation Will be given Us in the future, not
for what measures we have passed, va!u-
able as they are, but because we have
taken so long stride in the direction Of
responsible government. Ha<ng demon
strated to the people that those who have
been elected to do their will can do II.
henceforth excuses will not be taken for
performance, and government by the peo-
ple will be stronger in the land
Toward those who have opposed what
the majority Of the House have. desired.
we can have no unkindly or persona! feel
ing. Whoever offers battle To old convle-
tious and faiths must expect battle. and
81 haV V~fr-