Evening star., 1897-03-04
ory address. speaking hoar soly as a re
ult of recent strain. He said:
The Vice Presidents Address

tory address, speaking hoar soly as a re-
SUIT OF recent strain. He said:
The Vice Prcsfdcnt.. Address
Senators: The hour has arrived which
n arks the close of the Fiftv-fourth Con-
gress ard terminates my official relation to
this body. Before laying down the gavel
for the last time. l may be pardoned for
oetainiilg You for a moment in the attenpt
! to give expression to my gratitude for the
unlfcrm courtesy extended me-for the
many kindnesscs shown me-iuring ih..
time it mas been my good fortune 10 pre-
side orer-y your deliberations. Ny apprecia-
tion of the resolution of the Senate Der
scnal to myself can find no adequate eN-
preston in words. Intentionally. I have at
no time given ofense, and l carry from
this presence no shadow of feeling OF un-
Kindness toward any senator-no memory
of a grievance.
Chief among the favors political fortune
has bestowed upon me, ! count that of
| having been the associate-and of having
| known something of the friendshiD-of the
men with whom have so long held official
relation in this chamber To have been the
presiding officer of this august body is an
| honor. of which even the most ilustrious
citizen might be proud. / am persuaded
| that no occupant of this chair during the
| one hundred anG eight years of our coasti-
tu.ional history ever entered upon the
| discharge of the duties pertaining to this
office more deeply impressed with sense OF
a
| higher appreciation of the character and
| dignity of the great legislative assembly.
During the term just closing questions OF
! deep import TO political parties and TO the
| country have here found earnest and at
| times passionate discussion. This chamber
! has indeed been the arena of great debate.
| The record of four years of parliamentary
| struggles, of masterful debates, of import
| ant legislation. is closed, ard passes now
| to the domain of history.
think can truly say. in the words of
a distinguished predecessor: In the dis
! charge of my official duties l have known
no cause. no party. no friend" 1t has been
| my earnest endeavor justly to interpret
| and faithfully to execute the rules of the
| Senate. AT times the temptation may be
| strong TO compass partisan ends by a dis
| regard or a perversion of the rules. Yet. 1
| think IL safe to say the result, however
| salutary. Will be dearly purchased by de-
| parture from the methods prescribed by the
| Senate for Its own guidance A single in
stance. as indicated. might prove the fore
| runner of untold evils.
1T will be recorded for a precedent
| And many an error. by the same example.
| Will rush into the state"
| 1t must not he forgotten that the rules
| governing this body are founded deep in
| human experience; that they the result
of centuries of tireless efforts in legislative
hall, to conserve. to render stable and Sc
cure the rights and liberties which have
| been achieved by conflict. BY lis rules the
| Senate wisely fixes the limits to its own
| Senate, and its methods of procedure II
| may he truly said: They know not what
| they do In this chamber alone pre-
| served without restraint, the essentials of
wise legislation and of good government
| the right of amendment and of debate.
| Great evils often result from hasty eeisla-
| tion-rarely from the delay which follows
| full discussion and deliberation. In my
| humble judgment, the historic Senate-pre-
| serving the unrestricted right of amend
| ment and of debate. maintaining intact the
| -hnnnraA nal n a M a Dn,srh hpdG NJ
amenities which Cnfaingly secure action
| after deliberation-posses i'm our scheme
| of government a value which cannot be
| measured by words.
| The Senate is a perpetual body. In the
| terse words of eminent senator now
| present: ''The men who framed the Con-
| stitution had studied thoroughly all former
attempts at republican government. His
tory strewn with the wrecks OF un-
| successful democracies. Sometime the
| usurpation of the executive power: some
| times the fickleness and unbridled license
of the people. had brought popular gov
ernments 10 destruction. To guard against