Year: 1864

my duty. ] have been charged, on tn


floor of the Senate, with usurping the Of


fee, by Senators who have uniformly treat
ed me, personally, with the greatest cour
tesy. All these charges I have treated a
mere declamations-they have not affect
ed me in any way. From the commence
ment of the session | endeavored to con
1 fine myself strictly to the rules of parlia
mentary law, until the rules of the Senate
we're adopted, and have not willing de
prived any Senator of his rights in nay
ruling. The positions which I have as
sumed, and which have been so firmly and
ably sustained and defended by my friends
on the floor of the Senate, have also b er
most fully and cheerfully recognized and
nlpSed by the coordinate branch of the
Leg giSfature, by the legal and executive de,
partments of the Government and repeat
edly by legal majority of this body.
had hoped that after these endorsements
had been followed by the additional one
Of the peoples votes in filing the VACANT
place in this chamber, and giving the con-
stitutional majority necessary for legisla-
ton; and when that majority had, by its
vote determined not to proceed to an elec-
tion for Speaker, the ordinary Legislation
Of the State, which has been so long de-
laye1, would have been allowed to pro-
ceed. But it seems still to be blocked
s S.nators, under their sworn obligat ons,
see fit to consider that my occupation OF
the chair in the position have stated is
sufficient warrant for them to vote against
measures to which they profess their as
sent; they seem to think that sufficient
justification for preventing the ordinary
legislation of the State from taking its
proper course, and they have the power so
to do, although a minority. Tht throws
the responsibility upon me, afterhe Sen
ate has determined not 10 proceed to any
election. 1t seems to me that it is not
my duty to the State longer to remain in
the chair, if Senators so construe their du-
ty that it would not be just to the public
interests that should remain in the chair
if my occupancy of it is made the occa
sion for throwing an impedjment in the
way of the legislation of the State, in the
condition in which the country is now
found Whatever my position may be,
whatever my interests are, whatever my
desiresare, all such considerations are as
nothing in comparison with the public iu-
terests.


After service of almost six years in
the Senate l may say that l have no wish
or desire personally to be the presiding of
ficer of this Senate, however much | am
flattered and always would be fattered by
that position. If the fact of my occu-
pancy of the chair is made an occasion for
any man or any Senators on this floor to
0stify himself or themselves in an oppo-
sition to the ordinary proceedings of this
body, and if by resigning my office, can
further the interests'of the public wei
fare, and expedite the legislation of the
Commonwealth, then think it my duty to
resign.


With my sincere thanks for the cour-
tesy have received, and without imputing
to any Senators upon the floor of this SEN
ate any improper motives for the course
they have taken, l resign to you the of
Gce which have held since the close OF
the last session, having the fullest assur-
ances that you will not now permit it to re-
remain vacant by protracted contest for
my successor.