Year: 1874

SENATOR M'CLURE'S II, kREWELL TO


THE SENATE.


The following is Senator M'Clure's
farewell speech to the Senate at the
close Of the session. We give it as
reported for the Legi $latjoe Journal


In seconding the resolution com
mending the intelli, gent and impair
tial administration Of the Chair by
the distinguished Senator from Tioga
| (Mr. Strang), | do not discharge a
merely formal or conventional duty.
While the Chair may have been as
worthily and as we'll filed in past
sessions, it is But the tribute OF
justice to say that this body has never
had a more efficient and faithful pre-
siding officer, than the gentleman who
has just retired.


This is the ninth time, duEing a
period Of sixteen years, that / have
| participated in the closing scenes OF
sessions Of the Legislature, and !
welcome it as the last. And in re-
tirirg, it is q profound satisfaction to
be able to say that at no TIME dur
ing the present generation have the
deliberations of this body been so
III Arked for the honest, dispassionate,
and faithful consideration Of public
questions as during the session Just
about to close. At times, as must be
inevitable under our political system
partisan control has arbitrarily and
uniustly asserted its authority; but,
upon the whole, our proceedings
have been exceptionally pleasant and
creditable. ...


OF all those who sat in this body
in 1860, when I first entered it, not
one remains in the Legis ature but
myself; and of all those who sat with
me in the House two years before,
there is not one to answer in either
branch. OF the thirty-three who
entered this body in the memorable
session of 1860, fourteen have gone
to their final account. 1t seems but
yesterday when [ turned to the seat
on my right to receive the friendly
greeting Of the then Senator from
Crawford, Mr.. Finney, the ablest and
the noblest of the whole Senatorial
circle of that day But from a
strange land the sad story OF his
death has come, and only grateful
memories remain of him, while his
dust is treasured in the midst of his
devoted constituents. And almost
involuntarily turn to the chair be-
hind me to hear the voice of the then
beloved and now lamented Penny,
He was great leader, and yet as
unassuming as he was able. Across
the narrow aisle from him it often
seems that the eyes which there
sparkled with unwonted brilliancy
and the cheeks which flushed SC
quickly when the battle Of debat>
began, should fash upon us again
as Palmer came to quicken the Sen,
ate with his oloquence and logic
He had long conflict with wasting
disease, but his strong will had tc
bow at last to the great enemy, and
he now sleeps in the monumentless
ocean. Hard by him We're then heard
the eloquent and often impassioned
utterances of those who had come
from the first judicial tribunal of the
State to shed the lustre of his learn
ing in the enactment OF our laws
Tine had not spared him in its ex
Mctions, and he left US soon there
after to be gathered to his fathers
With Connell, l stood side by side
when we were sworn as new Sena
tors, and he alone of all of us re
mained, receiving at each reelection
evidence of increased public conf
dence, until he was called to answe-
the summons of the inexorable mes
senger. He had just been elected tx
the fifth consecutive term, and be
fore the moon had filed her horn
he slept the sleep that can know nj
waking until the great day. Clos
by him would often rise the mani,
! form of his colleague, Rush Smith
who was as generous in his friend
ship as he was faithful to his calling
{ but he too is no longer known amonl
the living. And near him woul(
come up the voice Of Nunemacher
but only when the yeas and nay
were called. He was conspicuou


for his intelligence and his silence
, for his fidelity to his constituents am
, his negative votes. After many year
of devoted service to his people hi


well-spent time ripened in eternity


Close to him could be seen the deep
ly-frostad head and genial face q
, Schindel, came from the altar t
| serve the Commonwealth in til
sorest trial Of her history, and h
, now wears the stars he garnered TO
/ his crown as the teacher Of men
Beside him was Crawford, brother q
z our later associate, and one OF tn


most intelligent and modest member


OF the body. Ho was the lone rel
resentatiye Of his party returned j
5 the sweep Of 1855, and soon after hi
retirement ho fell, in the vigor Of life
) before the arch enemy Of man. Neo
, him was Craig, beloved by all for hi
unobtrusive virtues and fidelity t


public duties. He was racked b
disease and he had needed the ad
monition to set his house in order fo
t the coming of the destroyer. Upo
/ my left was Irish, the youthful, buoy
ant Senator from Allegheny. II
> was in advance Of his generation IN
t an enthusiast in supporting his cor
victions; but before the iruition {
) his teachings he had fallen in til
t race. and who Of the survivors {
{ that day DO not miss the bright fac
! and generous deeds Of Schater, lon
= n legislator from the Old Guaq
/ But q few years after he lett us b