Year: 1877




faithfully and we'll.


Mr.. Wilson, of Iowa said tha. Speaker
RsndaI'hsd been called upon TO rule,
and where the rules were not law was
given him and he could only appeal to
that law and to his mate sense of JUS
tice and right, and when the heat and
passion of the late contest have passed
away every one would be compelled to
admit that the Speaker had discharged
his duties with wonderful fidelity and
presence of mind.


The resolution was unanimously
adopted.


Mr.. Morrison moved that the House
adhere to its disagreement to the army
appropriation bill.


The ayes and nays were demanded
and roll-csll begun At l:50 A. N. There
was great confusion and excitement
when the hands on the clock dial indics-
ted five minutes before noon, and when
it was q physical impossibility to con.
clude the call, the Speaker interrupted
it, rose and delivered his vsledictory Is
follows:


GKNrLEMKN OF THE HOUSE, OF RErRE-
sENTATIvEs: The Speakership, always
responsible onerous and full OF embsr-
rassments, has al this session imposed un-
usual and veIstious burdens. l have
discharged the duties of my high position
with unfaltering confidence in the csndor
and frmness of the House and resolute
purpose to do right at every
hazard. For the first time in many
years Democratic House Of Repre-.
sentatives has occupied this hall and
responded with un:iring industry to the
universal sentiment for reform in the
Government, and the establishment
of peace throughout the Republic.
Fraud and corruption have been exposed
and made odious. The expenditures of
the administration have been enormously
reduced. No new taxes have been levied,
and every description OF undue
appropriation of public money has
been prevented. In this regard this
House has met the public demand and
expectation. In respect to political
events, the session has been one OF the
most critical in our history. The ma
jority in the House, representing q ma
iorlty of all the votes in the Union,
and as we believe and know
majority Of the electors duly
chosen at the recent election for
President and Vice President has
been made TO choose between acqui-
escence in usurpstion or reaching right
through civil commotion. The DEM
ocratic party yielded the temporary pos
session of administration rather than en-
tsil upon the people civil war with all
its attendant horrors. There are some
who will condemn the submission We have
given to the results OF the law which was
not administered in tho spirit OF
its creation, nor rs we believe
according TO the letter Of its provisiC ms.
We have done all this in preference to
the danger OF anarchy and bloodshed.
Time will surely remedy these wrongs,
for there is in the American mind de-
sire to do Justice. We must await that
remedy. 1t must come, impatient rs we
shall be for It's arrival. Until then we
demand, as we have a right to demand,
II reign of equal justice; that tie sword
shall cease to strike PROSTATE tine govern
ment of States; that the civil shall be
superior to the military rule, and
that the people shall DO
freed now ard forever from
the shackles of the recent misgovern-
ment. / thank you one and all for the
parting words of approval, and with the
wish that each and every member may
safely return to his home, it only re-
mains for me 10 declare that the cOnst-
tutionsl limitation OF the Forty-fourth
Congress has been reached, and that this
House stands adjourned Stne die.


As the Speaker closed, all the members
rose to their feet, and from the Demo-
cratic side and from the galleries came
cheers and rounds OF applause. Then
came the scenes OF leave-taking, and IN
half an hour the hall SO lately the scene
OF SO much tumult and passion and ex-
citement, was deserted and silent, and thus
closed the Forty fourth Congress.


NoTE-In regard TO the question Of
an extra session in consequence Of the
failure of the army appropriation bill,
the reporter has recently been informed
by an official Of the War Department,
likely to be well posted, that under the
same section of an old law, the war and
navy departments can be carried on for
two years without any special sppropri-
alton. That Is, that the drafts Of the
Secretaries OF war and navy will be hon
ored by the Treasury Department. If
that be so, then the calling of an extra
session is not altogether matter Of GER
tsnty.