Year: 1870

Farewell Remarks of NIr. speaker


Perkins TO the House of Repre-


sentatives.


In response to the resolution Of thanks
to the officers of the House, passed yester-
day by that body, Speaker Perkins made
the following appropriate remarks during
the afternoon session.


Gentlemen of the House of Representa-
tives: The hour has arrived when we must
for short time separate and return to our
homes, our friends and our constituents.
We are about to bring TO Temporary close
one of the most protracted, laborious and
important sessions of ther Legislature that
ever met in this magnificent Capitol. The
labor you have had to perform perhaps
never has devolved upon any former GEM
eral Assembly of this State. More than
nine months have passed since we assem-
bled in this hall 1t has been emphatical-
ly a session of labor Amid all these tolls
the thought of home and loved ones
cheered our hearts and awakened within
us longing desire for those endearing as
sociations which gladden. the heart. That
day has now arrived. In q few brief hours
at most and you will have returned to your
families and friends. ...-


will not detain you now to rehearse
what you have done. That will be left till
the close of our adjourned session, to
which it properly belongs; but will sa y
that when we met our constituents were In
bondage; now they are free. While ques-
tions of public policy of the highest mo-
ment have come up fer discussion-ques-
tions well calculated TO produce interest and
feeling-you have faced them with GOODNESS
and deliberation seldom equalled, and met
them with argument and eloquence never
surpassed, tempered with courtesy and
selfrespect. Such has been your puncti-
lious observance of parliamentary rules that
I have seldom had occasion to remind you
of any departure.


Though you have often differed, each
contending with zeal and ardor for his
peculiar views, yet no impugning of mo-
tives has for q monsent been entertained
No bitter shaft has found any lodgment,
nothing has been left ranking in the heart.
You separate to-day as friends. The ties
that have bound rs together will not soon
be broken. 1t is true We separate, but not
as those who expect never to meet
again; sad, indeed, would be that
thought. --


The great unaniInity with which you
have adopted the resolution of thanks
demand an expression of gratitude from
me. Without this endorsement express
i've of your approval of my official acts, l
should have felt that your expectations
had not been met, but with it my highest
ambition has been gratifed. l shall ever
cherish, with profound gratitude, the re-
collection of your kindness to me. When
l entered upon the delicate duties of pre-
siding officer of this House, greatly dis
trusted my ability to meet your expecta-
tions. My greatest desire has been to do
right. haYe at all times endeavored to
administer the rules of parliamentary law
without fear, favor, prejudicss or partiali-
ty. have ever held the balances level.


l thank you, gentlemen, for the hearty
cooperation which have always received
from you, and for the courteous manner
with which you have treated me, and to
those who have 80 often relieved me from
the arduous duties of the chair, return
my most sincere acknowledgment.


would extend parting blessing to each
and all of you, and where you go may the
blessings of God go with you. The reccl-
lection of your kindness and courtesy viii
ever swell nv bosom with emotions of in
expressible gratitude. You carry with you
my most earnest desire for your prosperity
and happiness May the blessings of an
approving conscience ever abide with you
and the smiles of Heaven rest on you
Though we may never again meet on earth,
may we be so guided by kind Heavenly
Father that we may all meet in Heaven.
FAREWELL