1868.] OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES. 5

Lowe, Markland, Marshall, Maynard, McCulloh, McElroy,
Mearns, Mitchell, Montague, Moore, Morse Mullin, Nelson,
Nicolai, Offutt, Owings, Pentland, Percy, Poteet, Richards,
Riggs, Rohrer, Rose, Robb, Sanner, Seibert, Sudler, Silver,
of B., Slingluff, Smith, of Bait. City, Smith, of Worcester,
Stewart, of Dorchester, Syester, Touchstone, Trimble,
Vandiver, Wenner, Wentz, Jr., Williams, Worthington
—86.

The Journal of yesterday was read and approved.
On motion of Mr. Blake,

The House took a recess until 2 o'clock.

Upon a re-assembling of the House,
On motion of Mr. Blake,

The House proceeded to the election of Speaker.
On motion of Mr. Syester,

William A. Stewart, Esq., of Baltimore City, was declared
the unanimous choice of the House of Delegates for Speaker.

The Chair appointed Messrs. Coudy and Brown to conduct
the Speaker to the Chair.

On motion of Mr. Biddison,

Mr. Syester was requested to administer the oath of office to
the Speaker.

After qualifying, the Speaker delivered the following ad-
dress, which,

On motion of Mr. Wentz,

Was ordered to be entered on the Journal.

GENTLEMEN :—

I am deeply sensible of the honor you have conferred upon
me, by my election as Speaker of this House, with such
unanimity. The only return I can make for your confidence

thus reposed in me is to discharge the duties of the office
with impartiality, and this, I assure you gentlemen, I will
endeavor to do.

The larger portion of the members elected to this House
appear in a legislative body for the first time—many are
young men, who are now about to lay the foundation of that
character by which they are to he known in the future, and
I am sure I speak their sentiments, as well as my own, when
I say that our efforts should be directed to the promotion of
the best interests of our citizens, and to the advancement of
the prosperity of our Commonwealth.

It is very rare in the history of popular governments that
a body, so numerous as this House, should be elected by so
overwhelming a majority, and that the political minority in
our State should be without even one representative upon the
floor of either House. I have never known a similar instance
before, and the fact that we have no enemies among us to
embarrass our proceedings, should be one great reason why
we should speedily execute the task committed to us, and in