1874.] OF THE SENATE. 1039

tion, providing a General System of Free Public Schools for
this State.

Endorsed, "Passed by yeas and nays."

The Senate bill entitled an Act for the protection of Part-
ridges, in Anne Arundel county.

Endorsed, "Passed by yeas and nays."
On motion of Mr. Steiner, it was j

Ordered, That the thanks of the Senate, ave hereby ten-
dered to the Hon. John Lee Carroll, the President, for the
courteous and dignified manner in which he has performed
the arduous duties of his office.

Mr. Steiner, addressed the Senate as follows :
Mr. President and Senators.

The close and intimate relations that have existed between
the members of this Senate, are about being sundered by the
termination of the Session, and in accordance with the wishes
of my associates, I offer the order which has just been read,
doubting not that it will receive unanimous support. It has
been pleasant to have one in the President's Chair, bearing
the honored name of one of the Revolutionary Sires of this
State, whose courtesy and dignified demeanor have not been
unworthy of his venerated ancestor.

Coming from all parts of our dear old Commonwealth, and
sent here by its citizens to represent and defend their in-
terests, common duties have brought us into such close con-
tact with each other, that the formalities of mere acquain-
tanceship have gradually disappeared before the' more attrac-
tive ties of genial fellowship and true friendship. Most of
us met in this chamber as strangers, but the hour of parting-
finds us friends ; rivals in debate and entertaining antag-
onistic views on many subjects demanding our consideration,
we are still able at parting to grasp each others hands
warmly, and to utter with genuine feeling "the good old
word good bye."

In reviewing the history of the past Session, whose close,
the slow moving pendulum before me, (alas! now moving in
fact all too rapid !) is steadily marking, memory recalls as in
one extended panorama all its incidents and scenes, and recalls
but little said that was not genial and kindly meant at the
time of its utterance, and nothing that has left a painful
cicatrix upon a wounded sensitiveness. Where it was im-
possible to be in complete accord, Ave have agreed to disagree,
and each has cheerfully recognized the right of independent
thought, and independent action on the part of the other
leaving the judgment of that action and the motives that
have prompted it to the constituencies we severally represent.