The question was taken whether this motion was in order. It was decided to be in order.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
Mr. Christie said he should not point out the improprieties in the conduct of the Speaker while in the chair, otherwise than by his vote, though he possessed the right to call up to the recollection of the House the many inconsistencies his presidency had been marked with. In doing that, Mr. Speaker, I shall behave better to you than you have ever done to me.
The cry of "order!" "order!" prevented any more being said, and Mr. C. sat down.
The yeas and nays were then taken, and resulted—yeas 40, nays 35.
Whereupon Mr. Speaker made his acknowledgments to the House in the manner following:
Accept, gentlemen, my thanks, I pray you, for the respectful terms in which you have been pleased to express the opinion you entertain of the manner in which I have discharged the arduous duties of the station to which I was raised by your kind regard.
Although I am conscious of having intended faithfully to execute the trust confided to this chair, yet I am sensible that, whatever success may have attended my endeavors, is justly attributable to the candid, honorable, and firm support which you have constantly afforded. I cannot lay the least claim to merit for any thing that I have done; because the generous confidence which you had reposed in me, demanded that I should devote all my feeble talents to your service.
Being now about to retire from this House, and, as I hope, from the public councils for ever, permit me, gentlemen, to bid you, collectively and individually, an affectionate farewell. It is true that I have long wished to indulge repose in the shade of private life; but the moment of separation inflicts an anguish inexpressible by language. It is a separation from men of dignity of character, of honorable sentiments, and of disinterested patriotism; an association with whom has been my pride and solace amidst all the fatigue and vexation of public life. Of the friendship of such men, long, uninterrupted and cordial as it has been, I shall always cherish a grateful remembrance. May you receive the reward most grateful to generous spirits, the reward of witnessing, as the effects of your labors, the increasing prosperity, and happiness, and glory, of your country.
As the last words which I shall utter, as a public man, allow me to declare, that those with whom I have had the honor, here, to act and think, whose confidence I have enjoyed, whose bosoms have been opened to my inspection, in my cool and reflected opinion, deserve all of esteem, affection, and gratitude, which their countrymen can bestow. On this occasion I deem myself authorized, from the present circumstances, to make this declaration; and I do it in the most solemn manner, in the presence of the assembled Representatives of America; and not only so, but in the awful presence of that heart-searching Being to whom I feel myself responsible for all my conduct. May the Almighty keep you in his holy protection. Farewell.