The CLERK announced that Scuurnsn ColFAX. one of the Representatives from the State of Indiana, having received amajonty of all the votes given was duly elected Speaker of the HoRep for the 39th Congress. [Applause] Whereupon, at the suggestion of the Clerk, Mr. Moiiiiu and Mr. Buooss conducted Mr. comfax to the chair, when he addressed the House as follows: Gentlemen of the HoRep: The reassembling of Congress, marking, as it does, the procession of our national history, is always regarded with interest. by the people for whom it is to legislate. But it is not unsafe to say that millions more than ever before, Nort, South, East, and West, are looking to the Congress which o was its session today with an earnestness an solicitude unequaled on similar occasions in the past. The 38th Congress closed its constitutional existence with the storm cloud of war still lowering over us; and, after a 9 mouths absence, Congress resumes its legislative authority in these council halls, rejoicing that from shore t shore in our land there is peace. Its duties are as obvious as the suns path way in the heavens. represenling, in its 2 branches, the States and the people, its 1st and highest obligation is to guaranty to every State a RFG. The rebellion having overthrown constitutional State governments in many States, it is yours L to mature and enact legislation which, with the concurrence of the Executive, shall establish them anew on such a basis of enduring justice as will guaranty all necessary safe guards to the people and afford, what our Magna Charta, the DeclarIndep, proclaims is the chief object of government protection to all men in their inalienable rights. [Applause ]The world should witness, in this great wor, the mest inflexible fidelity, the most earnest devotion, to the principles of libe and humanity, the truest patriotism, and the wisest statesmanship. 7 Heroic men, by 100s of 1,000s, have died that the Republic might live. The emblems of mourning have darkened “White House and cabin alike. But the fires of civilWar have melted every fetter in the land, and proved the funeral pyre of slavery. [Applause.] It is for you, representatives, to o your work as faithfully an as Well as did the fearless saviors of the Union on their more dangerous arena of duty. Then we may hope to see the vacant and once abandono seats around us gradually filling up, until this Hall shall contain Representatives from every State and district; their hearts devoted to the Union for which they are to legislate, Ecalons of its honor, proud of its glory, watchtu of its rights, and hostile to its enemies and the stars on our banner that paled when the States they represented arrayed themselves in arms against the nation, will shine with a more brilliant light of loyalty than ever before. Invoking the guidance of Him who holds the destiny of nations in the hollow of His hand, I enter a in upon the duties of this trying position, With a cart filled with gratitude to on for the unusually flattering manner in which it has been bestowed, and cheered by the hope that it betokons your cordial support and assistance in all its grave responsibilities. I am now ready to take the oath of office prescribed by law.