Anecdotes of public men; by John W. Forney.

THANKS VOTED TO JOHN W. FORNEY. 381
"'Resolved, That the thanks of this House are eminently due
and are hereby tendered to John W. Forney, Esq., for the distinguished ability, fidelity, and impartiality with which he has
presided over the deliberations of the House of Representatives
during the arduous and protracted contest for Speaker which
has just closed.'"
MR. CAMPBELL, of Ohio (Whig). " I sought the floor to offer
a similar resolution, and I hope that it will be unanimously
adopted."
" The question was taken, and the resolution was unanimously
adopted.
MR. WHEELER (Rep.). "I offer the following resolution, and
upon it demand the previous question:
"'Resolved, That there be paid out of the contingent fund of
the House to John W. Forney, late Clerk, in addition to the salary allowed him by law, eight dollars per diem for the additional
services performed by him from the 3d day of December, I855,
to the 4th day of February, 1856.'"
"The previous question was then seconded, and the main
question was ordered to be now put.
MR. JONES, of Tennessee (Dem.). "I object to that resolution, and I think it is not in order to introduce it."
THE SPEAKER. "The Chair understands the House to have
ordered the main question to be put."
"The question was then taken on the resolution, and it was
agreed to."
I will be pardoned for quoting the personal resolutions which
closed this extraordinary struggle, because they develop the
characteristics of the leaders of opposing parties, and also because they show how even ordinary integrity and decision are
certain of ultimate compensation. General Banks has just been
defeated for Congress in Massachusetts, after a long career,
but I can not forget the manner in which he pronounced his
inaugural address as Speaker of the House sixteen years ago.