Artist: Frederic Steiger
Portrait Hung: 1951

Election and Approbation of Speaker (3 February 1870, Journal)

“And the Members being returned to the Assembly Room, Mr. Charles Fox Bennett, addressing himself to the Clerk, who, standing up, pointed to him, and then sat down, moved, that Thomas R. Bennett Esq., do take the chair as Speaker of this House, which motion was seconded by Mr. Talbot, and on the question being put thereon it passed in the affirmative, without division and ordered, that Thomas R. Bennett, Esq. do take the Chair as the Speaker of this House.

Mr. Thomas R. Bennett was then conducted to the Chair by Mr. C.F. Bennett and Mr. Talbot, and, standing on the step, he addressed the House as follows:

Gentlemen, I beg to thank you for the high honor you have conferred upon me, in electing me Speaker of this Assembly; in accepting this office I am fully sensible of the responsibility it involves. I trust, however, that by your assistance I shall be able to discharge my duties fairly and impartially, feeling assured that in maintaining the dignity, and in preserving the rules and orders of the House, I will have your cordial co-operation.”

(...)

10^th General Assembly, 1^st Session (3 February 1870).