The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-04-29

Lro,.IArrvr DIsNIrY. The following
account of the close of session of the Pen
! svIvanis Legislature is from the Harris
burg Intelligencor. The editor ofths Uni
ted States Gazette seems to doubt the ac-
curacy of the painting. Should he witness
evening sessions Of thenational legislature,
we think he would admit that q State legis
1nture might reasonably do worse than is
here set down, without fear ofcomparison.
The last vlghi Qfhe Session. The leg
islature of Pennsylvania had resolved to
adjoorn on the seventh Of April, and return
10 their constituents. On the afternoon Of
the sixth it was agreed not to meet in the
evening, although there was some impor-
tantprivate business that must not 60 over to
the next year. A motion was made and
carried, however, to meet at five minutes
past midnight, not TO do business, but TO
adjourn. This was done for the purpose
Of drawing pay for another day. To have
adjourned FIVE minutes before midnight
would not do, five minutes after would put
into the pockets of these men whom the
people delight to honor, Fireor Sir Hun.
dred Dollars more o. the public money for
which there was to be no service rendered.
The evening session being dispensed with,
the members (not all Of them collected in
groups i'm the different inns, taverns, &c.
drinking healths, wishing each other rec
lections, and singing,
Here's health to jolly Bacchus, o!
10! IOp The midnight bell rung, and
Ave minutes after, the usual rap and ex.
elamntion was heard from the speakers
chair r
sThe House ipiH come 10 ORDER
This was not to be expected, however,
uoio; it had rarely happened during the
session. After waiting a considerable
time, it was found that counting was in
vain. The clerk was ordered to call the
names Of the members to ascertain wheth
era quorum was present in body, for il was
evident that the minds Of some had been
left behind at the taverns. The two hous
es, besides the business Of adjournment
had to wait for the governor to read over
and sign number of bills that during the
preceding day, had passed. This Occu
pied something like two hours during which
time the house was scene OF all sorts OF
fun. One honest old gentleman from the
committee Of vice and immortality had the
day previous made a report on the subject,
of fintenperance. 1t was then laid on the
table. One gentleman from The tavern,
who was so full Of patriotism that he could
scarcely walk without staggering under
itsload, moved that five hundred copies Of
the report be printed. The motion was
seconded by one nearly orquite as patriot
ic. The honest old gentleman was then
called on to explain and defend the princi-
pies Of his report. No sooner had he ris.
on, than balls Of paper were wh,zzing' past
his head from all quarters, and the old man
after explaining 'ior moment lodged to
his aeat amidst roar Of laughter, which
showed how great was the moral dignity
OF the representatives IF the people. The
speaker was unpleasantly situated-he was
obliged to put the scnseloss motions. A
member from York made motion TO re-
consider the vote on the division Of Mifflin
county, in order to tease an old gentleman
who had been in it's favor. The old gen.
tleman retorted by reading in his place the
dolorous resolves ofa York county meeting
upon the loss Of tho rail road. The old
gentleman acted as speaker to,of or at the
end Of every resolve he would sing out in
his humorous tone, 'ciH the House agree 10
the resolution? Aye was the universal
response, accompanied with paper balls
at the old mans head. When the old man
had finished his rail road resolutions, he
concluded by asking leave OF absence for
the rest Of the session for his friend from
York, az ho understood there would be a
cock fight the next day at York, and his
friend probably wished to attend. This
was granted and the whole house rung with
laughter. The York man was completely
put down, and thus ended the fun. Dnring
the whole time, the speaker oftea requested
members not TO leave their seats as there
was present but one or two more than n
quorum. q
The following entry is in the record of
tho Assembly of Pennsylvania for 1918.
There does not seem to have been much
improvement in the legislative character
Of Pennsylvania during the hundred and
twenty years. #"
"a Committee Of the Assembly yMcre
sent to Governor Gookin on business
They returned and reported that the Gov.
ernor is not stirring"
In l7l5, Mr.. Ashton called on the House
Of assembly with message from the Gov
ernor, and addressed the speaker rs fol.
lows:
"Fhe Governor has requested me to
state his regret that ho has been unable to
get the council together, and will feel hap.
py If the members wait on him this evening
at Sarah Radcliffs, and take a glass Of
wine with him"