The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-12-18
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
MONDAY, December IL.
PENNSYLVANIA WAR.

MONDAY, December IL.
PENNSYLVANIA WAR.
Mr. FRY offered a resolution calling on the Pre-
siden Tor copies Of all correspondence which have
passed between him and Gov. RITNER, relative to a
call upon the Executive for an armed force to pro-
coed to Pennsylvania with balls, bnckshot &c.
The rules were, on motion Of Mr.. FRY sus-
pended-yeas l2s, nays IS, and the resolution was
Mr.. CUSHING offered an amendment inquring
whether any officer Of the United States had been
| engaged In the business.
Mr.. BlDDLE deprecated the object Of the resolu-
tion which he thought was to elicit discussion of
the subject here
Mr.. PETRIKEN made few remarks which was
not heard. He was understood TO declare that the
mob was an unruly assemblage ofthe democracy OF
Mr.. NAYLOR was in favor of the resolution,
and said he should vote for II. The affair at Har-
rsburg originated In an attempt to cheat him out of
his seat lie wished to lay before the House COM
plete history OF the business.
Mr.. NAYLOR, after proceeding short time,
was called 10 order but had leave of the House TO
proceed in order
Mr.. NAYLoR proceeded. There were no
turns to the legislatures because officers OF the
General Government had prevented any returns.
The Legislature was thus obliged to Judge between
| the two county delegations But these Government
officers, with mob, went to Harrisburg TO prevent
the Legislature from acting on the subject and by
violence and menaces of bloodshed, they expelled
the Legislators from their seats and up spurious
Legislature
The Governor might have been imprudent in cali
ing out the militia. The members Of the Legisla-
ture might have acted improperly in leaving their
seats under the threat OF popular violence. His own
opinion was that they ought to have kept their seats.
he would promise that, next year, when the mob
came here TO drag him from his seat, he would not
leave 1t with life "Order,n" order" was evinced
throughout the Hail. The Speaker interposed and
decided that the gentleman could not go on.
said ha TIu
wished to tell the whole story; but the House wanted
no light upon it. They hated light because their
deeds were evil. "Order,"" order"
Mr.. PETRlKEN said few words which were
Mr.. MKENNON voted against the motion to sus-
pend the rules because the resolution could do no
good He felt that his State had been ndelibly dis
graced by the roous proceedings at Harrisburg and
he would prefer 10 see them buried in oblivion. A
discussion would only exaspefate the state OF feeling
The language of the gentleman, (Mr Petriken,)
which he was glad he did not hear, was, he had
understood, of kind which had promoted and en-
| couraged the violence of the mob The Governor
saw the Capitol in the possession ola lawless mob,
and il was his duty to call out troops
Mr.. BEATTY said few words not heard
Mr.. BlDDLE said he understood the decision of
the Chair to be that he could not stale facts but he
could make assertions. He regretted that the
luton was couched in exasperating terms. The
gentleman (Mr. Petriken) said the mob was demo-
cracy. Was democracy defunct now that the mob
hau a.SpeIoeu w dS the only way 10 TeVlVe
cracy to call back the mob2 1t seemed the Govern
ment of Pennsylvania had called out militia to put
down an armed mob who had taken possession Of its
capitol What was wrong here4 When Congress
met in Philadelphia, mob went to the Hall of Con-
gress with insolent demands, but Gen. Washington
sent column Of 500 men to put them down. and
every mob ought to be put down in the same way
Mr.. BEATTY, Of Pennsylvania, commended that
there was no mob in Harrisburg, or had been any,
except in the imagination of the cowardly and
treacherous members Of the legislature who jumped
out othe window because they could not face the peo
pie. The mob, as it was called was an assembage
OF the most respectable and intelligent people in the
State. Nobody considered them as a mob but those
who had been misrulng the State for the last three
years, and who wanted the means of authorizing
,he', laulers Hs not 10 b. as~" here
by the foul epithets which were applied to his
friends. r. ~ ..
The resolutions were then agreed to without d.
vision. ri.
INTERCOURSE WITH HAYTl.
Mr.. GRENNELL and Mr. REED presented seve
raj petitions praying the establishment of diplomatic
intercourse with Hayti
MIR. WISE objected to its reception.
Mr.. ADAMS spoke at length in support of the OBJ
jects Of the petition and in favor OF its reception.
Mr.. WISE replied .-....