The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-01-29
THE PENNSYLVANIA REBELLION.

Star n series of letters on the late outrageous pro-
ceedngs at Harrisburg. In his first letter, after
giving an account OF tho election in Philadelphia
County, stating The law on the subject OF election
returns and contested seats, and showing that in
the organization Of the House, It was impossible
according law to regard any returns except those
made TO the Secretary Of the Commonwealth,-he
then proce eds to give the following account of
what occurred, when it was attempted to organize
the Legislature.
Among the members of the House then present,
were Chester Butler and John Sturdevant of Luzer-
ne; and John Montelius of Union County, making
in all, fifty two members Of the House, and aquo-
rum in the Senate.
| On the LIST Tuesday (he 4th) Of December, the
members elect assembled in the Hall ofthe House
| of Representatives. An unusual number of people
filed The galleries and lobby; several OF OF the ais
les, and the open space in front OF The Speakers
chair, were choaked up with rude looking strangers
and the chairs of several of the members were
rounded with rough, brawny DULLES. MY seat had
the honor of being guarded by eight or ten Of the
most desperate brawlers of kensngton and Spring
Garden, who thrust themselves determinedy
against my chair aud when | left it occasionally,
ono OF them occupied 1t until my return Most OF
them wore coats with outside pockets in which
| their hands generally thrust; and, us l after
wards satisfactorily ascerianed, were armed with
double bnrrellcd pistols, Bowie Knives, and dirks.
Men of similar description and similarly accouter-
| ed, occupied the platform around the Speakers
chair they seemed to be under the guidance OF
Jack Savage, j. j. McCahen, Thomas C. Miller,
| VIM Leiper, Lewis CorryclI, Charles Pray and
others, when several of my friends, seeingsmy dan
ger, endeavored to introduces themselves between
these ruffans and my chair Pray "a claiming MEM
Der from the county OF Philadelphia,) came up
and whispered to them "tO stand close and be reG-
dy"
! At the usual hour the Secretary of the Common
wealth appeared, and announced TO the members
elect that he delivered to them "the official re-
turns of the late election for members of the House
of Representatives" He desposited Them on the
Speakers chair and Withdrew. member elect
then proposed that they should be opened and read;
to which all agreed. The clerk of the last House,
who present, was the person designated to
open and read them. This is usually the case, al
though he is no longer in office, having gone out
with the House that elected him on the preceding
October. But having experience, he is generally
selected for this purpose. He did proceed 10 open
and read the returns, until he reached the County
of Philadelphia (being near the first) Upon their
being opened, Mr. Pray and pulled from his
pocket, what he said certified copy Of tho
true return, alleging that the one should be read.
| Thos. s. Smith, of the city of Philadelphia, rose
and objected to reading any papers but the returns
I furnished by the Secretary of the Commonwealth;
declaring that as the House not organiZedSca--
pable of voting or examining any contested re-
turn, nothing could be done until Speaker was
elected, and the members sworn in upon the re-
turns officially furnished. That he hoped mono
who thought that the legal mode would violate tho
law by voting Mr. Hopkns's proposition.
The Clerk, however, asked the gentleman If he
should read both returns some said eyes, and he
did read them. After he had finished reading all
the returns, | rose and stated Gn subsance) that IL
difference Of opinion as to the legal mode Of organ
izing the House, likely to arise but as this
was government of laws, trusted no difficulties
would arise to disturb orderly proceedings. If
either party erred in it's judgement of the law, that
error could be peaceably corrected by the proper
tribunals. With those tribunals we were willing
10 trust case; and hoped our opponents would
see The propriey Of following the same course, and
doing nothing disturb the peace or sully the hon
or of tae Commonwealth. Tina: would propose
,I,,, a, llp
Speaker and thn, the names OF those members re-
turned 10y the Secretary should be called. II any
gentleman thought any other mode legal, they
would call such names as they pleased, aud II IN so
doing two Speakers should happen to be chosen
they certainly won be cortc"us enough to find
room the Speakers platform until the law deci-
ded between them ] then named tsllers Mr..
Watts and Mr. Zeilin, and asked the gentlemen if
they agreed, and they answered affirmativeiy,
and the teers went tn the Speaker desk d called
the names Of all the members returned ~ the Sec
retary-fity two OF them voted for Speaker-sev-
era others answering but not naming any candidate
for Speaker.
Gen. Cunningham was declared duly elected, and
took the chair. Then for the first time in LegIs-
latve Hall, that | have ever witnessed, a large
number of persons in the gallery lobby and Hall,
Kissed.
The oath was administered To the Speaker by Mr.
Smith, ~ by him TO all the members wh" presentea
themselves to take i.-52 including himself. Mo-
tons made & committees appointed TO inform
the Senate and Governor of our organ'Zation-and
IN order to prevent if possible any collision with
the other body then organizing, resolution offered
by Mr. Crabb passed, fixing our time Of
meeting 10 o'clock, A. NJ and l,2 o'clock, p.
Nj. on the alternate days of the week, having
suggested to the other gentlemen to accommodate
their meeting to these hours, We then adjourned
to meet the next day at 9 2 o'clock. p. Nj.
While the House thus organizing, Mr. Hop
kins moved that the names of the Van Buren, men
contained in Che return furnished by Pray should
be added to the list of members, and they be
considered members.
The question was put; and forty eight members
elect, AND a large number of the '.Peopc scattered
through the House, voted "aye"-and the clerk
said It was carried, and installed Fray ana ms as
after in calling the to elect Speaker called
them, and not the members officially returned Tor
the county.
The 4S who did not vote for Mr. Cunningham,
and the eight added above, proceeded to the
elecl ion and MIR Hnnkins was elected SNEAKER