Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1855-04-07

UNIFIED srArEs SENATOR.
On the second Tuesday Of last February,
the Legislature Of this State went into joint
Convention for the purpose Of electing a
United States Senator, to all the place Of
Hon. JAMES CoopER, whose term expired on
the 4th inst, The Convention, after t,co un-
successful ballotings, adjourned to meet
again on the 9th OF February, and according
y on that day the Convention again assem-
oled. Three more ballots were had, when q
resolution was adopted bya majority Of one,
sdlourning the Convention until the first
Tuesday in October last. That this result
was obtained In order to defeat the election
OF Senator at the present session Of the
Legislature is clearly indicated by the open
avowals Of member while the resolution for
the hnal adjournment Of the Legislature was
under consideration, and II is on this question
we propose to soy few words.
Independent Of the question Of who should
or should not be selected to represent the
State Of Pennsylvania in the United States
Senate, it is matter of serious consideration
whether plain and simple duty has been
performed by the present Legislature, i'm
posed on II by the Constitution and the laws.
The fact that but fire ballots in oil were had.
exhibits the hot haste in which the question
weaving anxiety to get rid OF question: the
decision Of which might interfere with the
ulterior objects. But will the people be
satisfied with such trifing? Will they be
content with the merest attempt to perform
duty every consideration of public policy
required should be performedY In every
State in the Union, where United States
Senators were to be elected the balottings
in no instance were no less thon ffy in num-
Der, while in this State the Legislature bal
lots fre times, and then concludes there is no
chance of agreement Suppose, for example.
q jury empannelled to decide matter in
controversy would make five unsuccessful at
tempts to agree and report the same to the
court, could any man conclude the court
would dismiss the juryP They would be sent
back to their room, and directedto make such
efforts in the premises as would remove all
hope that a decision by them could be effect
ted. The Legislature has made but an effort
to perform duty incumbent upon them, and
the trifling manner Of its disposition exhibits
the fact that the desire to postpone the ques-
tion was paramount to q willingness for
agreement.
Some time ago joint resolutions were re-
ported in the Senate authorizing new Con-
vention, and we firmly believe they were in
Just conformity with the will Of the people.
We admit they do not meet the wishes OF
demagogues, for with them the public inter-
ests have but little influence but the great
mass of the people, who are uninfuenceq by
considerations other than those of public
policy, require that the present Legislature
should as least act in such manner as would
indicate that all hope Of being able TO come
to any decision Of the question IS removed.
Such course il seems to us, is due to the
people. They have looked to the Legisla-
ture for the performance OF high and inn
portant trust, and the childish manner IN
which the question has been disposed OF by
the Legislature, is not at all creditable So
far as we are concerned, We care not who may
be selected. The Known othings have the
entire control Of the lower branch, and
most decided majority in joint Convention.
They were elected by the people to perform
the duty of electing United States Senator,
and to return home without doing it, is
lamentable proof that unanimity is least to be
found where it is most expected. We have
no idea the resolutions calling new Con-
vention will pass the senate. There is not
only too much wire-working going on TO per-
nit such result, but the friends Of the va
rious candidates for the Office have become
too much embittered against each other to
sanction renewal of the controversy.
The Senate passed q resolution fixing the
| eth Of April as the day for final adjournment.
This resolution coming up in the House was
amended so as to fix the Oath of April. Mr..
| CUMMINGS then offered an amendment to the
amend nent that the Legislature adjourn to
the fist Iuesday in October nert, the day to
which the joint Convention adjourned. The
object of this amendment is apparent Mem
bers were willing in joint Convention to ad-
| journ to day certain, and it is hard to con-
ceive why these same men should refuse to
adjourn the Legislature to the same time.
Resolutions are not without their objects
The resolution adjourning the Convention to
the first Tuesday in October, was intended
either as an indefinite postponement Of the
election Of United States Senator, or that
another attempt was TO be made to elect on
that day. Under the amendment offered by
Mr.. CUMMINGS, the House will be called
upon to say what the real intention Of the
| Convention was in adiourning, and as they
decide the people will be enabled to judge
understandingly Of that which is yet in
doubt.
We adhere to our opinion, that the pas
sage Of resolution adiourning the Legisa-
ture sine die supsrsedes the resolution Of the
Convent on to adjourn until the first Tues
day in October next, and this for reasons
which We stated some weeks ago. Hence We
regard the amendment OF Mr.. CUMMINGS o
test question. by which the sense of the
Legislature will be obtained in regard to the
election of United States Senator, and
whether or not it shall be left to the decision
of the next Legislature.-De Democratic Union.
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| PENNSYLVANIA LEGIsLATURE.