Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-05-06
cOrrespOndence of the North American u s Gazette


Correspondence of the North American U s. Gazette
HARRrsBURG, April %.
The session has finally closed houses
having adjourned sine die, at a little before
O'Clock There was much merriment in the
House during the morning. whilst that body
was waiting upon the Senate and the Cover
nor. Many resolutions, which would appear
rather funny in print, aud think, have a de
cided tendency to bring the House into public
disregard, were offered They arose, however
from the feeling of rejoicing and exuItaton
which the members experienced at the idea of
getting away from here, and reaching home
Whenever any member offered resolution
which contained telling hit at some occur
renee of the session, or in relation to some
course of procedure upon the part of particu
lar member the House grew uproariouS with
mirth. Some of the speeches made upon them
were exceedingly rich and a series of attacks
and retortS, Of mental thruSting and parrying
was kept up in a spirit of excellent good humor
and nothing occurred to mar the harmony of
the session.
But the most exciting and interesting affair
which has occurred during the session, was the
debate, and the scenes which followed it during
the session of the House yesterday afternoon
The bill creating the Twenty-seyenth judicial
District, which had passed the House, aud been
amended in the Senate, so as to destroy vii
mot's Judicial district, came back TO the former
body. 1t had been known some time ago that
a ma ioritv of the House had been opposed to
any such project, But it La been known also
that decided majority of the Senate, inclu-
ding Buckalew himself, ha d been opposed to
it. Yet that majority had yielded, and forced
the bill, with the obnoxious amendments,
through the Senate. Not content with that
the outside levers from the Judges district.
headed by Victor Piolctt, and number of the
Senators, led by Buckalew, made most de-
termned onslaught upon the democratic mem
berS Of the House, iu order to get them to
concur in the amendment.
In the morning after the bill passed the
Senate, the friends of Mr.. Wilmot were anx-
iouS to have it brought over and tested at once
They were afraid that delay might weaken
their cause. They knew Buckalew'S great
weight with the members of his own party,
and they Justly dreaded the effect it might
have if left to work for length of time Tho
bill did not come over until the afternoon
When it did come, the friends of the amend
ment were afraid to call the previous question
Mr. Calhoun made the motion to concur. Mr.
Chase, of Susquehanna, one of the scholarly
aud finished gentlemen i'll the House, opened
the debate on the motion to concur, and spoke
at length against it. He was followed by Mr..
Armstrong, of Philadelphia, who had the mag
ing to his sense of right.
learned lawyer and the most lucid reasoner in
= t,n IL, \ tIo
mcnt upon the ground that it was unconstitu-
tional to deprive the people of district of
their right to elect Judge for if this bill
passed instead of having right to elect a
Judge, as they have under existing laws, the
people of Bradford would be deprived of that
privilege for two years and those of Susque-
hanna for eight years Besides, he did not
wish to place the crown of political martyrdom
upon the head of David WilmOt
MesSrS. Calhoun and Owen favored the
motion to concur.
Judge Nil, of Franklin, a leading Demo
crat in the House, also spoke freely and effec
lively against it.
Mr. Mcclure, of Franklin, one of the most
accomplished leaders of the Republicans clos
ed the debate. Whilst he was speaking it was
evident that he was dealing most powerful and
telling blows some of his sentences were very
strong. He declared that if Mr.. Calhoun
returned to the courts of Armstrong County,
having accomplished the overthrow and sever
ance Of that district, he would enter those
courts with his hands stained with judicial
homicide"
Mr. Calhoun fairly wrthed uuder this and
half a dozen other such sentences lie rose
twice to explain, bnt only became the more en-
barraSSed. At last, as the hour Of five APPROACH
cd ana as Mr.. Clnre Secmel TO be growing
the fcrcer in his attack, as it was evident that
if a vote was not had ere that time, the bill
would fall any how Mr. Calhoun sprang to
his feet, and amid much excitement called the
previous question.
Mr.. Mcclure still continued to speak Half
a dozen other members called ont for the or
der Of the day, which was an adjournment at
five, then only five minutes off. Others moved
to adjourn. Twenty men were struggling to
get on the floor. One with deep basso-toned
voice would call ont Mr. Speaker another in
shril tenor would halloo The same thing
Mr.. lmbrie of Beaver, in particularly per
sistcnt in his calls. He has point of order
to raise He catches the eye Of the Speaker.
lie makes his point and the Speaker rules
it against him Mr. Calhoun is still upon hrs
feet demanding the previous question Mr.
Mcclure is still upon his feet He has not
yielded the foDr. He announces that he does
not intend to Glisbustcr against the bill
The Speaker grIntS the previous question
Twelve gentlemen stand up TO sustain it, Mr.
Calhoun announces that this is test vote
Mr. Mcclure receives il as such, and annouuc-
cs that he is ready The clerk begins to call
The hall is crowded almost to Suffocation
one-hall the Senate is in the lIousn. Every man
who has pencil and piece of paper is tallying
the vote for and against the call, as the clerk
announces the names of members Whilst the
first forty or fifty are answered to, the interest