Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1863-04-04
5totc Of tbe Country,
SP f &c II
HON. HESTER CLYNER.
or BERKs COUNTY,
In THE SENATE OF PENNSYLVANIA,
March 6th, 1863.

March 6th, 1868.
On the Joint Resolution rendering the use NJ the
Senate Chamber to Er Governors Johnson and Wright
Mr.. Speaker On this day, at this
hour, in this place, a great issue is on
trial, fraught with interests, not only for
the present, but for the future and if !,
in the decision of this issue, have acted a
part, however uIimportant, I shall here
after look back to this day, TO this hour
and to this place, with feel ngs of no title
qualification.
The issue involved is not one of persons;
it is one of high principle going back to
the foundations of this Government. 1t
is, sir, whether the loyalty Of the citizen
is to be judged Of by his fealty and ad
herenco to an administration, or whether
it is 10 be determined by his fcalty and adj.
herence to the GouernmeM of the United
States.
In order to decide this question, ii is
necessary to present this brief exposition
of the situation Of atfairs--that without a
Constitution there could have been no
Government aud no Union, and that unless
there is fealty and adhcarenco to that
Con stitution, there can be no tue iOyrhp
10 the Government and Union based on it.
That is the issue to be tried to-day. Di .
gul>e 1t as you may-att cmpt to confuse
it for party purposes, party reasons, and
by party chicanery-the issue presented
by every Republican Senator who has
preceded me in this discussion. is that my
loyalty is to be tested, not by any adher-
ence and devotion to the Constitution Of
the United States, but by my adherence
to the atmin' strat,on Of Abraham lincoln
the present occupant OF the Presidcn-
tial char
say to you, sir, I say 10 every Scna-
tor, say it to the people whom | repre-
sent, | say it to the people Of this State,
that there is no such test known to tee
Constitution, nor to any tribunal before
which |. you, they or any one can ever hc
summoned to answer. | repeat it that
the Government is founded upon the Con-
stilution; that the administration is u
mere creature of that Constitution and
that Government; and that where, in de-
fancc of that Constitution and the overn-
ment erected upob it, an admin s,ration
strays from its pri' ciples-s,rays from
the pathways cut by our ancestors through
the OK Of uncertainty and danger then
he is only trHly 1cyas man who uses
every effort to bring back the admin ira
ton to the old beaten path which avoids
the dangers Of fanaticism and error. That
is the question to be tested here and now
i n the vote upon this resolution. That is
the question to be decided aud the people
of this State, outside of these halls, will
SO consider it; and new, as heretofore
appeal to the people from whom spring
all power to sustain nae, and those who
may vote With me in deciding this qucs
lion as best BELTS our Judgment under oul
oaths.
Whati is the question presented 1t il
a proposition to invite Andrew Johnson
the so called Governor of Tennessee, tC
address the people of Pennsylvania from
the Senate chamber of this State. have
various reasons for opposing this propos'
ition. In the first place. | hear boldly
proclaimed that he is not at this hour and
never has been, by the Constitution OF
under the laws, the Governor Of the State
Of Tennessee, except when years ago he
was elected to that Office by the people
l say, .ir, that his appointment by the
President of the United States to that po-
sition was usurpation of power on the
part Of the President, and that there is nc
warrant under the Constitution, no author,
ity in the laws for his appoiGtment and
that every act which he has assumed to
perform by virtue of hi, unconstitutional
and illegal appointment has been in dero-
cation OF the rights of sovereign State,
and in fiat violation of the Constitution o
the United States. I say, sir, further
more, that no such position as Military
Governor oil the State is known TO the
Constitution Of the United States to ap'
point a Military Governor over that State
and that to make such an appointment
was to create the State Of Tennessee {
military province-and that his appoint
ment was made to carry out and subS2rvC
the purposes of the present administration
which is to reduce all the States Of this
Union to the condition Of mere depend
ences Of consolidated oligarchy or dcs
potism. That is my position, SO fa as
concerns this pretended Governor of Ten
nessee. Andrew johnson has not been
for years, and is not now, the Governor
of that State; and | will never recognize
him as such, by voting for this rosou
ton. But. sir, without regard to any
ounst;on of his of};oiol oosit;on 10 A N.
drew johnson as an individual, assuming
that he is rightiully clothed with the robes
of office, and may constitutionally cxer
else the duties Of that high position ever
] then, | say to you, Mr.. Speaker, that
never by my vote will allow man tc
come into these halls and from this place
speak to the people of this great State il
support cf what know to bo illegal, un-
constitutional and tyrannical acts of the