Smyrna times., 1863-06-18
The Short Legislative Session.

The Legislature met at Dover ON Tuesday
of last week, and as was predicted, had a very
short session. The New Castle men | MON
We're opposed in toto to these adjourned ses-
SionS, and hence voted all the time for ADJOURN
mcnt: the Salisbury interests it is said we're
best served not to press lottery bill lust now.
80 the sycophantS of this cabal also voted for
adjournment, leaving the independent lottery
mcn-those who are in favor of it for what it
is worth to them-insisting OH the continuance
of the session. A scene followed, which is de
scrlbed below as communicated to the Dehr-
'oore journal under date of June 10th
Pursuant to the resolution passed at the last
session the Copperhead Legislature assembled,
yesterday. Attcr prayer by the Chaplain and
calling the roll, both Houses adjourned until
this morning at 10 o clock Before the hour
fixed yesterday for the meeting of the Legisla-
turc this morning. the Copperheads had eau
Gus, when resolution was introduced BY Mr.
Bewey to adjourn until the second Tuesday in
January, which was voted down. The caucus
then adjourned
.At IL clock both Houses convened. y. B.
Smithers, Secretary Of State was admitted in
the House, and presented message from the
Governor, communicating the response of the
States of Kentucky and Missouri to the trca-
sonab le resolutions passed by the Legislature
at Its last session, III relation to our National
affairs. The response of Missouri is patriotic
in its tone, and Just such a one as might have
been expected from the people of that State.
while that from Kentucky is strongly tincturcd
with Coppcrheadism. After reading the doc
uments their further consideration was post
poned until the January session.
After this matter had been disposed of. n
scene Of disorder and confusion ensued, which
beggars description. Mr.. Bewley, Demo
cratic member from Kent, offered Joint reso-
luton that the two Houses adjourn, at II
o clock, until the second Tuesday in January,
which passed bya vote of II yeas to Q nays
The Clerk was directed to present the resolu-
ton to the Senate for concurrence butt ack as
sumed to know more than his master, and re-
fused to comply with the order, alleging infor-
maty i'll its passage. After waiting about a
half hour, Mr.. Gcmmill Offered similar reso-
luton, which passed by vote of twelve yeas.
The Clerk still refused to perform his duty,
when Mr. Duncan moved that the Clerk be di-
rected to transmit it to the Senate for concur
renee therein, which was carried At this
stage Mr.. Pennington, the Clerk, permitted
his vlrtuouS Indignation to get the better of his
Judgment; laid his resignation on the Speaker 5
stand, put on his hat, and suddenly this much
abused and deeply inSulted gentleman, faded
from our vision through the doorway leading
to the Hall of the House. The resignation
was disrespectful in tone, at least to the Dem
Ocratic members, AS the Clerk declared that he
could no longer serve sycOphants and truck
ling partiSans.
the Democratic members, and stigmatized the
charge of sycOphancy as false.
Mr.. Speaker Sorden, left the Chair, strutted
across the floor, placed himself in a Demosthe-
nan attitude, and moved to reconsider the vote
by which the resolution passed. Mr.. Gemmill
reminded the eloquent orator and able presi-
ding officer, that he had voted in the negative,
and could not make motion to RECONSIDER. -
Mr. SOrden then attempted to make motion
of some character, when he was promptly
checked by Mr.. Duncan. Finding himself
foiled at all points, he resumed the Speaker S
Chair.
Mr.. Bcwley moved to proceed to the elec-
ton of Clerk pro tenl-
Mr.. Sorden again rose in his seat and you
must know, Mr.. Editor, that whenever he rises
something is to be done, and directed the Ser
gcant-at~arms te bring the Clerk back.
There was a calm ofsOme ten minutes, when
the Sergeant-at- Arms returned to his post
Several members called for his report, when he
stated that he had waited upon the Clerk and
delivered the message entrusted to him, and
that Mr. Pennington had directed him to in
form the House that he had no answer to make
Mr.. Bewley very properly we think, moved to
accept the resignation, and we regret to say it
was lost, nays II.
Mr.. Williams, of Kent, renewed the motion
to eject a Clerk pro tenn, when it was adopted
and Mr. Stubbs, of Kent was selected
Amid scene Of the widest confusion the
hour of IL arrived, when several members con
tended that the House was adjourned. The
Speaker insisted that il still wanted 20 minutes
of that hour. 1t il said the Speaker altered
his watchtn meet the emergency, While all
this was taking place in the House, the Senate
had unanimously coneurrcd in the resolution.
Subsequently the Senate asked forlthe return