The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1864-02-05
4 (From the Patriot and Union Jan. i3th)
STATEMENT OF THE DEMOCRATIC
SENATORS.

SiA1EMENI UF IHE UEMUInAlIt
SENATORS.
The following statement was presented to the
who asked that It might be entered on the Journ-
al, and SO become part 6f the proceedings
This privilege, always accorded in parliamenta-
ry bodies, was refused by the Jacobins OF the
Senate, for the reason, we presume, that it
clearly establishes the falsity of the position
they have assumed. We commend it to our
readers as a clear and unanswersble vindIcation
Of the course of Democratic Senators. Hav-
ing sworn to support the Constitution, 'they
cannot yield to revolutionary proceeding,
which sets at defiance both law and precedent:
The undersigned Senators beg leave to submit
the following statement. IN vindication OF their
action curing the present contest for the Speak
ership Of the Senate:
In i1.aay respects this contest has no precedent
in the history Of the Commonwealth. Its i'm
portance to those parties anxious fur legislation
as well as to those engaged in the struggle, seems
to justify if it does not demand, fair statement
of the case for the consideration of the public.
Tie Senate is composed Of thirty-three mem
be-s. Thirty-two were present at the time FIX
ed in the Consultation for their meeting, and
one & prisoner Of war in the rebel States. OF
those present at the previous baoting for Speak
| er, sixteen are Democrats and sixteen are Re-
| publicans. Before the Senate met on the 5th
| inst, each party held q Caucus and nominated
candidate for Speaker and Clerk. 4 number
| of ballots were had up to the adjournment on
Friday last, for Speaker which resulted in a tie
! vote each time
| The Republicans anticipating, before the Sem
ate met this result, conceived the idea of retain
| ing their friends in office by adhering to the
party organization of the preceding session un-
der the plea that the Senate has perpetual
Reorganization" and to carry out theft schemes,
the last Speaker took the chair called the Senate
to order, the returns Of the election of Senators
were read, the clerks were directed TO call the
roll and the Speaker announced that the Sena-
tors elect would come forward and be qualified.
The four new Democratic Senators presented a
written protest against the right of a Speaker of
the past session to qualify them before he is e.
lected and duly qualified himself. Still by tax
| ing the oath of office in that manner, and their
names; were placed upon the roll, and their
FRIGHT TO vote unquestioned, which would not
have, been the case had shey declined to quail
ify at that time A resolution was then ofer-
ed, and unanimously adopted, TO proceed to an
election for Speaker, and number Of unsuc-
lcessful ballots were taken under the resolution.
+, The Republican Senators, finding il. impossi-
be to elect their late Speaker proceeded to force
an acknowledgment Of their perpetual organi-
zation," by introducing many matters of legis-
ation distinct from that pertaining to the requr-
bed annual organization of the Senate, and the
sixteen Democratic Senators voted against such
improper proceeding, and defeated it. Thus
the contest continued during the session Of last
week; and now much longer it will continue
no one seems disposed to foretell.
! This conflict Of opinion between Senators
should be adjusted at the earliest possible mo-
ment, and when the Republican side of the Sem
ate scoff at any compromise they must submit
to the laws and precedents which have directed
all past organizations Of tlis body or be regard
ed as usurpcrs of place and powcr-disregard-
ing alike the acts of their predecessors, the or
ganic law and the best interests Of the State.
! The ninth section of article first of the Con-
stitution says: Each house shall choose
speaker and other officers" This is imperative
and has never been disregarded until now by
this attempt of the Republican officers to hold
over. The words teach house are repeated in
the Constitution several times, and mean each
branch of the Legislature. This "house" is
composed of old and new nlemhers.and it was
not intended by the trainers of the Constitu-
ton, nor claimed by any previous Senate, that
old officers should preside over new Senate
| and new members. The Constitution docs not
say that s.each house, shall choose its Speaker
annually, but that is its meaning, and such has
been the practice under it for seventy odd years.
| TO divest This novel plea of perpetual or
ganization" Of every pretence OF right or Gus
tom on the part ofits authors, the Senate Journ-
ais have been carefully examined back to the
year 1894, and the result of the examination
is stated briefly as follows;
| From 1894 to 1864 no late SoeaKe, has ever
attempted TO qualify nstc Senators, and no Spcak-
e,' has administered or oaM to any Senator's elect
| until quahGcd as Speaker hanse!f. AT every an
nual meeting of the Senate, all the officers were
elected or reelected or qualified in due form by
the new Speaker.
From 1894 to 1864, The chair ,Oas alWays ra-
cant during ballotings for Speaker, and the Journ-
ais show that the successful candidate "took The
CHAIR" ard was ''conducted to il" by other SEN
ators, made his Acknowledgements, and invited
some old Senator TO qualify him.
From 1894 to 1864, all the Senators voted
for Speaker in alphabetical order, without the
official designation, except in 1928, when fhom-
as Burnside voted as 'elate Speaker |" but he
was not candidate for reelection.
| From 1904 to 1925, in the Journals made
up during the annual organizations Of the Sem
| ate, he is designated as Slate Speaker" and
from that time to the present he is designated
as Speaker until the motion to proceed to
elect q Speaker prevails, when he is referred to
as 'shaving vacated the chair"
| In several instances there was number of
ballots for Speaker, some of which were tic,
the chair always vacant, and the late Speaker
voting with other Senators in alphabetical or
der In 1912 there were thirty-ive ballots for
F., Speaker, and much time consumed by the con