Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1864-01-13
ORGANIZATION OF THE SENATE
SPEECH OF SENATOR WALLACE.


vuy Gh 1854
Mr. Wallace soid.-ln common with
my brother Senators upon this iloor, am
anxious that the Senate may be organized.
But, srs, we are resting upon a principle
embodied In the government Of which we
are part We believe that precedent,
custom and law-tho organic law itselE-
have fixed this point so clearly that SEN
Rtors cannot Conscientously diiler, In
reply to the Senator from Lancaster let
me ask him why, in all the journals of
past Senatcs, We find that the speaker has
vacated the chair Immediately after the
returns from the several districts had
been read, and before the oath was ad-
ministered? Let mo ask him why the
Republican party OF this Senate met in
Senatorial caucus aud nominated their
candidates for Speaker, clerk, and every
other officer OF the Senate? Let me ask
him why it is that Senators elected since
your election to the Spcakership are to
be disrranchised, and to have no voice in
the organization Of the Senate? Why is
il !hat Republican Senators voted unani-
mously for Il resolution that declared that
| the Constitution required us to elect our
Officers and that this was the proper and
I the legal course? The answer is and
! must be that they interpreted the law as
1--WE did. The history Of the past and the
/ letter of the Constitution, taught them, as
| il teaches Us, that the choice OF Speaker
was our first duty. Why is it, then, that
Senators now insist that the Speaker lives
forever?
It is urged that if the construction con
tended for by us he given, that we would
have no Governor in the event of MS
death before the election of Speaker
This may be 50. This may be c4a,s 0u,is-
Su8; bat such things have occurred be-
fore aud will occur again. Let me ask
in what position we would be if both the
Governor and Speaker Of the Senate were
to die during the vacancy, would this not
also leave us without an Executive? |
cannot see the force of the argument of
the Senator from Lancaster.
We stand upon a position that the
business Of the Senate cannot be proceed
ed with until it is organized that the on
ly business before the Senate is the choice
of its officers. Upon this we have offered
what NC believe 20 be 3 fair and equitable
adjustment.
was sorry to hear an nsnuation thrown
out that Democratic Senators are in com
munication with the rebel government at
Richmond. For my part sir | spurn all
such insnuatious and all such differences
attempted to be drawn from our present
position. Sirs, we are your peers, SEN
ators OF Pennsylvania, and feel that we
have done and will do as much, TO sus-
tain the government as will other Sen
ators upon this floor. For myself and my
fellow Senators we Indignantly throw
from us all such imputations.
The fact asserted 10y the Senator from
ISusquehanna may find its explanation in
I the fact that the Tribune and other Re
publican paTers proclaimed that Senator
| Whites captivity made the Senate q tie
/ | am informed that the papers in Senator
| Whites own district made statements OF
that kind. Senators place themselves
in the position, and pride themselves up
on it, that they are now representing a
majority Of the people Of Pennsylvania 80
Last winter the Senate stood thirteen to
twenty: we now stand sixteen to seven
teen. Three Republican Senators have
given place to Democrats and not one
Democrat has been displaced. The SEN
ator that gives you majority to-day rep
Iresents a Democratic district and was
elected two years ago.
Sir, the majority of the people Of this
Commonwealth upon the election CT Coy
ernor is one thing, and the majority ofthe
people upon the election of Senator is an
other. Members Of this Senate are cleo
ted in districts arranged in accordance
with the Constitution and IL is essential to
a perfect whole TO make up the govern
ment in that way. The true question is,
do Senators upon this floor, each and all
of US, faithfully reflect the political com
plection of our districts? If, in ibis view,
you have majority, you can boast it
If not, te silent.
Desiring that the business Of the Sen
ate may proceed, am for the proposition
l Of the Senotor from Bcrks, and anxious
to elect our officers, yielding all that he
offers; but | believe that the position
. contended for by the other side is at va
! rance with law and custom; that this i;
- a question of principle, involving the
l right Of each body to elect its own officers
| And in times like these am against in
,, novations upon established rules--form
D now becomes substance. am for stand
/ ing by the landmarks of the past, anC
r shall maintain, as a Senator in my place
r the position we have taken.
pGszsTha biuh pricns ruling in the Trni