American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-03-23
Resig1atioa OF Speaker Penney.

instant, resigned the Speakership Of the
Pennsylvania Senate, and that he was i'm
me lately re electe was commune Gated tc
our readers at the time by telegraph from
Harrisburg. The object Of that resignl
ton WIS. to show to-the country that the
Union party of the Sta'e could afford tc
wave a question Of prece lent, and even
of law. in ,r LEI that the work of legisla-
ton, which hld 50 lon been delayel'hy
the f,ctiou5ne3 - of the Cope he I'd Semi
tors. m III be un lcrtaken and expelitel |.
We have just received Mr.. Penney S
speech on the occasion of his resignation
of the $, elkc'sh p and at once lay it be-
fore our rel les 1t contains re&Ume of
all the ia IS invD!ve.l in the long contro-
versy With VIII ,ch his name VIII always be
ass pciate l.-I1ItS G0:ctte.
The SPEAKER The Chtir asks leave
of the Senrlc to make Il personal explana-
ton. e
Leave eng granted,
The s &c ,ker continued: FELLOW SEN
AruRS: At the last session, by the partI-
ality of the Sen rte, | was cecte to fill the
chtir of the Speaker Since that time |
have en- leavorc to discharge its duties
with q conscientious regard to the oath hat
| took when | assumed the Office. If |
hive flilc Il in that en- lelvJr, it has not
been a failure resulting from any mention
to wrest from any member on the floor a
single privilege to which he is by right en-
title |. | have continue to discharge
those duties during the present session; /;
an ath ~ gh during the discussion on the
question of organic ltion, have listened
to many things that perhaps appeared
harsh toward myself personally, yet have
rece.vel NJ discourtcsy from any member
of which | have to complain. As have'
thus far sat silent listener to the discus
sion1 regarding organization it is perhaps
proper that | should define at this time
the cxtct position that | have occupied
during the present session.
came here as the Speakerof the body,
duly electe AMI duly qualified; l called
the Senate to order, according to the GUS
tom AMI practice of the Senate always |
believed it to be my duty to act as the
Speaker of the Senate in its organization;
| believe it to be my duty when the Sen
ate W Is orgIn eel to continue to act as its
Spe,ke until my succe 'sor was. elected.
Ialpptel that opinion Of Wy duty under
the obligations of my oath without con-
sutltion with any one, ami may say, in
justification of myself, that that opinion
wasn't taken upon impulse, or upon any
party view Of the circumstances un Ter
which the Senate WAS about to meet.
hive ha NJ new views on that question:
[ have always believed that under the
Constitution, the Senate was permanent
9rrtniz ltion. make 81 by the Constitution,
an nece 'sarily sofor the permanency and
pepetuty of the Government. When /
took the oath of Office | assumed its re-
syonsib;lities Ampng those filling the
Executive chair, in the case Of vacancy
there.
Coming into the Senate at the com
mencement of this session, clothed by you
W tn the authority to act as its Speaker,
sworn to discharge those duties that the
Constitution devolvel upon me, came
here with the clelrest conviction, which
h.s not been unsettled by anything that
has transpire during the session and CAN
not be unsettled, that it WIS my duty to
preside until the Senate by its choice elect,
,el some one to take my place. | believe
that without that construction OF the Con-
. stitu.ion, the provision that III kes the Sen
ate permanent body, with two-thirds oI
its members always in Office and qualified
TO act, would be bur farce, AMI that the
mere accident that has occurred this ses
sion, for time depriving one district o
its representation and the consequent fail
hre to chose Spe lker, ght leave the
State completely disorganized, without /
Governor, without Senate, and without
authority anywhere to illany vacancy tha
might occur.
Permit me to review the position of af
fairs at the commencement of the presen
session. The national Government wu
still engaged in the fearful struggle witt
citizens an States that had drifted int
rebellion. upon the false idea that the Gov
ernment ha | NJ power to protect and pre-
scrve itsel from tissolutiaa. 1t was call
G upon AMI demanding the steady, firm
and energetic support Of the Government