Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-01-13
PENNSYLVANIA LEGISLATURE.

! Constitution
THE HOUSE was called to order by Jacob
Zeigler, Esq, the Clerk of the last House,
whereupon Hon Eli Slifer the Secretary
of the Commonwealth, presented the re-
turns Of the last election for members, which
was read On motion of Mr. Bigham the
House proceeded to an election of Speaker
which resulted in the choice of Henry c.
johnson, of Crawford, on the first ballot, by
a vote of yeas 80, to nays 45. The oath OF
Office was then administered to the newly
elected Speaker by Mr.. Pershing, after
which the members were severally sworn
| and affirmed.
| THE SENATE was called to order by Speak
er Penny, who a nnounced quorum
present-the only absentee being Senator
White of Indiana, After the roll was call
ed by the Clerk, upon the invitation Of the
Speaker the Senators elect presented them
selves before the stand for the purpose of
taking the oath of office Messrs. Hopkins,
Latta, Montgomery and Beardslee, having
/ first asked leave to enter upon record that
they take the oath under protest which
| leave was granted On motion of Mr. Lam
berton, the Senate proceeded to ballot for
Speaker, which resulted as follows:
Messrs. Champneys, Clymer, Connell,
Dunlap, Fleming, Graham. Hoge, House
holder, johnson, Lowry, NJ Candless. Mich
OILS, Ridgeway, Turrell, Wilson and Worth
ington--l6, voted for John p Penny
Messrs Reardslee, Bucher, Donovan,
Glatz, Hopkins, kinsey Lamberton: Latta,
NJ Sherry, Montgomery Reilly, Smith Stark,
Stein, Wallace and Penny, Speater-l6,
voted for Hester Clymer.
Neither of the candidates having received
a majority of votes there was no election. A
ID, Sd, 4th, 5th, ballots indicated the same
result. Various resolutions were then off
cred tending to show that the Senate was
now organized and ready to proceed to bu-
siness but were lost by vote of l6to l6; and
several bills were also read lii place, under
protest of Lamberton and Stein A motion
was then made to proceed TO the considera-
ton of the proposed amendments to the
Constitution, which motion was lost by a
vote of Is to l6-Senator Wallace voting
mo as he stated, because | believe this
Senate is not truly and legally organized, y
and not upon the merits of the bill A 9Th
ballot for speaker was taken with the previ-
Gus result, whereupon motion was made to
elect Clerk. which was also defeated The
| same result was obtained in referance to the
election of State Librarian; A 7th and 8th
ballots were then had forSpeaker without an
election after which the Senate adjourned
SENATE, ID DAY.-The session opened by
reading in place several bills, after which
Mr. Lowry offered the following resolution
WHEREAS, The Union men in the Senate
of Pennsylvania were in clear majority until
one of their number, Major Harry White,
Senator from Indiana, was captured " our
common enemy; therefore, Resolced, That
the patriotism of Harry White shall rot be
taken advantage of to prevent the complete
organization of this body, but that the
Speaker elected at the close of the session
of S63 be recognized as the duly elected
Speaker of the Senate until such time as Sen
ator White shall be released from captivity
or a successor be elected from his Senatorial
district, at which time it would be proper
for the present Speaker to resign and that
a new election for Speaker be held then.
The Senate refused to hear second read
ing Of the resolution by vote of l6 to 16.
Mr. Connell then offered the following
ResoIued, That the Senate having repeat
edly decided by ballot rot to change the
Speaker, it will now proceed with the ordi-
| nary business of the session.
This resolution met the same fate as the
! previous one. A resolution Offering thanks
to Maj Cen Grant and his officers for their
gallant services in liberating the faithful
Union men of East Tennessee from a mill
tary despotism, was also defeated by strict
voting no. A 9th and 10th ballots were
then had for Speaker, but no election.
Mr. Clymer, the candidate of the opposition
to the National Government, then made
the following proposition
That they 1.-THE Union mem shall select,
first, any office within the gift of this SEN
ate we to select the second, they the third
and so on to the end of the list We make
this offer, trusting that its fairness will COM
mend it to the judgmentof this Senate, as it
certainly will commend itself to the judg-
ment of the people of this State. We are
here Is to I6 on this floor. 1t is no fault of
| this side of the Chamber that such state of
affairs exists. 1t is true that one Senator
is absent, etc
| A llth ballot for Speaker was asked for,
but no election was made. Several Senators
then stated that they were not aware of the
resignation of Senator White being received,
Mr.. Clymer having previously stated that