Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1864-03-23


evident intention OF the Republicans,
should the Democrats refuse to take the
oath, to leave their names off the roll,
whereby our opponents would have secu-
red a clear majority of those voting.
After this act Of usurpation the new
Senate, by unanimous vote, adopted a res
olution TO proceed to an election for Spea
ker. If it is not true that the Office was
vacant, las the undersigned contend, why
the necessity to elect Speaker? But un-
der this resolution several ballots were
held on that, the fist day Of our meeting,
each resulting in tie between the Re
publican candidate, Mr.. Penney, and the
! Democratic candidate, Mr.. Clymer. The
Senate adjourned until the next day,when,
after several Intellectual ballots, the Sena-
tor from Berks, Mr.. Clymer, on behalf of
the undersigned, made the following pro-
position OF compromise, viz That the
Republicans should select the Speaker OF
! the Senate, the Democrats the Clerk,
and so alternately until all were filed
! This basis Of settlement the undersigned
considered 10 be Just. 1t was made, not
for the purpose Of securing place or posi-
ton, bat to yindicato a principle it was
precisely the basis Of compromise adopted
in 1855, when the Democrats having an act
ual majority Lalthough not present) were
given the Speaker, the Know Nothings OF
that day (at present Republcansl the
clerk, and SO alternately to the end Of the
list. But this proposition the Republican
Senators Of 1864 refused to accept They
had entered upon usurpation, and they
determined to adhere to it with all it
8 consequences,
During the Protracted struggle which
followed, this offer Of compromise was re
uewed from time to time; it was alway
rejected, and not one proposition tending
to salulion Of the difficulty ever come
+ from the Republican side, save the absur'
( suggestion Of the Senator from Erie, Nj
Q Lowry, that he would vo.o for the Demo
c cratic candidate for Speaker, Provjded eth
:. CT he or some one Qi the undersigned .go.At q
+ gree ncner to ro,e on any party or test question.
=. 1t is thus a matter Of history that tn
/ Republican Senators refused fair an,
lust proposition which, had it Teen acceI
e ted would have organized the Senate o.
Y the second day Of its meeting. They al
r tempt TO justify their conduct on tvs
- grounds. First, that the Senate is ever ol
+ ranized, the Speaker of a former Senat
O being the Speaker Of the subsequent one
: and, Second, that Major White, if present
d would have given them majority.
, We have heretofore exposed the falIac
d Of the first position by reference to th
IS words Of the Constitution, and to the VI
u broken precedents Of seventy years. |
Is addition we will present test which wi
II so clearly expose the unw2rantable an
n unconstitutional nature Of the claim thu
ID no one, however prejudice@, may mistah
At or misunderstood it,.
d. BY the XXIII section, Article lst,
a. the Constitution Of this State, it is prov
v ded that all bills passcctby the Legisi
1g ture and presented TO the Governor f
is his signature, within ten days Of Il
n. final adjournment, shall become laws rj
ey out his signature, unless sent back with i
nd objections) wiLm hrcc doys odtr the M
at meeting.
10 1855 The legislature met on the sccol
mi day of January. The contest for Speak
h was prolonged until the fifth, when t
a Hon. VIM. NJ. Hester Of Bcrks count
he was elected. Upon the sixth, the .tou
nd day after their meeting, the Governor
elk the Commonwealth returned, with his {
IN jeclions, several OF the most importa
in bills passed by the Legislature of 1854
Is If the position Of the Republican Senat
he Of 1861 is correct, viz; tLat the Senate
as always organized and that the Speaker
ate the former Senate is the Speaker OF
Iii new Senate, then those bills OF 1854,
an toed by Governor Bgler on the fourth {
TX of the session Of 1855, are laws notwi
nls standing his yetoes, That this is not
md or at least that none of the eminent Ii
has yers and statesmen who composed 4
'oy. Senate lamong whom we're Price, Buc
lew, Hester and Darsie) so thought,
it'll yluced by the fact that they all voted
'sti- on those votoes as required by the Con
by tu'icn, which they surely would not Ii
INC, done had they been Of opinion they
the been sent in too late. The Senators Of |
lich did not even claim to have even met
the Til they had elected Speaker, much
aud that hy wsrc organised Our view of
les- question is further strengthened by
4 TO act Of 1904, which obviously conlempla
tors the election Of Speaker Of each Hous
ors the beginning Of each session, and requ
in him FIRST to be sworn before be can adn