The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1864-03-25

g. 1904, on Me 0W 70 PToc7~e co"tPeaS"Hoh J0r
t,..s astained from rebel ra,ds etc.
sThs legal views which hold, in connection,
:. believe, with this side Of the House, in re.
,.rd TO the resolution offered by the gentleman
som Washington, which it is sought to in.
,oroorate in the bill now before the House, were
~ sIsarly and fully expressed the other evening,
Nv NV friend from Luzerne, (Mr. Flakes that
4 would be u work Of supererogation for
me 10 re.state them at this juncture Of this dis
custom. But sir, it may not be altogether i'm
uroper, or inopportune, to add u few thoughts
70 the able aud elaborate argument Of the gen.
dsman to whom have just referred,
The resolution OF the gentleman from Washing
Ion speaks ofthe rebel invasion, which occurred
las, sumner, rs having been superinduced by
aconnlvance and encouragement ON the part of
citizens Of this Commonwealth. Now, submit, +,
Mr.. Speaker, whether such 'connivance and
encouragement as is alluded to in this resolution
does mean said and comfort" to the enemy
And if it does not mean said and comfort to
the enemy, does it not mean ''treasoni' And
i means "treason," why do not the gentlemen
who say that they have knowledge, orthat they
are induced to believe, that this rebel invasion
was superinduced by the ''connvance and en-.
couragement" of citizens of Pennsylvania, make
Information before the proper authorities, and
have those persons whom they say they believe
ODE TINS guilty, prosecuted for treason accord
ing to the laws of the countryl
Mr.. Speaker, the gentleman from Luzerne o.
mitted, in his discussion Of this question, one
thing which ought to have been referred to.
Ihave reference to that clause of the Constitu-
ton of the State Of Pennsylvania, which declares
'that no erson shall be att:Ented of treason or
felony by the Legislature" Now this resolution
proposes to erect a board of appraisers and to
confer upon them the power of trying persons
for ''disioyalty," which, if it means anything,
when applied TO our form of government, must
mean treason" 1t is proposed, then, by this
resolution, to confer upon this board ofapprais-
ers the power of trying treason and attaining
Of treason--a power expressly prohibited by the
Constitution of Pennsylvania from exercise by
the Legislature of the State. 1t is attempted to
invest c,eature of the Legislature with pow
gwhich is denied to the Legislature itself Hence,
Mr. Speaker Itake it that this resolution isclear-
ly in violation Of the Constitution-that it is in
deroxation of the fundamental law of the State,
and that we, the members Of this House, having
taken solemn oath to support the Constitution
ofPennsylvania, will violate that oath by voting
for the resolution Of the gentleman from Wash.
ington.
lido not intend, sir, as said before, to argue
this question from legal point of view. The
impolicy of adopting this resolution at this time
should weigh as heavily against it as its uncon
stitutionaliiy. If you pass it as it stands, yor
gay to the world that the people Of Penusyva
there are persons here in sympathy with the re-
bellion; you say to the British Parliament-you
say to the Corps kgislaht of France-that there
are people here who, by their ''connivance ant
encouragement" Of the rebellion, superinducet
the invasion of Pennsylvania by the rebel army
My friend from Chester (Mr. Smith) spoke o
casting odium upon the State, when We under
took, some weeks ago, to investigate the condi
.tion of the military camps about this city. !
was said by my honorable friend that tennsyl
vania would be disgraced if it were to be ac
knowledged that our soldiers had been neglected
by the military authorities Of the Commonwealth
Now I submit to the gentlemen on the othe
side of the House who took that position then
whether it would not be better now to think u
bout this matter of "casting odiu,n, upon th
State of Pennsylvania"
But, 1 suppose, Mr.. Speaker, that il is no, ex
pected that should make an argument upo
this resolution, or upon the bill before the House
That does not seem to be the order Of these dis
cussions. General Politics seems to be in CON
mand whenever we assemble to consider this res
Olution. 1t has been said that this debate la
taken very wide scope-has been Of yer
rambling character. There is no doubt abol
it, 1t has gone into the very deepest slough {
political deviltry--if may use the expression
Now, Mr.. Speaker, what is the meaning @
the term ''loyaltyl" Webster accepts the def
milton. of Clarendon, who says that it is s'f
deity to prince or sovereign, husband or lo'
err" Our friends ON the other side Of the Hous
have nd doubt looked at this definition of til
word, and they imagine that the President {
the United States, to whom they say we mus
be s.loyai," is the Prince of darkness orthe Kin
of Dahomey, beca use of the peculiar tendenc
of his measures iowa rds a certain color.
Then. as to s.idelity to husband," althoug
rdo not know that Abraham Lincoln, the Pre-
ident of the United States, has married this nj
tion, vet the other side Of the House, by the tel
or Of their argument, would have us believe th'
he has. have no doubt, that after Will
when the present President of the United Stat
comes to t'shufile off this mortal coil" it will
test of sioyalty" as to whether the people
this nation will sacrifice themselves upon b
tomb, as the Hindoo widow is required to in
molate herself upon the funeralpyre of her hu
band. Laughter.l
: Then, again, as to s'fidelity 10 lover" thel
ia hardly member upon this floor who will 50
that the President of the United States is q To-
er Of this nation. Some ofthe gentlmen on Il
other side might say so, but hardly in good fait