The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1864-01-27
TUE DEADLOCK In THE STATE
SENATE.
LETTER FROM Ex-Gov. PACKER.
WILLl4mspoRr, Pa, Jan. 10, 1854

WILLIamsPoRT, Pa, Jan. l3, 1884
BoE. VIM. Iss-Dear Sir II in
these terrible times The community could
De surprised at any hing which can happen,
they would assuiedly be astounded with
ihe bold and revolutionary attempt, now bs.
ing m ade by the party in power to over
ride the constitution aud TO usurp The pow.
ets OF our State Senate.
Nothing can be palmer than the constl,u.
tional requirement that the General As-
sembly shall meet on the first Tuesday of
January, in every year" and that Men
leach House shall choose iis Speaker, and
other officers Not only is the Senate su-
thorzed and directed TO choose its Speaker.
and The House oi Representatives Ia choose
ds Speaker, but each House, (lhat 10. ereyv
House as II IS constituted when the Gen.
eral Assembly meets, shsI. choose it's
Speaker and other officers. This ba. been
the construction of those sectons of tbs
Constitution which which has Obtained
without interruption, and without question
from any quarter, from the adoption Of the
constitution, in 1890, until The mes,ins of
the General Assembly. in 1904. The Speak.
er of to,Daer :" House" (as each branch of
the Legislature IS denominaled,) only pre.
sides until the credentials OF nev House,
are laid before him. Then he must retire.
His duties have been performed. and hi.
powers are ended. This is no, only sccof.
| ding 10 the constitution. bnt it is in strie,
conformity with The experience of the past.
John Tod, afterwards an eminent Judge
Of the supreme Court Of Pennsylvania, and
one OF the first lawyers in the State, 20 read
the constitution, when, al the meeting Of
the General Assembly, in Dec. 1915. bs
took his SEA, on the floor of the Senate. and
| was reelected TO the chair which be had
lnst vacated He was the Speaker during
| the entire session of lsI4-I6. and held owe,
aud YET he did not dream of holding on to
the chair, when lhs new Senate mel, in tbs
session os 1sl5-I6.
The only instance in which a Speaker
can hold over, * "when the Speaker shall
exercise the Office of Governor,n and that
case is especially provided for by the con-
struton. Recognizing the right OF each
House, at the meeting Of the General Az.
sembly, 10 elect lis own Speaker, the con.
-niuuon qualities that right. and restra:ns
II when the Speaker of The Senate shall
exercise the office OF Governor and pro.
vides for the election of Speaker pro tenn.
pore only, on such occasions. Why do this,
| II The SPeskeL by virtue of bis Office, con.
Hnredl at his discretion, to De Speaker aftsr
ihe meeting OF the new Senate Il vas
iorseen that unless such contingency wefs
J provided for, vacancy would happen. and
the new Senate, By electinz anew Speaker.
would elect new Governor The election
musI be held but the new Speaker, SAYS
the constitution, shall be Speaker, p.o TEN.
/ pore, merely. The presen. nominal Speak.
er IS good lawyer, aud be knsws. that, &C.
cordIng 20 all the rules Of construction, this
! special exception named, in restraint OF the
I election OF Speaker, excludes all other OK.
cepuons, and makes it obligatory on each
new Senate, when the General Assembly
mee's, 10 choose it's Speaker and other off,
GERS" Thus the trainers OF the consitu-
ton themselves, gave il the construction
What right has the retiring Speaker TO
know that the thirty two Senator'S present
could not be trusted TO organize the Senate
Aud how can ii change his position il he
did know il Thirty-two Senators form
very foil Senate. Nlne-;enths of the bnsi.
ness of tha, body is transacted by less
number. II be be the proper Speaker of
the Senate. then there is no vacancy, and
can be no election. Is the present nominal
Speaker TO take that ground : Will he pre-
sumo 10 say that each House, at the meet
ing OF the Geneaal Assembly in 1864, shall
not choose its own Speaker! Nothing 10
urer than that The Senate cannot choose as
Speaker while there is a legitimate Speaker
in The chair II he decide that his powers
and his duties coutinae, then he decides
that there shall be"no election. This, in nv
opinion, is revolutionary, and a fragrant
nsurpation OF power uot justified by the
practice of the past, nor sanctioned by the
constitution, but in manifest derosation of
both.
il is needless for me 10 say 10 you, after
what have written, that heartily approve
the course pursued by those members of
the Senate, who stand by their constitutions
al rights. To DO Otherwise, would be 10
ruuender your manhood.
Iremain, very lfuly yours, SIC.
l WIN F PACKER.
An exchange says thai MIR. Chase is
determined 10 run for the Presidency at