Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1864-01-20
from the llanisbufe Patriot ana Union
brATEMRNT OF ri HE DEMOCRATIC
SENATORS

~ v" '"' "OulUali anu 80 become a
pmtoi The proceedings. This privilege
always accorded in parliamentary bodies
"sreiused 10y the Jacoiins ol tho Senate
ior the reason, we presume, that ii clear
" establishes the iolsity of the position
they have assumed. We commend il L.
our readers as clear and unanswerablc
NIndicaIlon OF The course Of Democratic
Senators. Having sworn to support the
Constitution, they cannot yield to u roy.
oIu'iohary proceeding which sells at def.
ance boIh law and precedent:
lhe undersigned senators beg leave 10
submit the following statement, IN yindl-
Gallon ol lhel. action during the present
contest iUr Speakership Of the Senate:
( In many respects lhls contest has no
precedent IN the history Of the Common
wealth. It's Importance to those parties
anxious for legislation, as we'll as t. those
engaged IN the struggle, seems 10 Justify,
II 1t does not denlan4, u ialr statement
OF me case Tor Tie consideration Of the
pubic.
Ihe Senate Is composed of thirty-three
memOers. IAWty-lwo were present at the
llme liked IN The Constitution for their
meeting, and one a prisoner OF war IN the
rebel States. Vi lLosc present at The pre-
vlous bIIioung for Speaker, sixteen are
Democrats, and sixteen are Republicans.
before the Senate met on the Jlh INST.
tsch party ned cauCas and nominated Il
candidate lore Speaker aud Clerk. 4
number OF ballots were had ap to the ad-
JouinmenI on Friday last, lur Speaker.
winch resulted IN a tie vote each time,
Inc NepuOllnans anticipating, before
'he Senate met, this result, conceived
the Iuea oi retaining their friends in Office
Dy auhering 10 the patty organization OF
Inc preceding session, under The plea that
Tue senate has perpetual organization;
ana ~ carry out The scheme, the late
speaker TOOK the Cnalr, called The Seuate
~ ORDER the returns Of The election OF
senators were read, the clerks were dlrec-
tea " call the Ioll, and tAe Speaker an
hOuuceu that the Senators eject would
come forward aud be qualified. The four
new Democratic Senators presented Il
written protest against tho right of a
speaker OF lhe past session 10 quaIiy them
DcIore he is reelected and duly qualified
himself. Su.l, by taking the OATH ol Office
IN that manner, their names were placed
upon the roll. and their right 10 vote is
uuquestloued, which would not have been
the case had they declined to quahiy at
lhat time. A resolution was then offered,
and unanimously adopted, to proceed ~ an
election for Speaker, and number of uu-
ouccessiu! ballots were taken, under the
resolution.
Iue Republican Senators, finding it ian
possible 10 re-e,eCt their late Speaker pro
cCeded to force AN acknowledgment or
IAGr "perpetuSl organization" 10y intro-
.duclng many matters of legislation dis
lncL from that pertaining to the required
annual organization Of the Senate. and
the sixteen Democratic Senators voted a.
gainst such improper proceeding, and de-
'o"'va 1t. huS the contest continued
during the session of last week; and how
much longer it will continue no one seems
disposed TO toretell.
lhis conflict Of opinion between Sens
tors should be adjusted at the earliest DOS
S.Die moment, aud when the Republican
alde Of the Senate scnlf at any COmpro.
mise they must submit To the laws and
precedento which have directed all past
organizations of this body, or be rerardad
as usurpers of place and powers disro,
gardinr alike the act Of their nrodnce..
sors, the organic law and the 5e., interc. "a
of tho State.
The ninth section Of article first Of the
Constitution SAYS leach house shan cLooc
a Speaker and other officers" Thi. !,
imperative and has never been disrer,rd.
ed until now by this attcmpt Of The Re-
publican officers to hold over. The word.
"each house" are repeoted in tho Can't
tuition several times ard moan ooch
branch Of the legislature This ..bonso"
is composed orold and new mcmIers and
il was not intended by the frar,nrs ~ u,o
Constitution. nor claimed by any nrsyions
Senate. that old officers sbouid rrssidc
over a new Senate and new men,bars
Tie Constitution docs rot saw tLot ..eocb
house" shall choose IFS Sneaker onn,,aN
INIT that is its moarin, and sucb has boo,,
the practice under il for seventy odd wears
TO diyest this novel nleo Of nnerEe,nol
of every r,otenss oI richt
II = =,