Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1864-01-08

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tecting the ,utegrity Of the ocEsfnmeat. sof ~
verv nnrnose II coercing and suppresaing rebsl
Hon The disco, -eIy vas made BY the late Cnie
E.acrtivs of tha .1at;ou, and made fcr the nrs
tims in the history Of the Governnent, tina
va had really no goytvnment, that there va
no Dover In tho Constitution TO insure the exc
cution OF the laws; and therefore no viiolIl
forgot, or wilfuliy perverted, his ostn Q, oncs
He said that he was sworn 70 see tnet sns ~ n
we're faithfully executed Jhea ~ ~. ~
oath administered to the Chief kxecotsye y ~,
nation, undG the Coostitusioo Of the = oi.s.
States. To protect, defend, and support tn'
Constitution Of the United States, md to "a
thst the laws were executed, wss oaly one Of
many Incidents of the Executive power. What
. the case nov In Pennsylvania Why, sir, l
heard Il rumored by very distinguished gen
tleman who occupied high position 10 this
State, that the very moment the Senate met
there would be an end to all organization.
What would be the result Of that doctfinef It
d nothing more than Carrying out the doctrine
of the late Administration in reference to the
Constitution of the United States. 1t 10 virtually
promulgating the heresy, that the Constellation
contains within ftself the elements Of ifs own
destruction. Now, what is specified In case
of this kind by the Constitution Of Penn
sylvanisi The Speaker lives perpetually
during his term Of Office. Why does he
live perpstuslly, Mr.. Speaker Because, 1t
the Governor dies, as was sa.d by the Senators
from Erie and susquehsDnA, and by the Se0a-
tor from Butler, unless their Is q Speaker of the
Senate to fill the vacancy in the Governorship,
the Government Of the State IL at IN end.
In the consideration of this question We are
led to believe from the position assumed by
the gentlemen on the other side, that they have
further object in view. Why, sir, the inau-
guration of the Governor depends upon the
fact of the Speaker Of the Senate being per-
petual officer.
/ do not want to refer at any length to the
precedeots which have already been adverted
to, and may be pardoned q casual reference to
them. The first to which reference was made,
that of 1855, was precedent Of courtesy and
maqpanimity and the Senator from Beiks has
mistaken the position of Mr.. Darsie upon that
question, because, sir, upon looking at the
Journal you will find Messrs. Crabb, Darsie, etc /,
voting for James Skinner. That was alter the
26th ballot, and 1t was on the 9th vote for
Speaker that Mr.. Darsle rose aud made state
ment, as will appear By the Legislative Journal,
to the effect that really and truly the other side
OF the House. if all tho members were present,
were entitled to the organization. HoH much
stronger is our own case at this time. when one
Of our Senators engaged in this glorious strug-
gle for his country, and for the life of the uniop
and the existence of free Institutions. is confined
In loathsome dungeon
From the Information that has reached Us
concerning the condition of affairs In the terri
tory of the rebellion we are constrained to be-
Iieve that q more revolving and oppressive
tyranny than that Of the rebel government
docs not ex ist In the civilized world. We
have learned that our fellow citizens whom the
fortune Of war has placed In the hands OF the
enemy arc upon the verge Of starvation; and
further the evidence Of brutality to their pris-
oners the part of the enemy are constantly accu-
mulating. might mention for instance the
captivity and sufsIings OF o 1t. Col. ofcAvalry,
whose case was brought to my notice He was
the son of distinguished gentlemAA In Phtls.
dslphia, we'll known to the Speaker and mem
bers of this body While In the hands OF tho
rebels they treated him like dog, giving him
not even Q blanket; and Upon reaching home In
weak and emaciated condition. hts recovery
was for many weeks extremely doubtful.
Now, cir, If there could be any case that
would appeal to tho courtesy and magma
nimity Of the Senate, 1t seeEs to mo
that this Ia such . case, and that II ID one
which presents to gentlemen on the other side
an opportunity to acquire for themselves Q
great deal of credit, more particularly when
We reflect that ct the last election the preeoot
Governor of Pennsylvania vas reelected BY .
large majority after Q most exciting contest
during which all the great questions Of the day
were discussed. -
There Ia another provision of the Constitution
by which find this matter 90 clear and expi-
rst khnt n \.
sons can differ about it, When the Speaker Of
the Senate becomes Governor Of the State, BY
the death or the resignation of the Governor
elect, then q Speaker pro tempore Is elected. He
is not . Speaker elect, but Speaker pro tenn
. Speaker for the time that the Speaker would
have held the Office, showing that It Is per-
petuAl office. This explicit provision Is suf-
ficient, In my opinion, 10 convince any one
that the Office Of Speaker Of the Senate b e.
seotially perpetual.
The speaker then explained the respective
positions of his own and the other side OF the
aud demonstrated the ultimate effect
of each He contendsd that In the formation
Of any statute or constitution Il Was impera-
lively required that such construction should
be made Is would carry into effect the purpose
for which II was framed. -
Mr.. WALLACE. In common with cur brother
Senators on this side Of the floor we arc anxious
10 proceed to business. We sre desirous that
the Senate may he organized. But, sir, Weare
now resting, a. We believe, on principle that
Is embodied In the Government Of which 70
are part. We believe that precedent, cuatom
and lsw-yss, the organic Law have fixed this
point 60 clearly aud 90 distinctly that Senators
cannot conscientiously differ.
In reply to what the Senator Who has Just
taken his seat (Mr. CsAxPHEys) has aid, Let me
Ask him Why In al the pages Of all the journals
Of the past We find that the Speaker elect at the
close Of the last session has vacated the chair
after the reading Of the returns of
NE election of Senator'S elect ut the preceding
slections Let me ask him why, sir, the Repub-
lican party of this Senate, composed Of Senators
elect ct the last session, (severL Of whom bad
no voice in the election of yourself to the DO
sition you oocupyD met in caucus and ,nomi-
mated . candidate for Speaker, Clerk and every
other Office In this Senates Lst me ask him
why they assentod to tho passage of . resolu-
ton that declared explicitly and distinctly that
1t was the duty Of this Senate to proceed to elect
. Speaker of the bodyi Ifit Vas not true that
that was the proper and legal course, Why did
they assent to the passage Of chat resolution!
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