Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1866-08-22
BIOGRAPHY OF HESTER CLYMER.

Hester Clymer was born In Berks
Pennsylvania, in the year io2h
of respectable parentage. Ills grand
father, George Clymer, was one OF the
sirnors of the Declaration Of lndepend
ence. He had the benefit OF liberal
education, studied law, and was admitted
to practice at the Reading bar.
Nothing was heard of him in public
life until the year 1850, when he COM
menced his political career by running
for the Legislature On the Wing ticket
in Rerks county. OF course he was not
elected. lie, however, ran behind Zen.
W.p. II. Keim, the Whig candiaate for
Congress, 1909 votes.
He remained Whig until 1886, when
he Joined the Democratic ranks.
In 1863 he ran for the State Senate
on the Democratic ticket, to fill vacancy;
and he has represented his eOnaty in that
position for the last six years.
Tie Leg.sI,stiee Record, Of this period,
gill be searched in vain for any evidence
that Mr. C!ymer was Identified with any
measures Of great or public importance
It shows him only as taking part in or
binary or local legislation, except when 1t
became necessary to speak or vote on the
great questions involved in the maintain
anea of the national authority against the
revolutionary attempts Of the seeding
/ States. Ga all such question lie was in
variably in sympathy with the rebellion
! But let the Record speak for him.
On the 18th day Of April, 1861 the
day Q. the rebel assault upon Fort Sumter
he opposed and voted against the bill for
armipg the State.-.Sse Legislature Rec
ord Jor 1861, pages S43. ., Dc.
On the I5th Of April, 1861, after the
news Of the fall Of Sumter had been re-
ccived, and the Northern heart had been
fired by this insult to the national flag
NJ. Clymer, with his five disloyai col
leagues, entered on the Journal of the
| Senate their solemn protest against the
passage Of the bill for arming the State
! .Cse Legj,sldttce Record TOR 1861, page
/ 902-3.
In the session of 1862, during th(
dark days OF :he Republic, and when re
verses hal overtakea her armies, Mr.
Clymer voted against sustaining them il
the field, by voting against the joint reso
latioas of the Legislature to provide fo'
the collection of the direct tax levied b.
the Uuited States.-See Legislatiee Rec
ord tor 1862, pages 1915.
On the 9th and 10th Of April, 1868
on the consideration and firal passage 0
the bill to authorize those in the mi!itdr,
and naval service Of the United States tl
; vote, he voted with his Democratic col
= leagues against every sectioa.-Saaae
paye sos.
In TIE session OF 1864, on the 9Jh c
March, upon tie joint resolutions pro?oa
ing On amendment to the Constitution au
tho.izius the soldiers to vote, Dir, Ciyme
being present dodged; and in the after
noou Of the same day, having asked leav
to record his vote, the Senate rofused.-
See Legislative Reconl, 1861, 335-2+1
And later in the session, when Ii;
vas introduced to carry this ameudmea
= into effect, Mr. C!ymer not only spok
agains: it. bat with his twelve Democrat
= colleagues voted against it,-See Legd
= ltttee Recora, 1864, page 800.
c During the session cf 1868 Mr. CIJ
r.er voted against joint resolutions in +.
e vor of law to define and punish Treason
IS able ofIenses.-Legtslatjce Record 1856;
e page 204-S.
: During same session he voted again
r the bill to legaiizc the payment Of boGl
ties to volunteers This was Oh the eH
OF the invasion Of the State, and b.
three months before the battle Of Getty
burg.-Lcgislatige Record .jor 1868 pay
809-11.
y, On the G,h of March, 1868, Mr.. Cll
= mer opposed giving Andrew johnson
then Governor Of Tennessee, the prislle5
= of speaking at the Capitol of Pennsyiv
~ MIA on behalf Of the loyal men OF Il
' South. lie denounced him as '!saIPe
charged him with 'uptwaing eVery PR
" ciple on gaich this gocernnlent as Joun'
- ed :" nth haeing "5ent the suPPhG
> knee before tie throne Of po''erj;" al
that. 'for pe!f or some other c0"s'ae
alton" he bad yielded to tie measures
n the Government. He further spoke
,e him as mere hireiing IF Federal pa
N ronqge and po'eef. ."-Legis'0tlse Ree0'
Of 1868, pages 1867.