The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1866-01-12
HARRIsRrRG. Jan. 9. 1866.


the Legislature assembled in their re-
spective halls oneweek ago to-day. The
Senate proceeded to business without
organization, the Speaker elected at the
last session usurping the chair. This
was done in order to crowd down the
throats of the Democratic Senators the
doctrines Of the Republican" Senators
that the Senate is body perpetually
organized. Among the business trans
acted prior to the election of speaker,
was the administration of the oath Of
office to the new Senators The Dem
ocratic Senators newly elected, took the
oath under protest, denying the right
Of the eX-speaker to administer it. Af-
ter this petty exhibition of partizan ty-
ranny ON the part of the Republican"
Senators, the eX-speaker, Hon DAVID
FLEMING, was reelected. Hon. VIM.
HOPKINS, of Washington, was the
Democratic nominee. No purer and
few ADLER legislators than VIM. Hop
kins, ever graced any legislative body.
But, alas! virtue and ability count aS
nothing in these degenerate times,
when castintO the balance as against par
ty interest and public plunder. G. w.
Hamersly Of Germantown, was re-elec-
ted clerk. He has made an efficient
officer. The Senate stands politically,
Democrats, 13; Republicans" ," 20; Re
publican majority, :. The leaders on
the Democratic side are Messrs. CIymer,
Wallace and Hopkins Hon. HESTER
CLYAIER, Of Berks, has served some
five or six years in the Senate, always
taking leading part on all important
questions. He is in the prime Of life
and is a man Of great energy and deci-
sion Of character. AS a debater he is
quick and very plausible, his manner
as a speaker being Of a very agreeable
character. He is popular with his fel-
low Senators, as we'll as with his cOnstit-
uents, the latter always giving him a
large vote ahead Of his party, when a
candidate. Hon. W. \. WALLACE, Of
Clearfeld, was elected to the Senate in
1862 and was reelected last fall. He is,
by all odds, the best lawyer in the Sen
ate. As a sharp, clear and thorough
reasonerh he has few superiors anywhere.
He is at present chairman Of the Dem
ocratic State Committee and now that
he will have time TO prepare for the
campaign (which was not the ease last
/ fall | feel assured Of Democratic sue
/ cess under his leadership. Higher
/ honOrs are in store for Mr.. Wallace if
! true merit can command them. OF
Senator Hopkins | have already spo-
ken. He has been in public life many
| years. He was elected speaker of
the House Of Representative at the
| time of the 'BuckshOt War" when
| Thaddcus Stevens and his compeers
| We're compelled to beat a retreat from
the Hall, by jumping from the Win
I dOWs. He was also at one time Canal
Commissioner. His present term as
/ Senator dates from 1863 and will expire
next fall. Among the younger Demo-
cratic Senators, Mr.. LATTA, Of West
m0reland, and Mr.. DONOVAN Of Phila-
delphia, are prominent. | can hardly
determine WHO'S the leader on the "Re-
I publican" side Of the Senate. | should
/ think, however, that the leadership lies
| between Mr.. BINGHAM, of Allegheny,
and Mr.. HALL, Of Blair. The former
/ is a man of considerable legislative eX-
perience and a tolerably well-posted
lawyer The latter is facilc in debate
| and a good tactician. The seat of Mr..
/ DUNCAN, Democrat, Senator elect from
/ the Franklin and Adams district, is
/ contested by his opponent in the can
vasS, Mr.. McConaughy. The grounds on
which the latter bases his contest, are
! that Mr.. Duncan received the votes of
/ deserters from the military service of
/ the United States and that votes were
east for him lMcConaughyj by soldiers
/ from the district, in the service in Tex
| as, and that when the deserters' ballots
shall be deducted from Mr. Duncan's
vote and the votes Of the soldiers in
| Texas added to his the contestant's)
/ it will be shown that he tMcConaughyl
received a majority Of the vote cast in
/ the district. So far a. the Texas soldier
vote is concerned, it is clear that it is
/ fraudulent. The Republicans" them
selves concede that the returns were
! forged. Mr.. Duncan, therefore, has
nothing to fear from that source, The
other ground of contest, the votes of
| deserters) cannot be maintained if the
committee before whom this case is to
be tried, have any regard for the Con-
stitutiOn of the State, or have sufficient
| common sense to perceive the difficult
ties to which the view of Mr.. McCon-
aughy and his counsel, if carried out,
would lead Although this committee
is composed of six Republicans" and
| only one Democrat, | cannot believe
that Mr.. Duncan will be Ousted upon
the grounds of which | have spoken.
cannot believe that so good a lawyer
as Senator Bigham, so honest a man as
Senator Lowry, so fair man as Sena-
tor WorthingtOn and so conscientious a
man as Senator Graham. will hermit