Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1866-03-09
THE coPPERHEAD NOMINATION.

4
The telegraph brings US the news that
Hester Clymer, was nominated on Monday
by the Copperhead Convention assembled
in Harrisburg, for Governor. Mr.. Clymer
has been a member of the PENNSYLVANIA
Senate throughout the war, and has signali-
zed his legislative career by voting and
speaking on every occasion that offered,
against the Government in its efforts to put
down the stakeholder rebellion. Such
nomination was naturally to be expected
from them. Nothing can better exhibit the
unrepentant, unchastened temper of the
Copperhead party. After passing resolu-
tons of fulsome fattery of the President of
the United States, they have nominated a
candidate, who denounced Andrew John
son in violent terms, when his friends asked
for him the poor privilege of addressing
the Pennsylvania Legislature in behalf of
the Union. We find room for the following
extract from the speech of Mr.. Clymer in
the Senate on that occasion In view of
passing events the speech of the Copperhead
candidate deserves perusal
'What is the question presented? Tt is
q proposition to invite Andrew johnson,
the so-called Governor of Tennessee, to ad-
dress the people of Pennsylvania from the
Senate chamber of this State. / have vari-
Gus reasons for opposing this proposition.
In the first place, | here boldly proclaim
that he is not, at this hour, and never has
been by the Constitution or under the laws,
the Governor of the State of Tennessee,
except when years ago he was elected to
| that office by the people. | say, sir, that
his appointment by the President of the
United States to that position, was usur-
patton of power on the part of the Presi-
dent, and that there is no warrant under
the Constitution, no authority in the laws
for his appointment. And that very act
which he has assumed to perform by virtue
| of his unconstitutional and illegal appoint
ment, has been in derogation Of the rights
| of a sovereign State and in fiat violation of
the Constitution of the United States. |
say, sir, furthermore, that no such position
as military Governor of State is known to
the Constitution of the United States that
there is nothing in that instrument which
authorizes the President Of the United
States to appoint military Governor of any
State, and that to make such an appoint
ment was to create the State of Tennessee
a military province, and that his appoint
ment was made to carry out and subserve
the purposes of the present Administra-
ton, which is to reduce all the States of
| this Union to the condition of mere depen-
denotes of consolidated .olgarehy OF des-
potism That is my position, SO far as con-
Germs this pretended Governor of Tennes-
| see. AdreW johnson has not been for
years, and is not now the Governor of that
State; and will never recognize him as
such by voting for this resolution. But, sir,
1 without regard to any question of his official
| position, take Andrew johnson as an indi-
Yidual, assuming that he is rightfllly cloth
ed with the robes of Office, and may consti-
tutionally exercise the duties of that high
position; even then / say to yeu, Mr.
Speaker, that | never, by my vote, win al
low man to come into these halls and from
this place speak to the people of this great
State in support of what | know TO be ille-
gal, unconstitutional and tyrannieal acts Of
the Federal Government | know, sir, that
Andrew Sohnson has gone as far as the far
thest, and is ready to go still farther, to de-
stroy, to uprOot, to uptuTn every principle
upon which this great and good Govern.
ment of ours was founded. know that he
has bent with suppliaRt knee before the
throne of power / know that, for pelf OF
some other consideration, he has suceumbed
to every measure presented to him for ap-
proval or disapproval; and I know that in
speeches delivered insthe capital Of other
States he has enunciated doctrines which.
if adopted by the people of the great North
would be subVersIve of Individual freedom
and personal right. Sir, BY no vote Of
mine can any person holding such views
address the people of Pennsylvania in this
chamber. Never, sir, never, so long as
have right to forbid him
| Again
But, IN. this particular case, | have my
distinct personal and general reasons for
voting against hearing Andrew johnson in
| these halls They may not be satisfactory
to others; they are, sir, to myself and thev
| viii be to those whom / represent. Sir +
do not recognize Andrew johnson as the
Governor Of Tennessee. | say that he as
sunes that title without warrant Of the
Constitution, or warrant under the laws Of
i the United States. say that his appoint
ment to conduct tie affairs of the State Of
Tennessee, was but portion of that gener-
al system by which it is attempted to con
solidate this Government and make it one
great machine to be welded by the power
Of ONE MAN.