Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1883-10-11
A Strong Protest.

On Friday last the democratic MEM
bers OF the Pennsylvania Senate
through Senator Wallace, offered the
following protest, which was placed up
on record. 1t is an able state paper
and portrays in clear, strong language
the revolutionary course of the repab-
lican majority of the Senate on the
question of apportionmelt, The pro-
test deserves to be read and studied by
all parties
A PROTEST OF DEMOCRATIC SENATOR'S.
A quorum of the senate beng present, Tues
day, October ., 1888 the minority thereof were
i'm their seats and deSirouS of proceeding with
the public business for which this extra session
was called when the majority IN obedience 10
orders of party caucus adjourned the senate,
refused to allow us to he heard and forbade any
action TO be taken.
Aaainst this proceeding and against similar
adSournmcntS from Tuesday until Friday and
from Friday until Tuesday without the tranSac-
tion of any business, we do soemnly protest rs
violation as well of the rights of senator's as of
their constituents, and in disregard of the COM
ity of intercourse that should exist between the
senate aud the house Of representatives.
We do most Solcmnly protest such action rs
revolutionary, for II defeats the orderly process
eS of government.
IL is n fragrant neglect Of our duty 10 transact
the public business for which we were convened.
II closes the mouth of those chosen To SEATS IN
The senate and denies representation 10 those
who selected Them.
II refuses to permit discussion Of the grave
question at issue, and substitutes caucus dlcta-
tion for the forum of free speech.
It forbidS comparison OF views between Sena-
tors upon measures looking to apportionments,
prevents compromise and insists upon The iron
rule OF party discipline.
IL shuts the door of the senate chamber against
committeeS Of conference and other parliament
airy modes of communication between the Sen-
ate and its co-eQual body, the house OF repre-
SentatiVeS.
IL reverSes the prccedents of more than one
hundred and fifty years.
il jeOpardizeS the entire delegation from the
state in the next congress.
II tends TO multiply the relations OF the state
to the federal government. and il carried TO It's
logical sequence by majority OF the states
would paraliZe ii not destroy the government i.
IL ignores the sworn duty made mandate Dy
the state constitution and refuses even 10 try 10
perform that duty.
ItIetainS In full! force partisan apportionments
based upon the population of 1870. and denies
lust representation to the cnangeu cohultiOn ol
many p0pulOus localities.
Ii violates the letter of at least one provision
OF the state constitution and the meaning ana
spirit or a good many others.
II is SubverSive OF that distribution OF The
poWerS of government which the constitution
has ordained and eSta bliShcd fIr II tends 10 ac-
cuInulate in the senate an undue share oi pow
er. and
Its adoption places the other departments OF
the government under senatorial dictation and
removes all questions out OF the domain oI ar
gument and reason.
For these reasons we do most earnestly, pro
teSG against the action of the senate and ask
that this, our protest, may be placed upon It's
Journal
The protest was signed by w. Henry Sutton,
w. NJ. Nelson, Alexander Patton. jeremiah ).
Hess, Eckley b. Coke, III. j. HumeS VIM. /.
Wallace. :. {. Wagner, John ID. Biddis, j. IL.
Ross, Edward IL. Shearsr. G.. ~ Nande -rift. jr.,
VIM w. Hart, John &. Hall, james Gay Gordon,
s. w. Wolverton, Charles +. King.