The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1883-07-25
THE DEMOCRACY ARlAIGIED |!
SPEECH OF HON. A. j. CoLBoRN.
Delivered in the House eofReprc-enta-
tives on Thursday, july H. 1883, on
the Proposition 10 Consider on Sec
ond Reading the Bill Appropriating
Money To Pay the Expenses of the
Extra Session.

reason why this bill should not be
taken up and considered on second
reading now. The gentleman IRON
Nenango [Mr. Hasson] has advanc-
ed no reason whatever, and, MI.
Speaker. protest against that SIDE
uf the House claiming that they
possess all the wisdom, the virtue,
honesty and prudence there are IN
,he world. Now, Mr. Speaker, If the
object is to hold this bill over the
Republican side Of the House and
over the Republican Senate as
threat to compel US to do what we
believe is wrong, they will hold us
here until Gabriel's trumpet blows.
Mr.. Speaker, we are just as deslrous
of making a fair and honest appor-
tionment as the gentlemen on the
other side of the House. lCrles OF
"ohl ohi'1 They can bawl-let
them howl we have heard them
howl before we viii hear them
howl hereafter.
Now, Mr.. Speaker, there is no ne
cessity of trying TO shirk the respon-
sibility, and we are willing TO take
the responsibility. We are here in
the discharge of a duty under our
oaths and the Constitution, and that
we propose to discharge as We un-
derstand our duty and as we under
stand the obligation of our oaths
and we do not propose to be bull
dozed or coerced by the gentleman
from Venango[ Mr. Hassonl or any
body else. Now, Mr.. Speaker, the
people will decide this question the
people will put the responsibility Of
this extraordinary session upon the
party upon whom it should rest.
1t is all idle for US to talk about
escaping it. 1t is all idle to talk
about holding this appropriation bill
over anybody as a threat; we are
perfectly willing to stand upon the
record we have made and let it rest
with the Judgment ofthe people; let
as meet the Issue like men let us
come up to an ultimatum let us
make our propositiOn-the falrest
that we believe we are authorized to
make under our oaths and the Con-
stitution-and upon that let us stand
and if we cannot agree let US quit
and 90 home like men, and our
constituents will thankus for it.
Now, Mr.. Speaker, we believe we
we have now offered a fair, Just
and an honest apportionment of this
State into Congressional, Senatorial
and Representative districts. l
speak advisedly when | say we have
Offered the ultimatum. | say we
have offered all we can offer under
our oaths and under the Constitu-
ton. and that is our ultimatum and
you NAV stay here month after
month you may stay here until
next January or until next Decem-
Der a year, and we do not propose to
oe bulldozed or coerced by any
power that can be brought to bear
upon us. We know our duty we
are going to perform our duty, and
we are not going to be driven one
inch by any power upon this earth.
The people are behind US they are
not asleep. They are judging our
actions, and they are Judging yours.
Let US go before the people and JUS
tify our course if we can if we can
not, let US go down. If this side of
the House cannot justify its course
of procedure before the people, it
will go down, and it ought to 20
down. Now, are we to stay here
week after week when there is moth
ing TO do? Are We to stay here in
the hope of receiving ten dollars a
day for the time we spend here and
waste, and worse than waste? Why,
Mr.. Speaker, the gentleman talks
about fair apportionment. Here
is a resolution that was agreed upon
by the conference committee:
" Resolred, That in the apportion-
ment of the Congressional districts
the average majority of the districts
of fone party shall be as nearly equal
the average majority of those Of the
other party as practicable the
only resolution that was agreed TO
in that conference committee.
Mr.. Furth.-Will the gentleman
read the next resolution -?
Mr.. Colborn.-The next resolu-
ton was not adopted. 1t was
offered
Mr.. Furtb.-Why was it not
adopted 3?
Mr.. Colborn.-Because it was
three to three Laughter on the
Democratic side. but here is a reso.
luton that was agreed to. Laugh as
long as you please. say there were
a number of resolutions offered, the
vote on which stood three to three
but here is a resolution which was
offered and unanimously adopted
by the conference committee. Under
that resolution when you come to
figure to get the majority of the two
parties as nearly equal as possible
what is the result ?
10 Dem districts give Dem. msj. of.........s47l
IL districts majority ot.-...--.. 4, %,
II districts a majority yOf....................372
Is Rep. districts will give Rep. maj. off, 53i
!. districts majority Northumberland 20.
lt districts majority Off,. 10;
Mr.. Crawford.-The gentleman
has made the assertion that he de-
sires to live up to the Constitution.
i desire to ask him whether he has
read section 25, article 8, of the Con.
stitution, which says that "wher
the General Assembly shall be con
vened in special session, there
shall be no legislation upon subjects
other than those designated in the