Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-09
NOT ENTIRELY NEW.
Precedent for Speaker Reeds Posi-
tiOn Found in Pennsylvania,
A LITTLE OVER A CENTURY AGO.
Superintendent Luckey Calls Attention to
q Similar Case.
SOME OTHER TALKS OF INTEREST

1.-THE position which Speaker Reed has
taken in governing the House is nothing re-
markable," said Superintendent Luckey
yesterday. "Why, if understand the
question at issue, the Speaker of the House
Of Representatives in Pennsylvania estab-
lished a precedent for such proceed
ings in 1857, at the time when
the constitution was presented to the
State for adoption. was reading an
account the other day of what the Penusyl-
vania Speaker did, in McMasters' History
OF the American People. and was rather
surprised to learn that Speaker Reed is do
ing nothing anomalous, but merely repeat
ing history"
Acting on the suggestion of Superinten-
dent Luckey, and through the kindness of
Miss Macrum, of the Mercantile Library,
copy Of McMasters' History was examined,
and the narrative of the exciting event
read.
Az ANCIENT PRECEDENT.
Congress had prepared the constitution,
and submitted it to the people. The Penn
sylvsnia Legislature was in session at Phil
adelphia, and Clymer, of that city, moved
that convention of the people be called in
8 short time to adopt it. The minority in
the House protested about the shortness OF
the notice. etc., as they wished to appeal to
the people and make the constitution an
issue in the next camp4ign. When the
question was put great excitement prevailed.
What follows can best be told in the graphic
language of Mr.. McMssters, which reads
thus:
1.-The voices of the minority were drowned
by cries of question" and when the
Speaker put it, of the 81 members present
43 voted or and 19 against it. The House
then adjourned until 4 in the afternoon.
1.-The rage of the 10 famed high. 1t was
impossible for them to find words where
with to express their indignation. They
met hastily, declared that it they could not
defeat the attempt to call a convention by
their votes they could by their absence,
gave a solemn pledge not to return to the
House, and kept it.
WOULD NOT COME IN.
"When O'Clock came but As, two more
than those vino had voted for the conven-
tion, were present. This number was less
than a quorum, and till a quorum was as
sembled no business could be done. After
waiting for awhile and no other members
coming in, the Speaker commanded the
Sergeant at Arms to go out and summon
the absent ones. He went, was long while
gone, and when he came back was Ques-
toned at the bar. He had, he said, gone to
the house of one Boyd, had there found
'Wbitehill, Smile, Ants and some other noted
i-Federalists, had summoned them in
the name of the House, and received in re-
ply an answer that they would not obey.
La l.. - !
House till Saturday.
Meanwhile news of what had happened
and the action of the IA seeding members
had spread through the town. All that
evening and until late at night, crowds filed
the taverns and coffee houses, or stood on the
street corners, aDgrily discussing the situa-
tion and forming plans for the morrow. The
antI-Federalists were triumphant and de-
liant The Federalists were much disheart-
ened, some were for coneessiCR But few,
more Jealous than the rest, determined that |
a quorum should be formed, come what
might. Ii two OF the dissenters could not be
persuaded to 60 they should be made to go.
The two chosen for this treatment
were James McCalmont, who sat
for Franklin, and Jacob Miley, who repre-
sented Dauphin. Early on the morning of
Saturday great crowd gathered according
ly about their lodgings, broke open the
doors, laid hold upon them and dragged
them, cursing and struggling, through the
streets TO the State House. There they were
forced into their places and held down in
their seats, with clothes disordered and torn
and faces white with rage
when the roll was called AZ members an
swered to their names. This made quorum
and the House, SO formed, went on with the
business Of the day."