Cr ettrted. and looking on ihoncehe of which
Mro ate about to attempt a description, with
out any mahifetatidji of 'impatience, until
slottly before the adjournment.
Departing from the rulo it proceeding
which has obtained for many years lit the
titTiato Charles I). Penrose, who had been
Vetccl speaker 6f the Senate, prior to the
adjournment of thfc't body in tho spring of
18.18, assumed the chair as presiding ofli-t-dr,
at 3 o'clock P. M. Tho object of this
"departure is obvious it was part fat ho
$hin..of which We havo before spokch, and
the intent to prevent the nowy elected
tacinbers from either sneakimr or voting on
motions to be proposed,' before a new clec-
.! r j " 1 . .. .-. v,. i , "j
uuu mr speaKcr, was eviueni. oomo ins
content st this course wjs manifested by
Messrs Myers and Fraley, old members,
but the expression of it was immediately
oileneed by the speaker's hammer. It was
now perfectly evident to all, that the
'object of the speaker was to prevent any
difrussion oftho propriety of his course or
any interference with a previously arranged
plan for 'so organizing the senate as to pre
clude all action On the part of members sup
posed to be hostile to tire views of the speak
er and his friends.
'fhe Secretary of the Commonwealth
"haying brought in what he called the official
Veturn of members elect, including the mi
nority returns of tho county of Philadelphia,
but exclusive oftho true returns, which we
iiave shown you were regularly and legally
"tiled in the, 'office of the secretary. The
clerk was directed to call ovci the names of
the Senators already sworn, thatis, tiro sen
ators being members of the last session, and
excluding nil the newly elected members.
This beiug done-, tho clerk was further di
Tectod to read over the returns of elections
of new members. When he came to the
return from the county of Philadelphia, cer
tifying that James Hanna and William
"Wagner were elected, Mr. Brown of the
county, who received, at least, a majority
"of five hundred votes over Mh Hanna, of
fered to the chair a certified copy of the le
gal return, which had been received by the
secretary of state, but withheld by him from
'the 6enato. This the chair refused to touch;
Hedging that he could receive no paper re
lative to this subject, except such as tho
secretary chose to "send. Thus; again, did
"Thomas Hi Bdrrbwcs, by his usurDation bT
power, defeat the right of the democratic
members to their seats. In illustration of
'the merely partizan feeling which governed
the secretary thioughout these proceedings,
fcnd the gross inconsistencies, into which
tho indulgence of this unworthy passion
ic)l him, it may be mentioned that by the
"only legal refurfl in his office, certified by a
'majority of tire Senatorial return judges,
Messrs Frbw and , Ever, democrats, from
Ihe 8th senatorial district, composed of the
'counties tf Huntingdon-, Mifflin, Juniata,
Union and Perry, were, beyond question,
"entitled to their seats. Tq defeat this right,
certified copies Of the returns frdm all the
counties composing the eighth district, com
prisinglhe c66nty bT Huntingdon, which
uod beeti rej'etfed by the rettrrn judges for
gross frauds alleged to have "been practised
at several election districts, Was procured
and filed in the Secretary's bfficev With
hese, by law the Secretary had nothing
toilo. He could not know them, he could
not in any vay recognize thetn. And yet
the man, who refused to send to the Senate
and the House, legal returns of the election
in the county of Philadelphia, because those
jetufns proved that democrats' were elected,
received lht'6 his office and sent to the Sert
"nte, certificates from a Prothonotury's office;
lodged in his hahds,againstalllaw"and form
of law, to defeat, if it might be, tho right of
Vx . ci . . .j ; t. -i . t"
-jjemocranc ocnaiura m iuhu wieir seais, in
'truth, so far hds this machhlatibn been car
ried, thai the 'Senate stooped td receive cer
tificates utterly irregular aim upon them
exclude democratic Senators, and but a few
"minutes after negatived a motion made by
Mr. Carpenter of Westmoreland, calling on
the Secretary to send to the Senate the ma
jority return from the county of Philadel
phia, list upon that return it might have
Been compelled to receive Messrs, Drown
and Stevenson, the democratic members e
lect. This was decided by a strict party
vote, on a call of the yeas and nays the
federalists all voting against the motion
the democrats for it. That the Senate had
poVerto call 'for the paper is confessed;
that under the circumstances it was its dutv
Ho do bo, is so manifest, that any argument
to prove it would be superfluous; that it re
fused to execute thi3 duty, in ordef to carry
out.ho foredetormination of the majority to
swear in Messrs. Hanna and Wagner, with
out rpgard to the ""light and. the truth,''
will, as we proceed, be further demonstra
ted, After tllo rejection of Mr. Carpenter's
motion, the new members, including Messrs.
xiauna anu wagnor, were caned on oy trie
Snsakcr tdtako lite oaths. At this itinc
ttuc, Mr. Rogers oFBdcks interposed not
i,i a disorderly manner1 as has been alleged
but temperately and courteously stating
thai fio nem tn his hand an authenticated
paper being the certified majriritv returns
horn the codftty or Philadelphia, which
showed lnconttfsfibly, that Messrs. Hanna
and Wagner werenot -ejected; and he there
fore pretested atjainU'their beinjr sworn in
as members of thfc Senate. He offered the
paper to the areejitanre of the Senate, and
Was proceeding 'to address "it, Vhen ho was
eaWfi.tl i(V nrrler. nerenintorllv. bV tllR Sneak.
eri who devilled that the paper- should not-
Ijo received. At the moment Mr, Kogers
was interrupted by tho call to order, seve
fvt the spectator, who had boen highly
exciltd by the arbitrary proceedings of the
majority, aud the manifest partiality of tho
Speakl-r, urged by the impulscjof tho fo
ment uttered some disorderly cries of "hear
him," but thesis were in an instant "silenced
and order restored. A motion was now
made by Mr. Myers arid Fraily that the
swearing In of Messrs". Hanna and W.agner
be postponed for the present; It, will ho
recollected that similar motion had been
before sustained by tho majority, in the.
case of the Senators from tho eighth disj
trict) on the alleged ground of uncertainty
and Irregularity in tho returns. Tho mo
tion of Mr. Myers was advocated by Mr.
Fntlerton. the onlv ttiember of the federal
party in that body-, who had indepondedco'
enough to spurn from him tho degrading
party shackles which had been imposed on
all the rest. He pointed out the fact that
the return, under which Messrs. Hanna and
Wagner claimed to be members wat), on its
very face irregular, partial, and impeifect
comprising but seven districts of seventem,
of which number it was known Philadelphia
County was composed, and signed but by,
six return judges. He urged feelingly and
forcibly upon the Senate to pause and re
fleet ere it took the step accepting the gen
tlemen named in that return as silting mem
bers, without further investigation. Mr.
F. was answered by Mr. Pearson a federal
member from Mercer. With thti statute
book lying before him, or within his imme
diate reach, containing the public laws of
Pennsylvania, by some of which tho couri
ty of Philadelphia is divided into seventeen
election districts, the Senator argued if ar
gument it can be called that the Senate
could not know that Philadelphia county
tontained more than seven election din
trxttx nail, that the return on their table
furnished evidence that contained nomore
ana irt ilic absence oj the other proof mem
bers icejrebotMd Id takeit as true.
Will it be believed that, upon such a rea
son as this, for none other was given a
majority of Pennsylvania senators could bo
found so ignorant or so corrupt, as to reject
the motion for postponement pending before
them 1 Yot so it was. The motion of Mr.
Myers w'rts decided by another party vote
on a call of the yeas and nays. Every fed
eral member, with tho exception of Mr.
Fullertnn, Voting against it. During the
progress of the dinussioii) Messrs iJcll of
Chester and Coplan of Fayelte; democrats,
who had been called as members to vote,
and did vote for speaker, attempted to ad
dress the Senate. They were instantly and
peremplorily forbidden to speak, and togeth
er with all the other new members, exclu
ded from the vote taken on this highly im
portant cuesiion. In fact, up to this mo
ment, Hie most harrassing courso under a
show of courtesy, was pursued by the speak
er towards those democratic members who
sought to speak upon the topics which agi
tated the Senate.
But the decision was made the blow
was'struck the severest.it is believed.ever
yet directed against tho elective franchise
in Pensylvaillai and there, in the sacred
chamber of the senate and in the face of an
assembled mullitnde, many of whom were
acquainted with the facts of the case.Messrs.
Uannrt and Wagner who had notoriously
received but a minority of the votes of the
freemen of the cdnuty of Philadelnhia.
were sworn in as members of the Senate
representing the county of Philadelphia.
Aiier mis, mr. mown ot the county ob
tained leave to speak, He addressed the
Senate In a speech replete with feeling, and
espresslvd 'of deep indignation After he
had concluded die Senate adjourned;
During Mr. Brown's addiess much dis
order occurred in the gallery; and after, the
adjournment Of the Senate, but not before,
ll.H . 1 i il. : . r . I I t
mo wuu wuiv pusscssion or uie cnamoerj
but soon after dispersed;
Under no combiiiatidri of circumsiane'es,
short of those constituting actual and neces
sary revolution, can we justify the exhibi
tiOri of tumult in our Halls of legislation.
Wb protest against it as calculated to des
troy all, freedom of discussion and delibera
tion. But the question may bo asked rvilh
propriety. Is it to be wondered at that a
spirited and Intelligent people, goaded into
indiscretion by in dbt of gross injustice
perpetrated under their very oyes, should
permit to escape theifi si disorderly expres
sion of excited feeling.
This popular tumult, short lived as il was,
was immediately seized on as" a pretext by
the Executive of the commonwealth for is
suing a proclamation calculaied to increase,
rather than allay any extitement vfjifcli
might exist, calling upon the military force
of the commdnwealth to hold themselves,
in Instant 'readiness to repair to the scat of
government; and now, in pursuance of that
proolamaiion and the orders issued under it
falsey suggesting that blood had been 6hed,
a body.of armed men marched from the ci
ty of Philadelphia how occupies the peace
ful capital 'of the state. Wb say peaceful
for wo assert unhesitatingly, that for three
days prior to the arrival of these troops, no
town in Pensylvunia rodd be more quiet
and orderly than wad Harrisburg. What
tho result of this extraordinary step may
be no man can foretell; but we may be pep
mitted to hopo that this last sad blunder,
committed by an administration whose
whotd courso might be denominated a
'Cbr'rlcdy dr Errors," if it were not for the
serious results flowing from ils mistakes,
may not bfe productive of the effect wb have
too natch reason to apprehend.
In touclusion, we beg leave to assure
you, that since tho qommenccirfent'of the
uuhappy differences which convulse the.leg
iilntiro body, overy effort lies been mad
by us to bring around reconciliation on
such terms as reasonably olight4 to havb
accepted, Theso have been heretofqre re
jected.. In tho discharge of tho duty wo
owo to, ourselVes and you, we shall perse
vcro in these efforts, until Ml hopo of the
adjustment of difficulties be lost.
We are, fellow citizens,
Yours, &c.
W. T. Rorrers.
Thomas S. Bell;
Jrlenry Myers',
a
a'muel Miller,
MlchVel Sjivdef,
"Wm. F. Coplain
E. Kingsbury, Jrl
Samuel L. Carpenter,
Charles Frailcy,
James Caldwell,
Members of the Senate,
Wm. Hopkins, Speaker,
Samuel Stroheckcr,
William M'Kinstry,
Henry Longaker,
C. Foster
Miles N, Carpenter,
Charles Chandler Jr.
KoberlE. James,
II. Broadhead Jr.
T-. II. Biittain,
Adam Schoencr,
James 11. Snowdon;
W. B; Anderson,
John W. Nesbit,
Samuel Penrose,
Thomas J. Heston,
Lewis U; Cole,
William Andrews,
Samuel Fegely;
W. Reynolds;
E. W. Hamlin;
James Woodburn;
0. II. Laverty,
Mwtin Shearer,
Jbs'e'pli Douglas,
diaries 1), Jones,
Vm-. (Sorgas,
Jacob Work,
M. W.Coolbauch, '
' Charles Evans-,
B. Crispin,
Abraham Hill,
John Park,
Charles W. Heginsi
Levi Hogo;
G. Dare,
"Wm. Mortmor;
William P. Wilcox;
Jacob S. Yost;
John Hill,
Abraham Hclfcnstien;
William Field,
Strokes L. Roberts,
Charles Pray,
Thomas C. McElwee,
Iiorert Lovo,
R. P. Flenniken,
John W. Ryan,
Martin Loy,
Michael Hitter,
1.
James Kerr,
William Colt,
D. F. Barstow,
Jacob Walborn;
Frederick Smith;
J. Bruner,
Members of the House of Jicpresen't'atlve's
Harrisburg, December 10, 1838
BLOOJISBURO. 1A.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22.
T02GE OP
At a meeting held in Danville, at the
Court House, on Tuesday December 18,
1838, by the citizens of Columbia county
for the purpose of expressing' their opinions
in the present, unprecedented situation of
our public affairs at Harrisburg,
On rhotion, JAMES LOUGIIEAD,
Esq. M-aS chosen President: Stephen Jial
dij, Dr. 0. 2). Leib, Jdscph Dean, and
Lymati Sholes, Esqrs. Vice Presidents,
and . Jf'ebb, and V. Best, wdre chosen
Secretaries.
fiesolved, That the Chair appoint a Com
mittee of forty persons tb draft reriort and
resolulldns expressive of the sense df the
meeting.
Whereupon tho following persons tvero
selected by tho chair:
John Cooper, Scwell Gibbs,
James Emmett, William Hartman,-
Griffith Davis", James Childs;
Mich'I.Fornwald, David Reich,
Joseph Maus, Benj. P. Alward;
Michael Sanders, Gideon Mellin,
Wm'; Campbell, John Rhodes,
S. A. Brady, Martin M'Alister;
Daniel tircwer, Joint Rishel, '
Mich'I.R.tlower, John Dean,
W.R. Gearlieart, Jojin Reynolds;
Dr.Wm.PelriUin.Thomas Clark;
B.S.WoolvertonjWm. Snyder,
Edward Young, Hi P. Baldy,
Enoch Mellin, Joseph Yetterj
D. Krownover, John Mench,
John Wagner, Sam. SaiTer;
JacobR.IIower, Wm. Henrie,
Joseph Ililes, Thomas Brandonj
Benj.Thorntop, Dan'l Reynolds.
Who reported the folio wjng,preamble and
resolutions, which were adopted unauimous
ly ''
Whereas, a crisis, in out political affairs1
has arrived, which all good men must de
plore! but which, without forfeiting the
namls and character, of freemen we mutt
meet mid meet like mon, whd their duties
know,- but know their rights, and It'AovVitig
dare maintain.
The question to be decided by thd ap
proaching contest, is whether the cardinal
principles of our Republican form of gov
ernment, ','that tho majority shall govern"
is yet lobe oseyed in our elections or not?
Or in other Words, whether the people yet
retain tho right of self government? and
tfetd We ask, Whether wo arc prepared to
abandon this tight, and submit to the dicta
tion of the Batik of the United Slates and
its myrmydons, and Vel them choose our
Representatives ? The qneslldn is unWor
thy of an answer, and if no other alternative
offers, much as we wish for peace, we will,
as descendants of those who shed theii
blood and treasures for Liberty and Inde
pendence, prepare for warl What, has it
come to this ? that a merejrhenial a hum
ble drudge; in one of our public oflices a
man utterly insignificant in himself, if not
supported by a party, who have Idllg wish
cd for an opportunity to subvert our elective
franchisci Shall he, by his mere say so
judge of the qualifications df our two lion
ses of the legislature t arid by a departure
from honesty, which richly deserves a pen
itentiary punishtneiit, prostrate the will bf
tho sovereign pcdple, expressed by their
legal votes in tho election returns of tho e
lection districts of the sl'ato ? Shall he be
permitted; holding two official returns of the
election, as he acknowledges ho did, to sup
press the trut and just return; arid present
to tho libuses; spurious and illagal ones, for
the purpose of forwarding the design of the
enb'mies of free government, who pay him
and Support him in- his atrocious attempt?
We sdy lie shall hot do this with impunity
nor will we submit to hdve our rights tram
pled under foot. Ndr will wo permit a
house of representatives ofganized under
such circumstances, by a notorious adventu
rer who has disgraced himself and his adopt
ed Slate by his nefarious and abandoned in
trigues, to be recognized as representing
tho "citizens oftho State; nor will we permit
Governor Ritner, and tho speaker of the
Senate, Charles B. Penrose", ib iisurp the
p'o wcrs of government, and wrest all right
from the peop"lts by a consummation of plans
and projects; Vhich would disgrace a Cat'
aline, without using our exertions to pre
vent them.
The merits arili demerits oftho question
are before tho pebple. A minute detail is
therefore unnecessary. Wo have, as a
constituent part of that pco'rilb, evidence suf
ficient laid before us to convince us, that a
deliberate attempt is maklnp td bhange our
form of government. We" believe the great
body 'df tho people are satisfied of this, and
that bur opponents know it tb be so. Think
as we do, therefore, we cull updn every
friend of free government noi only to
speak out, but to come forward and aid us
against the ilrihallowed attack on our free
institutions, made by a band of traitor's and
conspirators.
We adjure onr fellow citizens in these
trying times, to be prepared to endure die
privations necessarily attending a state of
hostility; We had hoped that reason would
have resumed her throne but hope has
fled and we have every reason to believe
that tho conspirators will proceed at all haz
ards to perpetrate their wicked designs.
And wo will, so far as in us lies, do our ut
most to oppose them, and punish the perpe
trators; And with a firm reliance on the
protection of divine Providsnce, and the
justice of our cause, wo will fearlessly pre
pare for, and abide the result.
Therefore llesolued That the attempt
of the Federal Bank party, through their
tools arid instruments. Joseph Ritner, Tllad
dues Stevens, and Thomas H. Burrowes,
to divdst tho members of the Legislature,
elected by the voice of tiiti people, of
their rights and privileges, must cover all
concerned in it, with disgrace and infamy.
Jlesolved That wo seriously advise the
instigators of the treasonably act now be
ing about to be pfopelratcd at Harrisburg,
residing in Philadelphia, to expect, that
should the as yet sleeping Lion be roused,
he may erect his mano in Chesnut street!
Verbum sat.
Jtciolved That in Josoph Ritner; we
cannot recognize a single trait, which bught
to characterize tho Governor of ft great
'State; ignorant, imbecile, servile, we know
him only as the pliant tool and instrument
of tho banks mid raonisd aiistocracy; and
ve Tisw hi act io cnllinihe armed uttlita-
ry'banda frohi Philadelnhia, aJ i
i a wicked .1
tempt to murder his fellow citizens, Jor
' er
deavonng to maintain their1 political r!rrt,i..
nnrl I. la mtan.nlit. ittAUwr if.-.-. .
uuu ma uiuuiiiuiii iuuiuai, uiai ii was lot tho
purpose of suppressing a mob, when none
existed, caps the climax of his infamy, and
adds the endowment of mendacity to the
other mental ornaments of thii all-accora
phshed idtot!
liiso'lve.d That, we.cbrlslder Uie con
duct of Charles B Penrose, Thaddeui
Stevens, Thdihas il. Burrows, and tlioir
coadjutors, as in tlio last degree, ignomin
ious and disgraceful, and that the hissings
and hootings of an outrage and Insulted
community, will pursue them through eve
ry maio of there unexampled turpitude to
tho latest period bf their abject and degr'.
ded existence.
Resolved That, we view the rohiuctoj
thbse 52 members falsely styling themselves
the House of Representatives, in s,ufferih
themselves to bo drilled ami trained by an
unprincipled blackleg and blackguard, s
equally unworthy their characters as citi
zens of a civilized country, and as members
of the State Legislature.
Jlesolved That we view tho conduct of
the State Senate, as illegal and tlnj'iist, and
tending to degrade arid disgrace the Senate)
in thb eyes rif ihb World;
Resdlved That representing Columbia,
County, the "Star of the North" in its deJ
mocracy, we will 'support and assist our
democratic membe'rs bf tho Legislature in!
their manly resistance to trio money of thrf
United States Bank, the ball and buckshot
cartridges of Gen. Patterson, and the fraud,
corruption, and murderous intentions of
Ritner and his associates; and will at the
shortest notice assist them with men and
ar'rriSj to thb tur.b tjf out democratic majori
ty 1538.
Jlesolved That we have calmly .exami
ned tho piocpedings at Harrisburrr for the
last two or three weeks, and -wc unhesita
tingly pronounce the charge of misrule and
violence, made against our fellow citizens
at that place, as a bttso and unfounded,
falsehood I fabricated by the conspirators td
conceal their designs, to accomplish their
treasonable" purposes; by parading a military
force which they dare Hot use.
Jlesolved That we despise trie cant and
slang-of the Federal patty who break all
law, outrage all decency, and render assure ,
der every tie which connects the bonds. of
society; dnd are the first-and loudest to ex
tol the supremacy of the law and tho necc
sity b'f subordination.-
Jlesolved That wo hold in equal con
tempt the advise of those who would wish
us to fold .our arms; hold our tongues and
carry out the doctrine of passive bbedience.
non-resistance while a band of traitors, ure
der the semblance of Law and legislation
are consuinating their acts of treason and
robbing us of our privileges as American
Citizens'. .
Resolved That our members of iha .
Legislature aie entiled to, and we owe
them, our most geatful thanks, for their'
praiseworthy conduct; and wo now msttuct
them, to consent to no arrangement which
will in any the slightest degree, conipro-'r
mise -our rights Or principles; to adhere
strictly to the rule laid down by Andrew
Jackson, the great and
good, "to claim
nothing but what is right, and submit to
nothing that is wrong." And we pledge all
lliat is sacred to man, to' sustain them in
their altitude; under all and every emergen
cy.
Resolved Tljat We cannot sufficiently
admire die patriotism, virtue,and courage of
our fellow citiz'ens at Harrisburg organized
under the narrieol" the "Committee of Safe
ty" to them we e'ay that the people are not'
ungrateful.
Resolved That we irivlio a co-operation'
with our democratic brethe'trf throughout'
the State, and call upon them id sland forth
and assist us, in our contest with the' sons
of mahtmon and ambition.
Resolved That we will do all that in
us lies to prevent an outbreak; that we de
sire peace, and will do all that men ought
to do to preserve it, btit that in deferice of
ourselves and our rights, We will if necessi
ty compel us, bear arms dnd use them as'
wb have a constitutional riglit to do.
Resolved That ihd Bank of tho United
Slates having loaned 8S00.00Q to Slevens
& Co. without authority; will not be recog
nized as a creditor by the Cdinirionweallh,
but must resort to those' to wh'orfi Hiey kai
the money for payment; and wc believe, that
the inability of the officers of the late Ad
ministration to settle their accounts is thrf
reason of tho insurrectionary and IreMDM-'
bio course, now in progress by Burrow
Suircn Ritae'r & Co.