Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-02-22
POETRY

IN, aoll,is.fos " TIE 1nniisf be lad aSiue
/ when it would be calclNted to defeat the
majority in the choice OF thec representative
1t is matter perfectly imnA,erial, said Mr..
+. in what manner a man glyeS his vote, or
whether he votes by ballot or yiyayoce, if he
has not been induced by promise or bribery
in doing So his vote should never be rejected
! And, said Mr. F. if we should decide, in this
case. that Mr. Shaw, who unquestlooably re-
ceved majority OF votes given by TIE quail
fled voters OF Pike county, IL not the>Shoice
of the people (for no man, continued M. +.
should hold seat ON this floor unless tip
pears he comes here conformably to the wish
! of a majority of the voters Of his county, it
will be unsafe hereafter for a mar TO vote, I'M
| less he first inquiries, is the election conducted
according to zoe provisions OF our statute :
Ii is but once in two years, said Mr.. E. that we
are permitted to exercise and enjoy the great
est privilege that our constitution secures us
| into wit, voting. When man approaches
the polls to exercise his dearest right, he ne
yer stops TO make the inquiry, will m, vote be
rejected if exercise it here No, SAID MIR. +.
on the contrary, he feels proud to think how
FAR better his situation is over the person Who
is forced to bow under the nod of an unfeel-
ing tespot, and bear the chains Of tyranny.
Mr. +. said that he was conscious that the
course be had pursued and advocated was one
that would stand The test OF time, and meet
| the appreciation OF the people, to whom he
| bowed with difference and respect.
Mr.. .Hather' SAID that when this question was
before the House at the commencement ofthe
session, he felt disposed to be liberal towards
| the parties and not conhne them 70 flSld
| construction of the statute. He was then Will
| ing to hear all the evidence that mlght De ad-
| duced on either side, with view to ascertain
which OF the candidates had the hShes, mum
Der of the votes OF those who re Legally en-
titled to vote. After the examination OF al
the documents, he was not satisfied whether
the returned member or the person contest-
ing, was entitled 70 the scat, and then wished
that the final decision should be postponed, IN
order that additional evidence lnlSht be pro-
cured, particularly, as tie retlrned member
had not attended at the examination of the
witnesses. The subject was then investigated
by an intelligent committee who were unani-
nous in the opinion that the member returned
was legally entitled to the seat and reported
IN his favor. voted (said Mir. M against con-
curing in that report, and had it not been
sustained by majority of the House would
have opposed any resolution declaring the
contesting candidate entitled TO it, believing
az did that the interests OF the county would
not be overlooked, during the time ~ when
new election might be held, and that unless
more satisfactory evidence should be obtained,
it was proper to have another election: The
House acting on the report of that committee
decided that Nicholas Hansen WAS entitled 10
his seat. In that decision acquiesced; felt
no disposition to alter il as 1t was the dehber
ate decision of a ma jority Of thus House after 9
candid investigation Of the case. Tine evil
dence must then have been satisfactory, to
that ma ority, for surely SO respectable tri-
bunal would not have made such a decision
were it not so. Why then N this late period
of the session review it? The gentleman who
now occupies the seat has had no notice oianv
such intention, that he might be enabled to
procure testimony in support of his righi-on
the other hand the person who contests il, IS
allowed the whole winter to establish MS
claim and what is the additional evidence fur
hshea mercy 'he oePos''lo'' Oh "f, a'upg''s
VINO ogheVes t r ar qua" 'iSi n ,l@tolls3 y,
Tue st,'r"6cS vi .iose W.T. !" Nlf e1'l''11
~ Vo'e' IL All Iie Peie"'' ""''s@N IA ,''e i'"'-
oooNs were icsloci's % 'iie Up 20 NV
pus'tl'e P'ooi " 'ii,' u nav
ir oPe"Ne'' n0"'u s ,i0.i y,
la co'ii''! s"( Ia ''1! r'i ''''t
lt Hansen i'au liie ,n'io.lY '',e'.''ero Vi
l,l.s tioase - ~ pe y, 'a' o." upu',
s'io' 'eS'''n"uy' "''se 'e'' - '''s 'oH "0u'''
99 s1ou'o nsse co. M '',I
aehoera.e uo0'S.o'' vi ."l' iio'ae' III q e'.''oe VI
80 MUCH Importance " ooilsei'' " te,ie| II
w'hout ioil ana SATISFACTORY reasons. anu ul-