Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1826-07-14

OF officers; but not otherwise. Il by no
means relieves him because the Legis.
lsture did not, in the hustle of business,
think of what be had overlooked in a
years deliberation aRd study.
1t is the more difficult to meet our OPP
ponent's arguments, simply because we
find no arguments TO meet. The only
reply 10 our remarks which we have as
vet heard consists OF some Intellectual at
tempts to sheer at the suppositlon that
any thing material was on tiled. This is
TO say. But we would ask our friends
we mean our personal friends who differ
from us on political affairs Ito sit down
with US, and, laying aside all hard feel
Ings and unjust suspicious, examine the
subject briefly, ou, cooly, dispassionate-
ly, and candidly. And il it do not APP
pear, on such an examination, that we
are right, in believing material and
most important detect TO exist in The
Iaw under consideration, we shall then
be entirely willing to acknowledge our
error. We trust our recaDtation will
not be required till then.
We had marked those passages in the
law, which provide for offering the
militia, for insertion, bur on rejecting
that there was no difference on this point,
so far as we have heard, we oni, them !;
merely stating that the Sd section points
out what officers there shall be; the 9TH,
hat officers elected by their own consent
must serve or forfeit; and tho llth, that
signaslons may be accepted by certain
tficers--who may order elections for
the purpose Of films vacancies. The
idea thal ahAe0rs to prevail with such
as differ with us, Is, that this authority TO
order elections, invests the officer issu-
ing the order, with the full power to Or
der all the details or lha, these are left
10 the direction OF the inferior officers to
whom the order may be issued. Now
we admil-and it is the very thn9 o.
which we conplaln--that the ent,.e alb
senco OF any provision for regulating the
proceedings in those elections, necessa-
lily throws Ibis responsibility on some
ne or more oil The Ulcers and thereby
2lves them powers which are and ought
be considered strictly legislative. For
astance "a vacancy occurs in q comps-
~; tht Colonel orders an election Il
lher directs, not only when and where
shall take place, but how II shall be
canducted; or saws nothing abou, II;
ID then the whole mater rests with the
ompany officer. In the latter case the
mmandant of the company must enacs
-suiations, and give or exercise powers
hich no law, no statute, coEiers. He
ust say VINO shall act as Judges or
lerks Of the cleo lon--or he must be
ole Judge ana CLERK himself. He must
irec, bow and by whom the returns must
le made, and by whom certilied--or it
aust be eii 10 chance He must decide
nd rejecled--or be must receive, or
cause to be received all votes offered,
good or bad. H must make penal
laws tor the p shment of those who
vote contrary to the constiiution---or they
so uopunishcd. He must prosecute in
ne civil courts, under the statute OF
elections, lor an fence 10, included
there ,--or before a court martial for
cipiL offence, not defined any where -
or he must leave 1t as the militia law
leaves it, wilhou' any earthly tribunal be-
lore which it can be tried.
Now can it be said tina. all this is Of no
consequence Lei US see the effect Of
thus leayi & these matters to chance
A vacancy occurs. An election is or
dered. Notice is given of the day OF
election, but nol the hour of lis closing.
The company meet: Say one half are