The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-12-11

| tuous and rioous muliitudes. The lives OF the
members have been threatened, and put in JEOPARDY
oihcers OF the State Government have been designa-
ted as the objects of attack. Officials of The General
Government are now present. instgating these ie-
gal and dangerous proceedings. What are the OBJ
lecls OF these oulragesl Nothing less than trea-
sonaoe attempt TO destroy the present form of Go
vernmenl, and erect another in Its stead II Is per-
fecy well known that new Constitution has been
adopted by The people ofths Commonwealth, which
must be established in force according TO the requi-
Shions OF the late Convention, and the acts OF the
Legislature. The Senate and House of Represen-
tatives are prevented by force from assembling, and
this object must be defeatedthe People reduced to
the deporable condition Of being without Conslitu-
,lon ., lher own selection and governed by an UNI
lawful assembly, who choose TO prescribe The man.
ner and form in which the authorities in the land
shall discharge their functions ,
We charge this criminal design upon leading
members OF a party who seek (but without efect)
cunningly 10 themselves from the penalties Of
the law TO which they expose the victims of their
designs-the misguided multitude whom they insi-
gate 10 those dreadful acts
There are persons now in this borough who con-
troll the proceedings Of the existing mobs-at whose
word they disappear-at whose bidding they return.
The Senate and House of Representatives are pre-
pared to proceed 10 the discharge of their duties
Forcibly prevented, the consequences must fall upon
me heads OF the guilty persons urging or abetting
the violence.
We make this public declaration that people may
be aware OF The true state OF things The honor and
character OF the citizens of Harrisburg and the
members OF the judiciary here residing imperatvely
demand that every legal proceeding be adopted 10
maintain the peace and restore good order.
The due operation OF the laws may be suspended,
but cannot be put 10 rest Tor ever We give TO all
persons and parties engaged in the recent acts Of
violence and in preparations for their continuance,
this solemn notice, that their acts are such have
exposed them to the highest penalties OF the laws
We repeat that II Is the design Of certain persons
overurn the laws-to defeat the inauguration OF the
Governor, and the proclamation of the adoption Of
the new Constitution
The preence of all these acts Of outrage is that
certain members of the Senate and House have
been admitted on the retur&s known to the law 10
take their seats without having been duly elected
This pretence is utterly false. Endeavors are made
| to oVerawe the Senate and House by violence in
order TO prevent the disclosure Of the enormous
frauds perpetraed in the county of Philadelphia.
They know that these frauds can be proved-that
they dare not invite investigation, and are re-
solved TO seat their partsans by force prevent the
regular meeting Of the Legislature until after the
time allowed Tor the investigation of the elections by
law, thus conceaing those frauds; while the re-
turned members from the city and county of Phila-
dephia ask and earnestly desire this investigation.
lnhammatory meetings have been held, and writ
ings published and widely circulated, in order to
forestall public sentiment; while the friends of the
Constitution and the laws have been restrained by
men secretly armed against uttering the truth to the
people, The time will come when they will be
heard-when the laws will be executed and sus-
pended justice redressed. party who resort TO the
aid of mobs to sustain them cannot be in The right
We let the people know the truth. They will de-
eide the question by the condign punishment Of the
authors of all these events so diSgraceful to the
character Of this State and country and SO subyer.
sve of our free institutions,
Signed in behalf Of the members of the House of
Representatives driven from its hall.
T. s. CUNNINGHAM, Speaker.