The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-05-08
rRENToN, April 4lh, 1899.

Gcntiemen-We have the honor 10 acknowledge
the receipt OF your letter Of the 4h of March last,
and as il appears 10 10 involve principles OF an
important and novel character we cam consis-
tently answer your proposition without stating our
rea Sons for such an answer.
You are correct in your anticipation that we in
tend to your right 10 seals as members OF the
26h Congress- and as you remark that you have
received mo notice Of The kind you will please
consider this communication as notice oil our in
tent m
Your distinct proposition is, " that you as well as
ourselves resign to The Governo all claims under
the late election, in order that the mater may be
again Sub nited to the people, presuming that their
determination will be quite as satisfactory 10 yon 10
ourselves and 10 our respective friends asa decision
OF The ,n>e Of Representatives" and you leave il To
US" 10 Goose by which tribunal the question shall
he decided" With all proper respect Tor your views
upon This subject, we believe you have mistaken not
only our powers, but your own. You necessarily
assume that we have the right not only to resign but
10 compel the people again 10 take u up as candi-
dates; else why "ieave it to us to choose b7 which
tribunal the question should b, decided" Did 1t
not TO you thin by possibility we should neither
Of Us have another lral7 That it would not depend
on our vulition whether we should again b. placed
before the people fer their surages but on the will
OF the people themselves are yon are not placing
the servants abIve The m ,stersl Whatever NAV BE-
your views upon this subject, we Tor ourselves claim
no right to make any such birgain. .@.
Bn, surprising we to acquiesce in the novel
doctrine, that, 10 satisfy you and ourselves, and our
the people 10 60 through the expense labor and toll
of another contest, is there in truth any grounds for
doing nj this ,m.l How stands The case-You
have received certificates Of election from the Gu
vernon; Of this there is no dispute. These cerifi-
Gates can be, al hest, but primd fice evidence of
Your election. We have the maj lrilv of The whole
numb ref votes given in the State OF this fact tn IRE
is iale dispute as OF the oher the evidence is Of
record, and certificates necessarily b. SUI
perceded. Where, then, can b. The pretence for a
new election, except on the ground OF egi votes
And what evidence have that there were any
illegal vot=s, much less enough 10 affect the
legation. And you will pardon Us for saying, lha,
W" cannot consent to yield up The nndoubed rights
oi our constituents and ourselves the charge
that we were elected by illegal votes especially when
we hav. reason SO believe, and do believe, the ale
gallon Is founded in error. +. ......
But you assign as a reason for this course the ex.
pehSe and he'd lay of public business incident
investigation before the House Of Representatives.
We cannot subscribe 10 the truth or weight of this
reason. BIZ The you prop Sc, the State would
certainly have TO incur The expense Of new cleo
n'h ana what guarantee have we, or The people Of
I'VE" Jersey from the late acts of the certifying and
accounting officers that should not still be put TO
the necessity of trial before the House of Repre-
sen'atves?
=, There are fonr parts Of your letter, which, al
,nonsh not necessarily connected with your PROPOSE.
,"h 10 resign, We cannot permit To pass unnoiced
You are pleased 10 remark, that you think that The
cFftr'nrSS Of the decision Of the Governor and
ms PiVy Council, in giving you the certificates
Will not be questioned by any Intelligent man. alter
me 1">t excitement of party feeling shall have pass
ed away" We wall not assume 10 Judge and decide
upon The intelligence of those who entertain differ
en opinions upon this subject; but, for ourselves we
declare at this time, after the excitement of party
feeling has passed away, that we consider that de-
cI~Ion in direct violation not only Of the spirit OF
onr constitution and laws but Of the fair and legal
construction Of the laws themselves. In this view
OF we case. sustained Ivy all Of own party,
and, WE believe, by many OF yours
1t is unpleasant at any time to allude to the
lives :" gentlemen, but il is forced upon Us on this
occasion. Immediately before making your propo-
s'i"n vou caused TO be published al Washington, in
pamphlet form, the opinion OF The Governor, The
a'-Ihent Of Mr.. Armstrong one OF The members of
"e FflVv Council, and the letter of Mr Maxwell to
~t.e gentlemen IN the coun OF Warren thereby
giving view ot the question adverse to our claims
ms publication you circulated among those who
might be called on to decide between us-and that
too, IN our absence, without our knowledge and be.
l",e ou, CLAIMS coua IN any legad way be submit
ted 10 them. why make this publication IL vou
had any idea that your proposal would be acceded
to
Ar in; at the time vou wrote your letter IN ne
yon knew We had no power 10 make and carry on,
such bargain as Won propose. You knew we had
IerrIved mrjnritv Ut all the votes In the Stale
ynu knew that neither the Clerks nor The G vernon
and hiSCJuncil, had right In declare those votes
Illegal; that mower belonged TO the House of Repre-
ScntativeS. Ynu knew that il was commended hv the
Democratic party that, By law, the commi s$ions
should have ben given to us. You knew That n
'mrethIc Convention, the most numerous and
te'"ct he thai ever assembled in New Jersey had
hn'Li n"uS'v resolved Tat we should cl.im our
sfd'>. And You knew that could not acce Ie 10
your proposition, consistently with our duty TO our
serves, or To the party 10 which we belong. Why,
'hen, make the propositions