Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-12-24

Congress of the United States would long debate such
question: Yet upon this question, has Congress de-
hated whole week. Twisting and turning cannot al
ter it.
AGAIN, it is said, that the pretenders holding the
Governor commission have much RIGHT to seats as
INV others. and that Mr.. Randolph has been admitted
TO seat upon this evidence alone. Not so; Mr.. Ran
oph was elected, one, and the lowest, Of the SIX who
had the greatest number of votes, appears by Tie re-
turns produced by Mr. Vroom and his associates, and
no one questioned his right. Whenever the right,
under a return, is questioned the House, IN what
ever state it may be, must determine upon the OBJ
lection. and if frivolous, will dismiss it. In respect
to returns or elections, the law OF faSament
authorize the House to examine the same, t1 cWc'o
though no complaint is made. for they are CONN.,
I'll Of State and court of equity touching things
appcraininn 10 their congnzancr, well rs conf OF
law for thcv NAV ofte,selves question the same (Sir
John Sucklings case, Mdllescx, 1929 II IS not
merely the presentation OF the suai Credentials 'ha
oves a prfua rioht seat, but that the same IS not
contested upon fair and prima facic of right
When that contest is fairly made 10 return. the
matter is brought before the House, and neither party
csn upon the law of Parliament, act untl The true
right is determined II IS not merely question be-
tween the claimants but every other member becomes
immediately Interested in preventing any one who has
not majority of the votes OF the electors OF Is State or
district from obtrutng himself into the representative
seat without true Ii affects the whole L. s.,
and cncroaches upon their rights and liberties. When
credentials Us other members who have been admitted
they tell but half the truth No questioned the
prima fucic character of the credentials otte other
urrs and of it good, II not DESTROYED
by either evidence raise 4 doubt dSprovc it
But TIE Governors credentials, in their case is dis
proved by the people credentials, and il is vain to talk
about the evidence being the same As well might 4
man who presents note made without consideration,
insist upon It's validity from its form, these gentlemen
claim under this commission. In one case i is the
I eth hnr
number Of votes cast the boxes, which gives
the right and confcrs legal validity upon the paper
Again is urged that you cannot look behind the COM
mission, until the persons who hold it have enjoyed the
benefits resulting from u. Mark the argument The
clerks of The counties Of Mdde$rx and Cumberland set
aside the returns Of two townships No one has been
found stupid wicked enough 10 say that they had any
right to do The Governor says--snce The clerks
have done sosnus this destroy the right Of the elect
ed-certainly not. cannot help you, you must 90 to
Congress- and it my earnest wish you should do go
When the claimants apply Congress it is said the
Governors commission this matter: the broad
seal of the State hides ii from eyes, that
not it, although we know the fact. Congress
not give you redress until they have sanctioned the
unlawful and unconstitutional acts OF the clerks OF the
counties, By permitting your adverse claimants to hold
your seats until they have elected Speaker, been
sworn and admitted to the rights which the people
erred upon you by their election The Subtcriuge of
the two thieves that the one did not steal and the
our childhood, is much more imposing than such sub
tcriuge.
Again: it is ALLEGED that the elections were fraudu-
lent, and the result produced by illegal votes.
This is not true, and known TO all TO bc untrue. In
Cumberland county, after all the preienCes, strict
party committee who scrupulous COM
PEELED admit that the election in av;llc LEGAL
and free from fraud, and they could in the wiole
county, find but balance o. q illegal votes IN favour
of the elected members and To the other allegations
unfDuDlpi prptpuceS. But true, the
clerks of Middesex and Cumberland could not decide
that matter; and yet they did, without the pre-
tcnce of hearing any evidence. Congress must cor
rect their procedure, their proceedings give
the seats the members who have majority OF votes,
place them in the situation which they deprived
Of BY these Illegal acts. and then let those who qucs
ton the merits Of the election, bring their complaints
before Congress by PETITION They cannot be blended
The complaint is that the Governor did not do
his duty by casting up the whole of the several
counties of the STATE and give his certificate com
mission to those who had the greatest number of votes,
but to those having minority Determine that TACT
settle the rcturnsgve the seats To those who ought to
have bee returned. and who have the mnorty-admIt
them members, for they only are PrtWn iacic cntI-
tied, and then, if any persons complain on the merits
of the election, let them petition in due form. In the
meantime, the people Of New Jersey will be repre-
scented BY those whom they have chosen. |
One " as 10 the validity OF the commission. Sup |
pose that the objection is raised that the person holding
The commission under twenty live years Of age,
alien inhabant Enst not this question be de
cdcd before the person holding the commission is sworn
Wonld not Tie argument, derived from the commission,
be laughed To in such case Who d!stin- [
guish between the two cases IN principle? Suppose |
Andrew Parsons, the Vice President of the Prlvy Coun
Gil Of New Jersey at the time Of these transactions, had
been one of the members commissioned by the Govern
or-he has subsequently, admitted himself alien, in
his petition for alzation-would he have been
titled under the Governors commission and the broad
SEAL to participate in the choice Of Speaker, sworn
and hold his seat the face of the record evidence of
his subsequent naturalization:
ANCERY-N ncI a