Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1839-12-30

.Netc JERSEY Members. We have heretofore said
that the five Wing members were entitled to Their
seats by the constitution and laws that they claim.
ed msjorty Of the legal votes ut the Congress
sional election and that ut the subsequent state
election The people hn,! ratified the decision Of the
Governor and Counri, sy their reelection but
we had forgotten Important fact. After the
result Of the election was declared, and the locos
had began TO complain, the Wings cferea 10 re
sign and cary the question again 10 the people
The locos rejected this fair and honorable propo-
,iton. With wha, sort of honesty can they CLAIM,
any resec; for the will of the people, whom they
would not trust ona second trial? They scorn
the people -lliey turn To the White House. nnd in
woke its power to force them into Congress, over
The laws aud rights of sovereign state: will the
SO sober second lhou.ll t' of intelligent freemen call
this democracy? Annexed is the concluding por-
ton of an able article on the New Jersey election,
copied from the National Intelligencer;
1t therefore appears that the Governor and his
Privy Council have acted in strict conformity both
with the law and the uniform course OF prece-
dents
This decision being final and conclusive under
the laws of the State, gave the seals 10 the Wing
|
| of Representatives But question then arose
for the candidates themselves 10 determine, to wit
whether they should claim the seats under tins de-
cisun. OF their legal lille there was no doubt
but this not sufficient for honorable men and
they promptly determined not 10 mike The claim,
unless, in addition 10 this title, they had the equt
able one founded upon tbeir receiving majority
of the votes of the eitizens of New Jersey. The
investigation before The Legislature had determin.
ed the nalter with respect to one of then and
information from different parts of the State left
lle room for doubt respecting the others Know
ing however, the difficulties attending contested
election before the House, whtre The voice OF par
e. is too APT TO drown that of justice, they on the
day on which their commissions took effect, ma'ie
an offer TO resign them and refer the question back
TO the People but their opponents thought it not
proper TO do so. They then adopted the only
course which duty to themselves, 10 their constit-
uemts, and the country left open: that of dscer
timing by n careful examination whether they had
received Il majority of the legal votes. IN order
that they might feel tu justified in making their
claim if it wns so, and, il not, that they might give
a salts actory reason for abandoning il. The re-
suit of their examination was thai, besides the
townships already mentioned, the laws oil the
Smie forhilling alien votes had been openly VIC
lnied and large numbers of such votes received
in four townships in Sussex county, and that in
many other townships throughout The State illegal
votes had been received, making an aggregate
number which could he'proved more Than enongl
10 sustain their claim besides those which were
believed to he illegal, but of which the proof is
doubtful IN addition TO which, the returns from
several townships which had given majorities n.
gainsi them would probably be wholly set aside
for fraud aud irreguary.
Under such circumstances, they have made
their claim, aud hope they will maintain u; FOL
ihe honor of JERSEY.