The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1840-03-12
Erom lhe Nannanl InleLIi -.


NEW JERSEY CONTESTED ELECTION.
Nefreafd ,he vose gwen by ,nr IL use
Of Representatives Friday evening, ia the
case Of the New Jersey contested election,
as indicating on the paft ot the Admnislra
lion members a more deliberate deternHra
iion TO disregard tho Iasiul rights Of the
ciilzen under The Constitution, than has
ever before been Witnessed IN that IlalL
Daring oil tic FaFoyysms Of psriy whence
with sbich uur country has been effected,
30 party has ever before bad The hafdibood,
in deciding Upon constitutional right, 10
declare 10 advance that Il would disregard
the law by which that night sas secured.
The Constitution is the great fundamental
la@ Of our political compact, enacted by ,he
sovereign People themselves, aud equally
obligatory upon the hughes, officer and the
lowest citizen, restraining tn one and pro
tecting tho other. II 10 this great funda.
mental law Of the National Government,
aud The laws passed 10 pursuance thereof 10
the States, thai define aud regulate the "a
cred night Of suffrage, which lies at The
foundation OF all representative Govern
mcuts. II this lawful right % the elecior
IS impaired by being compelled to share It
with others 10 whom Il docs not belong, or
abntsed by Withholding II from those to
whom II d0cs belong, then indeed are the
days Of the Republic numbered.
Then lei Us glance at the proceedings Of
the House on Friday evening. " bile this
case was pending before the Committee Of
Elections, and The commissioned members
had gone home under an order OF the com
mlltee to finish taking evidence to prove
the frauds committed and the unlawful votes
alleged to have been gwen, motion was
suddenly made 10 the House requiring the
committee "forfhuih TO report which
FIVE Of the ten claimants Of The contested
seats received the greatest number Of rofcs.
Ills motion was evidently made With the
dosign Of at once voting the Administration
geudemen into the vacant seats, whether
they b d or bad not the greatest number Of
iawtaf Dofes, and vas earnestly advocated for
that ayo~ed purpose. As nothing but the
greatest number Of iawfm roteS can consii.
lutc an election, motion was made by MIR.
Fillmore 10 amend the resolution by insert
ing the word LAWFUL before the word
votes, and the vote on this motion was Ia.
ken by yeas and nays ;and, TO The surprise, we
should think, Of almost every body bot them
eelgcs, ninety SIX members were found ready
10 record their names against report to be
based upon the number Of lawful votes.--.
Thereby manIfestng a willingness TO ex
clude those claimants who had received the
greatest number Of lawful votes, and admit
those who had received the greatest NUN
Der OF votes, lawful or unlawful, without re-.
gard 10 The frauds that bad bpen practlsed
10 obtaining them, or the dangerous prece
dent thus established, that those who can. by
freud or conspiracy, obtain the greatest
number OF votes, whether of aliens, minors,
tree negroes, or others, shall, instead of be.
ing heldu for Reproduction and dvgrace, be
rewarded with official honofs and hiph
trusts. We confess we we're not prepared
Tor THIS. It's more alarming than any thing