The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1840-06-19

change of these eight members from one
side to the other, would give them ma.
iority of the House of Representatives
Fortified by this false certificate, and sup.
ported by the Governor and a majority OF
the Senate, the Secretary of State public.
| ly advised his party to treat the election
Of Governor as if it had never been held,
although the Democratic candidate had a
majority of thousands! On the meeting
of the Legislature, he sent in the ea'es
turns, and withheld the tn ones, In
Senate Immediately admit
When the Democrats Of III
ed their introduction into .h aao, ue
Harrison party proceeded separately, III
injunction with the usurpers, to organ
ize House and choose their officers.
The Democratic members did the same
thing, in conjunction with the true Repre-
sentatives from Philadelphia county. But,
as the Governor and majority of the
Senate were of the Harrison party, all
power was in their hands; and it became
evident that they intended TO create, by
arbitrary power, majority III The House,
and set aside the election, not only Of
several Senators and Representatives, but
that of Governor also!
This design, more bold, considering the
people and the age, than the most daring
usurpations of Caesar. Cromwell, or Ma
poleon, reused the spirit Of '76; indignant
multitudes poured into the capital; they
organized a Committee of SAFETY, and
prepared to assert the rights of the people.
The affrighted Governor and his guilty
councillors, instead of receding from their
foul design, denounced the people as reb-
els and determined to carry out the usur-
patton by force of arms! Troops were
called out provided with "buckshot and
ball cartridges" the capital of the State
resounded with the din of arms; and the
peace of the commonwealth seemed to be
suspended upon hair. Lest the militia
of the State might show some reluctance
to shoot down their own friends and sub.
vert their own rights, the Governor had
the audacity to request the aid of body
of the United States regulars, then in the
vicinity, and to demand of the President,
the aid OF the army of the UnionI
What, IN this case, did the People ask!
Nothing but the installation of their pub
lie officers, duly and constitutionalIy cleo
ted by large maj orities. And why did
not the Harrison party proceed in their
monstrous design to deprive them of this
dearest right of ireemen: to treat the cleo
ton as if it had not been held, and retain
the possession of power at the point of
the bayonet! Not because they relented
or repented: not because they were not
ready for blood and carnage, to put down
the rights of the people; but because two
of their number, and tco only, refused to
act out the scene, and receding from the
House of Representatives, left
it without quorum. As bold, mprinci-
pied, and INSCRIPTIONS as they were, they
dared not proceed when they could no lon
ger shield usurpation under constitutional
forms.
What on this occasion was the conduct
Df those who now constitute the Harrison
party in other States. Did they denounce
he usurpers and take the side of the peo-
pie! No, almost to man, they sustain
"a, encouraged, and defended Governor
ftner and his daring associates. The
people received from them but ferocious
'bnse, with the epthets of traitors and
rebels. The attempt to cleave down by
he sword the most precious rights of free
men, was everywhere applaudcd by them,
showing that the same contempt for the
people pervades that party throughout the
Union.
And what have we seen n, the presen,
session of Congrcssl The House of Re.
'rcscntailycs kept in state of disorgani. /
,ation Tor weeks, by an attempt to force
nio 1t, as members, five men from New
Jersey, when five other men, VIGOROUSLY
md contcssedly, had a majority of tho
'o'es given at the election. The ..broad
'eal' of the Governor, though covering
Known and acknowledged fraud, was held
~ them more sacred than the peoples
light of suffrage, and was considered
better title to "A seat in Congress than
majority Of the peoples votes! This was
hot Pennsylvania scene, probably be-
sause the Harrison party here had no Gov
srnor Riner under their control to buck
he "broad seal" with 'bucksho; and hall,'
,ut the contempt for the people, and the