The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1842-08-25
From the N.nrinnatl Enn,

IIOu lHt OluClnOhu Enquirer
THE CONDUCT OF THE CHIEF MAG
ISrRATE OF OHIQ!-A PICTURE FOR
HONEST MEN TO CONTEMPLATED
One Of the most startling and shocking fea-
lures of The late reasonable preceding Of the
reckless parzaos at Columbus, is seen 10 the
reply which Mr.. Thomas Corwin returned 10
Speakers of The two Houses.
They notified him otf tally that the minor~
ly had abseHted themselves, that the Speakers
warrant, in the hands of the proper officer of
each branch had been served upon the a1sen-
tees, that they claimed TO have resigned, and
have sought refuge in the protection Of mob.
And they put these questions to Governor Cor
win:
lst Doyou regard those designations as
in fact creating vacancies, so that you will
forthwith order new eIectOnsl Or,
~. II you do not SO regard them will you
exercise your power as Executive 10 compel
obedience TO The Speakers wananls2
To these questions not the Governor, but
Mr.. Thomas Corwn, as private citizen, res
piled, that when officially notified Of The resig>
nations, he should consider his duly-and
that il was very doubtful whether the power of
less than quorum TO meet from Cay to day,&
compel the attendance Of absent members"
would warrant the employment Of force, to com
pei such attendance.
The reader will see at once that ths was a
paltry equivocat!On. But if 1t be conceded
that the note of The Speakers was not sufficient
official notice Of the designations what will
every ho1est and truth loving man think, when
he comes to fnd that Corwin The Governor
WAS OFFICIALLY NOTIFIED of lhe res.
ignations, although as Thomas CorViu he
said he was not. Yes, the written resigna-
tions Of these men, signed with their own
signs manual, HAD BEEN RECEIVED
AND FILED AWAY IN THE OFFICE
OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE. and
were there seen and examined by member of
the House, who stands ready 10 establish the
fact. And this fact Governor Corwin WAS
BOUND KNOW-and we have not a
doubt that he did know it, and that upon bis
suggestion, they wero withdrawn, to afford
Thomas Corwn ground for the miserable @.
quivocation of his reply.
Upon the second point raised, there could
not certainly have been doubt of his duty.
The word COMPEL has but one meaning;
and that is The using ofjust so much force as
is necessary. That force it became the duty
oflhe Governor TO use, fas Thomas Cofwin
said, Governor Corwin was no! officially noti-
fed Of the designations the power Of the !
Legislature and it's officers was exhausted,
when the recusanis refused to obey the Spea-
ker's warrants. But, says Mr. Corwin, Tho
Governor has some doubts about The employs
ment offorce, and thinks The power TO employ
il is a question for The Judges.
Now is it mol shameful and shocking that
the Governor Of this great Stale, sworn 10 up
hold the Constitution and execute the laws,
should be found leagued with cabal of reck-
less partizans 10 trampe down the COLstiu-
lon, and be found evadng his duty by such
paltry equivocations, if not gross lalsehoods,
as these. Surely this is new thing in the
State, that honest men must feel their hearts
sicktn and their cheeks burn with shame, un~
der The conviction that their Chief Magistrate
has connived at, If he has no, counselled, this
damning deed Of parizan knavery, and has
Tesorted 10 such means to sustain it.