Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1842-09-13
THE CONSPIRACY


The federal whig papers justify the
late reasonable conspiracy Of the federal
members Of the Legislature, upon the
ground that 'lhey have right to resign.
An,individual member undoubtedly has
right to tender his resignation TO the
body Of which he is necessary part
and that body has as clear rig BIT TO ac-
cept or reject the resignation, as they
may think proper. The power given by
the Constitution TO each branch Of the
Legislature to compel the Attendance Of
absent members, necessarily includes
power or discretion 10 disregard any
fimsy or frivolous excuse that may be
offered by an absentee and 10 compel
his attendance il he is physically able TO
occupy his seat. Each member, after
having been Lawful ly elected, and having
accepted the Office and taken the oath
to support the constitution and laws, is as
much bound to obey the will Of the ma.
Iiority of the branch OF which he is mem
Der, as Ony individual in community is
bound to obey the laws by which all are
governed; hence it has been usual for a
member 10 ask leave of absence, when
he wished to leave his seat for two or
three dbys-Or for a member TO ask
thai an absent friend might be excused,
when il was supposed that his presence
was very much needed elsewhere. lf
then il be wrong for an individual mem
Der to leave his seat vacant without the
CO nsent Of a majority, how much more
wrong must il be for number Of mem
hers TO enter into secret combination
to vacale their se.ts simultaneously for
the purpose Of defeating the will of a ma.
ioriiy Of legally consIitnledLegslalure
If such conspiracy is not treason, il is
SO near kinlo it that the difference can
hardly be defined. For the fret tuue
since the formation Of our state Governs
ment, we are 0stensibly without LegsN
ture, the existence Of which Is necessary
to all representative governments; and
ws are therefore virtually without gov.
ernment, Il it be not treason TO con.
spire to overthrow the government, we
know not what to call il.
Nor are the federal members of the
Legislature alone in this conspiracy
The hnmiltaiiog spectacle is presented
OF the Executive Of the State lending
them his aid. The democratic members
Of the Legislature, after exhausing their
power in Efforts to compel the attend :
ance Of the absentees, whose designations
had MOI been accepted, seat a communi
cation TO Gov. Corwin asking his advice
and assistance in the affiir. Being com
mandor in.chief Of the military Of the
State. il was undoubtedly hisduiy to have
called out Whatever military force might
have been necessary 10 co,npsl The Fecu.
slnt members TO attend until their duties
had baen parroImed and they were law.
fllIy dismissed. Instead Of doing this,
he insults the members remaining at their
posis, by refusing to acknowledge them
as a Legislative body, orIo corr espond
with them in his official capacily; and
adds bis indiUidual or rpriDate opin
ion that the ahsen,ees had done nothing
more than they had right TO do; and
then leaves The Capital Of tie State,
where bis presence was SO much need.
ed to quell anarchy, and goes to distant
part OF the State 10 make speeches in
v'ndicaiion Of those who had conspired
against ihe government of which he is
Chief Mr. corwin, 1--WE dislike to
call him any logger GOpernOr, except Of
mad and reckless parly,) IS candidate
for reelection % The highest Office in The
State; and sever.l Of the conspiriug man
bersOf the Legsa.nre,a are alsocandida,es
Tor reelection; aud most of the fed eral
candidates spp rove Of the treason. Let