Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1843-01-27

opposed its recommitmeut; and before
the question was taken,
The Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr.. Byingron. from the judiciary
committee, reported back the bill 10 pre-
serve a constitutional quorum 10 the
General Assembly, without amendment,
recommending its passage.
The question being on the engroSs'
ment OF the'biN,
Mr. Converse moved to amend the
same by adding at Ihe close Of the SEC
lion which prescribes in cases Of reslg'
nation Of members Of The General As
sombIy, 10 the manner aforesaid, the
penalty OF Imprisonment in the Peni
lentiary not over thirty nor less than
| fifteen years, by adding the following:
provided, that in case such person
shall die during such Imprisonment his
body shall be decently buried, and his
heirs shall not be required to furnish a
substitute in his place "
Mr. Schenck moved tina, the bill and
pending amendment be laid on the Ia
BILE, TO enable several members who
were now absent on account Of sickness,
10 have an opportunity to vote upon it
when they should be able to attend,
He thought that this privilege should he
granted 10 them as matter Of ordinary
courtesy.
The motion was then negatived-
yeas 33. nays 33,
Mr. Bying'on moved to amend the
amendment Of Mr. Converse by adding
to it an epitaph in rhyme.
Mr. Converse said he had offered his
amendment with the conviction that the
bill itself was intended more as slur
upon the res,gnstons of last summer
than for any other object, and he would
now withdraw it He aIsotook occasion
TO state, that he was one OF those who
resigned, and no official acl Of his was
more satisfactory TO himself, or had re
ceIved more decided appreciation from
his constituents. that that.
Mr.. Bowen moved that the further
consideration of the bill be postp poned
one week, which was lost.
Mr.. Brown moved 10 amend the bill
by striking out thirty as the longest
term Of imprisonment, and inserting
fifteen which was lost.
Mr. Schenck moved further 10 amend
by adding an additional section, provd'
ing that the penalties prescribed IN the
bill shall apply 10 any Governor of this
State, who shall wIluIIy and corruplly
resign his office, or 10 anyjudge oIeith.
or Of the Courts Of this State, who shall
conspre together and resign n such
numbers as that The remaining ones
shall not form constitutional quorum,
Mr.. S. supported his amendment at
some length, and referred TO the ground
taken in the Governors Inaugural that
the designations Of portion Of the mem
bers Of the General Assembly in August
last, was dissolution Of that body, and
an annihIation Of the law making pow
er, He, however, had been taught in a
different school lie considered this
government of the PeopIe--o represen
tative Democracy, and when power was
invested with public officers, whether
Legislative, Executive or Judicial, that
power was to bo used for tho benefit of
the peOple-H remained with those Off
Gers, until by death, resignation. or 9TH
erwise, it was returned into The hands of
the people, and when it was so returned
instoad Of being nnnihiated, it remained
in existence and lived, to be conferred
on others at The pleasure of the people.
The assumption Of the Inaugural. that q
mere surrender Of power into the hands
Of the people, by members Of the Gen.
eral Assembly, was IN abolition OF the
Legislative power ant a subverson OF
the government, was absurd and prepos.
ferrous, and caIcuatedlo make war upon
every essential and we'll settled princi
pie Of tho Constitution under which we
live. This declaration had bsen made
not only by the Governor, but it had
been proclaimed from the stump and by
the press in every section Of the State.
bot those who had made it, ignoranuy
confounded tho Office with the officer,
and power with tho mere exercise of it.
Suppose our Judges should resign in
such numbers as to prevent the GormN-
ton OF quorum on the Judicial benches,
would we have no JudciaryY Would
our Jud,cial Department be annhlalod2
We're there not provisions 10 our laws
for fIIipg vacancies OF this character
whenever or from whatever causes they
should occur9 Mr. s. was opposed to
the passage of any law making discr
mnallon IN the motives OF those who
chose by laying down their Offices TO
return To the people, the power with
which they had been temporarily in
vested Iflhls bill was intended to guard
against The repetition Of what had alrea |