The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1843-12-15

These facts are notorious, ndspntable, and
undisputed they are known TO all, and admitted
by ALL Failing 10 elect by districts, they have
failed TO elect Ut all. for all legal and constilu
lional purposes They could not elect, because
there were no districts in those States from which
TO elect Election by general ticket is no cleo.
ton. No existing aud valid law authorized any
such election 10 be held; and no election, there
fore. has been held inihose States at wLch Repre-.
sentatiyes for the 2Sth'Congress could be CHOSEN.
lt.is understood, nevertheless, that the persons
above named propose and intend 10 vote IN the
election Of Speaker, the ground that they hold
returns, or written certificates or commissions
drawn up in regular form, purporting 10 be the
evidence Of their election as Representatives
We hold that any returns they can have do not
give them any title whatever, when they are con-
sidercd in connexion with the known law of the
land AT the same time, it is undoubtedly true
that By the Parliamentary law, returns or ceriii.
Gates Ia regular form, by authorized iunctonaries,
made according 10 law, are, IN all cases, prima
fgcie evidence Of election, and conclusive evi-
dence Of night 20 assist in organizing the body
TO which persons are thus ieturnedi and II Is un-
der color of this rule Of Parliamentary law. Us
we understand, thatthe persons above nam pre-.
snme 10 cali themselves members Of this body.
Bat as no provision has been made by law for
election by districts in these States, and no such
election in fact held, bow could any officer CT
functionary in these States make return OF any
such election And as these States are not au-
thnrized by law TO hold an election by general
ticket, or otherwise than by districts, how can
any officer or fnnctionary therein be authorized
by lazy TO make a return OF any such election -
We are not prepared to admit that any person
from any of these States can have IN his posses.
sion any legal dOcur1eBtal proof OF his election
as a Representative for the 2stb Congress, We
ara well aware, however, that an attempt, il now
made. By motion or resolution, before tie organi.
cation OF the House, to exclude these persons
from all participation in that act, would be at
tended with great embarrassment and great de-
lay, and with the hazard Of confusion, violence,
and anarchy in this Hall.
We have concluded, therefore, TO content our
selves. in this stage Of the business Of the House,
with declaring in this formal and solemn man.
ner, our condemnation Of proceeding on the
part of the persons We have named, which, if
performed, we shall hold to be lawless and essen.
TALLY revolutionary in IFS character, snbversire OF
the Constitution and Of all law and ORDER and
tending directly to the destruction OF our FREQ
Government. We declare that we shall! regard
the election Of Speaker if effected by the votes Of
these persons, as an illegal election and legal
fraud upon the nation and we shall not fail or
cease, after this body shall have been organized,
and in tho progress Of the session, 10 make every
effort within our competency to yindicatc the
law. 10 purge the House, and bring il back to a
condition Of constitutional soundness.