New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1844-07-18

if we can possibly afford It. Uur last IeS"io'
number will announce the result
Friends Of CLAY aud FaFIiaCHIrvsgH. II you
think The Tribune does any good To the cause
obGge us by helping it 70 do more.
The O utraee on Popular Suffrage perpe-
trated by james X. Polk
In the great contest nov in progress we CHOOSE
TO deal as little as possible IN personalities anu
Law all stress on the Principles and Measures 70
be established or crushed by the result The act
of James X. Polk, however, by which the Stale
Of Mississippi was outraged and the Representa-
ton in Congress corrupted, was one SO aiarninsy'
fagran,ly wicked in its character, no dangerous as
a precedent and shameful in its every aspect
that we feel constrained TO bring 1t freshly to the
minds of our readers, that they may realize now
narrow, bttor and dishonest partisan is now
held up by Loco. Focoism as candidate loF
President of this Union.
The facts, land we shall state them carefully
and impartlally as il in a witness-box on oath')
were os follows:
Martin Van Buren, was inaugurated President
ON the 18th of March, 1887; the old Congress
having expired by limitation on the previous Day
On the 10Th of Muy, and Whereabouts, the Banks
suspended Specie Payment, payments OF revenue
in any Currency nearly ceased, and the Govern
ment was nearly run ashore for funds Mr.. van
Buren, summoned the new Congress, to assemble
in Extra Session on the 4th of September. Most
of the States had already chosen Members oil
that Congress, or would choose before the Isl OF
September, but Mississippi and Arkansas neither
had chosen nor would seasonab!y choose IN !egu-
lar course-the former not till LIST November, the
latter not till October. In this dilemma, the
Governors of the two States severely took the
responsibility of appointing Special Elections IN
each, expressly specifying that they 'cere to
choose Members Of Congress for the E1trG Ses-
sion only A Special Election was accordingly
held in each of these States, ard Loco. focos
elected. The notice was short, the season that
gress which were expressly limited 10 the (ncces-
CARLY short Extra Session, when regular Elcc-
tions were soon to supervcne, whcreat the whole
People would be cut and Members be chosen for
the regular term. The vote in Mississippi stood:
Sam j. G GIa'cS1ne dS I F. l. i Acee
Claiborne and stolsoh electeu 10y some o,0vv
They received regular certificates from the Gov
enor, stating that they had been elected to serve
as Representatives, in Congress from the State of
Mississippi for the Extra Session, and departed
for Washington.
But now commenced game of intrigue dis
graceful TO the actors and TO all who counte-
nanced them. The new functionaries resolved
to stretch their tenure of office over the regular
term also To this end, they declined exhibiting
to the House their regular certificates Of Eec-
ton, but procured from the Secretary of State
certificate of the state of the poll, and presented
this TO the House. The House did rot half I'M
derstand this maneuver, but on the Sd of October
an extrancous resolution founded on an eI pdrfe
presentmcnt of facts, was put through the House,
declaring that Mcssrs. Claiborne and Gholson
were duly elected Members Of the 25th Congress.
Meantime, the Governor issued his Pruclama-
ton for General Election setting forth that
two Members of the 25th Congress " were
among the officers 10 be chosen. But portion
of the Locos, perccving that their defeat, u
full vote and in the existing state OF the country,
W
or's decision and not vote for Members trusting
to the Loco. Foco majority in the House TO keep
in Messrs. Claiborne and GholSon. Another por-
ton, however, seeing that here an attempt to
commit q great fraud and wrong-sincc they
knew full well that the People had voted for Mem
bers, not Tor the entire term but for the Extra
Session only, went forward and voted as usual
The result was declared
fno: j. Word do Sam ch s,GOane hG GS 5s
Pren,s, and Word chosen by some 100
They OF course went on TO Washington and
claimed their seats (at the regular Session. but
found them absurdy occupied by Messrs. Clai
borne and Gholson who insisted that the PEG.
pie. though they had meant to choose them
'nly for sixty. days term, had saddled them
selves with them for two years and could not es-
ape them .
Let us glance moment q: the rival CASE
Arch. Yell In July was chosen from Arkansas
or the Extra Session, and served throughit In
October he '7as again chosen for tie regular tpo
Gears at the regular Election presented his Gre
lentias founded on that Election, and took hi. !.
eat without question. Now this same Yell
'oted to keep in Claiborne and Gholson and
hut out Prentiss and Word, yet he declared ,hat \
fAe had not received a majority in October, he '
,oald hare reliRquished has seat I
On the 30th OF January, the House, in regular
session, passed resolution moved By Hon. John
Iell of Tennessee, resembling that which declared
fessrs. Claiborne and Gho!son duly elected Mem
ers of the 25th Congress- Yeas ll9; Nays tl2 !,
q majority against the usurpers, in 8 Hose :
rgely Van Buren,. On the 18th of that month .
resolution had been offered, as follows: a