The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-08-19
W A S HI N G. I 0 N.
MONDAY EVENING, AUG. 10. 1874.
JAMES K. POLK'S CONTEMPT FOR THE
PEOPLE


JAMES K. POLK'S CONTEMPT FOR THE
PEOPLE.
No better evidence could be desired of the con-
tempt in which James X. Polk holds the voice Of
the people than is furnished by his reckless course
in relation to the famous Mississippi contested
election. In 1887 Mr.. Van Buren, called an ex-
ira session of Congress to meet in September,
when two of the States, mississippi and Arkansas
had not held their regular elections 1t became
necessary for the Governors of those States,
therefore, to order special elections. The con-
stitutons or laws Of the States provide that men,
bers Of Congress shall be chosen on certain fixed
days and il was therefore rightly concluded that
the members chosen at the called election could
not serve for the regular period oftwo years. In
conformity with this view, the writs of election
limited the term Of service TO the extra session !;
and the Governors gave the members elect
Messre. Claiborne and Gholson, certificates to
that effect. They were elected over their Wing
opponents, Prentiss and Acle, by some three
thousand FIVE hundred votes. Instead of present.
ing their credentials as furnished them by the
Governor, they fraudulenNy suppressed them, and
merely took with them the certificate of the
Secretary of State that their vote was SO much,
and that Of their opponents much leaving it
with an interruptions Locofoco majority in the
House of Representatives to declare them duly
elected for the term of two years--and that House
did it. They nullifed the law and trampled upon
the will of the people in order to secure two mem
bers Of Congress to their party.
But how did the people of Mississippi take this
per6dous treatment-,his trick by which their
rights were trampled on! They resented it in
way worthy Of independent freemen.
New writs of election were issued by the Gov
ernor for the regular term, and the same people
who elected Claiborne and Gholson by major.
ity of $500 in July or August, turned about and
elected their Wing opponents, Prentiss and Word,
in the fall, by majority Of 7,OOO!!
Such was the indignant rebuke whica cor
rupt Locooco majority in Congress received at the
hands Of the treemen of Mississippi Could any
fact more clearly demonstrate the grievous wrong
done the people than this sudden change from a
large Locofoco to an overwhelming Wing majority
indicates?
On the Both Of January, 1888. a resolution re.
scinding that declaring Claiborne and Ghoson
duly elected, was passed by majority of seven
rescinded by Locofoco House, ashamed Of their
iniquhy. But while they acknowledged that
Claiborne and Gholson were not duly elected, the
desperation of party induced them to refuse Prem
Word were elected by majority Of seven thou
sand! A resolution was introduced, declaring
that Prentiss and Word pere not duly elected,
which received III yeas and III nays, but James
K. Polk, Speaker of the House, gave the casting
vote in favor of the resolution thereby multiplying
the voice of the seven thousand majority of the
people of Mississippi! Such is the democracy of
James X. Polk. He, by his single vote, over.
turned a majority of seven thousand freemen,
and trampled upon their laws and rights
1t must be remembered that the Locofocos had
considerable majority in the House, but there
happened TO be among them few independent
spirits who would not far debase themselves
as to support this unprincipled party measure
hence the tie upon the resolution. Blu, James
X. Polk, with the true spiri, Of party hack, was
ready to do any thing, at any sacrifice OF honor
and the peoples rights, to sustain corrupt party,
which had placed him at ito head And he yip
do so again, if he has the opportunity. As Speak.
er Of the House. he despised and trampled upon
the rights Of seven thousand-as President of the
United Statee, he would treat the will of seven
hundred thousan in the same way.
81. MART's COUNTY, MD.-James R. Hope
t. L..