The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-12-16
enip,ion Of their Capilol, thus far, from

emplion oi tueir Sapltol, tnuS lar, Ion
the flow Of blood. GU
After the fury of the mob had spent
itself in this second attempt to supplant
the House OF Representatives,, the riot
ers again retired in body, and it was
hoped that order was permanently re.
stored. But unfortunately for the fair
tame and immense interests of this great
Commonwealth. these obstinate men,
desperately intent upon consumma,ing,
at whatever hazard, an usurpation Of
political power, which in an evil hour
of The last session, was commenced by
a dissertation Of the constitution and
the law--have hitherto continued, at
intervals, to invade the quiet Of the
House, prevent its complete organiza-
tion as Legislative body.
We are aware, leifow.cit zens, thai,
you, who are remote from the theatre
of these disgracefu proceedings, weuld
not readily conjecture any possible rea.
son that could be urged for their occur
renee. The main purpose for which
we address you. therefore, will he sub
served, BY stating what we, who are
here, understand from the disorganizers
themselves, TO be the only apologies
they have, and by showing that those
apologies are entirely destitute of even
a decent pretexl for Justification OF ex.
cuse.
The spokesman for the recusants.
while they were riolouslv disturbing
the peace Of the House, and gra,ui,ous.
Iy hiagling and bandying propositions
to the sitting members for a compro.
mise Of the legislative sovereignty of
the State, announced as their reasons
for standing in open rebellion to the
requirements Of the constitution, the
following:
First, That Mr.. Letter called the
House to order, and requested the mem
bers TO forward their certificates of eec.
lion, instead oil a Mr.. Swift, who had
been Clerk Of the last House Of Repre-
sentativcs; and,
Second, That Messrs. Push and
Peorce, two Of the representatives. from
Hamilton County. were sworn in upon
the certificates Of election which they
presented.
These excuses are infinitely frivolous
and absurd. OF necessity, The House
had to be called to order by some one.
Mr.. Letter, the present Chairman, had
an equal right with each and every 9th.
er member elect, TO take this in tatory
step towards an organization of the
oody of which he was part. 1t has
been so long the custom. for one Of the
members 10 perform this necessary dut!
that its exercise by u member has be.
come part OF the accustomed law of
the body. Mr.. Letter, then, was in his
right place, at a proper time, and per.
formed necessary duty in u lawful
way.
1t did moi suit the purposes of the
recusants, however, though present
within the bar, to heed the call to order
Of one OF their fellow members. thus
made in all the forms of the accustom.
ed law of the House, but they must a.
wait the cali of Mr.. Swift. And who
and what was Mr.. Swift. He had
been Clerk during former session Of a
former House. Within the bar nf the
present House, he was an intruder, un-
less he was there by the invitation or
snfferenre of its members. Asa CIerk,
he became funcius cGcio at the close
of the last session, !or The law of his
creation declares tina, he was Selected
to serve during Mat session. (See
Journal of the last House. page 81
AS simple Mr.. Swift, he occupied, IN
reference to the present House. precise
ly the same position as that of each and
every other citizen OF Ohio, not mem.
Der elect Of the body.
Mr.. Swift, then, had no more war,
rant 10 call the House to order, had he
felt disposed to do so, than either of
you, iizens, or either of us; and
after Mr.. Letter had performed that Of.
fce, ard forty members had been sworn
md taken their seats under the call,
any interruption from Mr.. Swift, or
from any other person, with view TO
override the lncipient organization un
der the call, was factious in its objects.
and deeply disgracelul TO the parties
engaged in it.
The other, anj only remaining ex-
cuse, though more absurd If possible,
than The first, furnishes, we are led To
believe, the real cause why the recu.
SAINT members resolved upon their des-
perate detection. Upon the call. by
the Chairman, of Hamilton county,
Messrs. Pugh and Pierce. as we'll as
,,her Representatives from that coun-
", presented as their credentials, duly