The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-12-30

lowing statement and proposition Ia
their fellow repl esentatives Of the two
other parties;
The Constitution Of Ohio appoints
The first Monday Of December in each
year, as the day for the meeting Of the
General Assembly.
On that day in this year, we presen.
ted ourselves in this Hall, and have ev.
er since held ourselves in readiness to
enter upon the discharge of our duties
as the Representatives Of our respective
constituencies. The THIRD MONDAY OF
December has now passed, and this
House is not yet organized.
Ii were needless 10 enter AT large,
into the causes which have hitherto
frustrated all attempts 10 organize this
House. 1t is enough TO say. that two
gentlemen, members of The Democratic
party, claim seats as members elect
from Hamilton county, while Two gen
ilemen Of tho Wing party, claim the
same seats as members elect from the
first District Of The same county.
These conflicting Claims, and recip.
rocal dis,rusi, have separated the mem
bers cleo, into two antagonisllc bodies,
each attempting, and neither able TO ef.
feet an organization Of the House; dlvi.
ded from each other only by the middle
aisle Of The Hall, and get, seemingly,
incapable Of union or agreement.
We mean 10 express, here, no APP
proval or disapproval of the acts oi
either of these bodies hitherto. With
neither OF the partial organizations al
ready effected, have we as body, co.
operated. Some Of our number have
taken their seats in that organization,
originated under Democratic auspices:
-o,hers in that originated under Wing.
Prompted by IL sincere and earnest
desire tn effect an organization of the
House, We have un,tedly and as indi.
vidnaIs, offered propositions of peace
and cancellation to bnIh. Nune Of these
have vet been fortunate enough to meet
the appreciation Of the two divisions,
and, as vet, organization seems no
nearer than on the first day of our
coming together.
Under these circumstances, we have
determined 10 make another PROPOSE
'lon. simple and just to each party, and
dIvesled of all matters outside Of the
single poin, in controversy, which is
this:-ls either (and if ei,he.. whichD
Of the respective sets Of claimants from
Hamillnn County entitled prima .fdcie,
To the two disputed seats: There is
M other matter in controversy than
this, needing immediate decision.
We propose then to have this matter
decided fairly and impar,iaIly by the
onl, legal uiers. We propose that,
Mr.. Letter he recognized MS Chairman,
and that any member elect, selected by
the whig organization, act as Clerk.
Itis not disputed tina, seventy gentle,
mn h Id certificates which pr,m" facie
establish their rights to seats. These
seventy then are the natural and nee.
essary Judges Of the validity Of the GER
ufca,ps which are disputed.
We propose therefore, that the Ger.
tifcatrs Of these seventy members, and
all other certificates and evidences OF
claims To seats, be placed in the hands
Of the Clerk. and then, before any other
business be transacted, the prima facie
right of Messrs. Pu.h and Pierce be
determined BY the vote Of the seventy
members.
Upon the consideration OF this ques-
ton, We propose that Mess's S Pugh and
P-irce. and Messrs. S )encer and Run.
van. be heard BY council or otherwise,
as they may see fit, and Iha, all evi
drncp, adduced on either side, be fully
con nsidered.
We prop 'se that, in case the claim
Of Messrs. Pugh and Peirce be mega
tved, either by an equal division OF By
majority vote, the question on the
prima facie right Of Messrs. Spencer
and Runvan shall then be determined.
and that they and Messrs Perce and
Pugh be heard IN like manner.
We further propose. that in case the
claim both of Messrs Pugh and Ppircr
ana Messrs. Spencer and Runyan he
be negalived, as aforesaid. they shall
all withdraw their claims until the
House shall be organized.
For the sake Of peace, and for the
honor of our State, we would accele
To an organization, IN any mode or upon
any plan. yet proposed. rather than
pruloag the existing stale of filings. BuI
we prefer the plan which we now re.
commend. because we think il the most
perfectly fair and just of any. lf the
Legislature cannot he organized upon
this plan we greatly fear it can be or
ganized upon none.