The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-12-16
Te the People Of Ohio.

0toSS1s uovtuS uSSCiiioiSu VI tttO CupttWl
Of your State, and discharged our duty
under the laws Of the land, by casting
oufsballots for those distinguished ci,i.
sens Of the Republic, LEWIS CASS
and WILLIAM 0. BUTLER, and be.
ing about TO separate, and return 10 our
respective homes, have deemed it ad-
visable TO communicate TO our numer-
ousand patriotic con stiluenev, a correct
recital Of the alarming occurrences
which here menace the dissolution Of
your legislative sovereignty, and OF
which we have, of necessity, been com
PEELED TO oe the witnesses. In making
this communication, we address you in
the spirit ofconfidence which has here,
tofore existed between US. and as cit
liens, having the same vital interest
with each and all OF you, in The preser
valion Of our republican institutions.
We extenuate nothing or set down
aught in malice, with reference to the
occurrences Of which we speak: and we
invoke the exercise Of your judgmen,
upon the conduct of the persons imp'i.
Gated solely for the purpose of calling
into salutary exercise the full force OF
/, your moral energies. in the support OF
those Of Your public servants, who, be-
set with scandalous impedimenis, are
in the plain path Of public duty. M
-Four days have nj" I" elapsed, during
which the functions of majority OF
your representatives elect have been
suspended, in our sight and hearing, by
a rioious assemblage OF evil disposed
persons, in the very hall 10 which they
ought to have repaired for the grave
purpose Of legislative deIiberalion, and
indications are YET rife, Of desperate
determination on their part, to make
the forcible interruption perpetual.
On the morning Of last Monday, the
day fixed by your constitution for the
annual assemblage Of your Legislature,
the Representatives cleo, assembled in
the Hall Of the House. and about the
hour Of 9 o'clock, A. NJ, in strict con.
formiiy with the accustomed law of the
body, were called to order by Mr.. Lett
er, of Stark county, one OF TER mum
ber,as preliminary chairman; MIR. Smith
from Brown county, another OF their
number, officiating as temporary Secre-
tary, at the request of the Chairman,
and with the assent of the members
Nearly all the members elect, were, ,.al
that time, in the Hall; and, under the
direction Of The Chairman, the usual
call was made Of the counties, and the
members elect requested 10 produce the
certificates Of election, required by law
and receive the prescribed oath OF office.
Under this call, and without any inter-
ruption from any quarter, forty mem
bers embracing all the democrats and
some wings, produced regular certi6-
Gates of election, were duly sworn and
took their seats. The thirly-two re-
naming members, most of whom were
in the Hall, refused and neg Iected.
though repeatedly invited by the Chair
man, either 10 present their certificates
Of election, or 10 receive the prescribed
oath from the judicial officer in atten'
dance, and who had sworn the sitting
members. No reason was then assign.
cd for the contumacy of the recusanl
members, but the progress OF organiza-
tion was effectually stopped by the ob.
stinate refusal OF each of them, to pre-
sent any creden,ial Of election.
After the lapse of considerable
time, the refractory members were seen
to huddle themselves together in corn
er OF the room. remote from the Chair,
and after there going lhrough with some
clandestine process, not then under
stood, but which was afterwards claim
eJ by them to be the delivery of their
10 a Mr.. Swift, who was
neither member nor officer, and the Ia,
king OF the oath of Office, commenced.
and for time continued TO interrupt by
riotous noises, and offensive and udic-
rous maneuvres, the proceedings OF the
sitting members of .he House.
This scene, disgrace(ul on the part
Of the factionists, and deeply injurious
10 the cause Of rational legislation, was
carried on for some time, in spite OF
every exertion made by the chair to re-
press it, and was finally terminated by
the wiihdra wal, in body, Of the riot
Gus assembIage, without the bar of the
House. The cause Of disturbance be-
ing thus removed. the chairman and
sitting members renewed their efforts
10 perfect an organization; and TO pre-
vent, If possible, a renewal of the mob
violence from which they had suffered
q temporary Sergeant-at-Arms was elec'
ted and sworn. Subsequently, some
two or three whig members presented
to the chairman and were
sworn and took their seats.