The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1848-02-24


elected and returned. The course pursu.
ed by the wbg members throughout that
session. the Journals will attest. Rcsolu-
ton after resolution WINS pissed in the
House Of Representatives for a Joint con.
vcntion, but they were rs repeatedly laid
cold by the dominant party in the Senate.
On ono occasion alone did tho two houses
meet in join, convention, a, which single
balloting for United States Senator took
place which resulted ia no choice. At no
other time would the majority in the Sen
ate conscn, to meet the House. The obyi-
Gus, it not the nyowcd reason for their
course wns the apprehension that some 9TH
crpcrsons than the CAUCUS candidates Of the
party would be elected. II was in vain we
urged them that just regard for the obi.
cations imposed by the constitution of tho
United States and Of this State demanded
the election of u. S. Senators. In vain, VIC
urged that the people Of the State expected
n compliance with the plain provisions Of
the Constitution in tho election Of . su-
premc bench. In vain we urged the par
amour, importance Of representation in
the Senate Of the United States. in promo
ton Of our interests md especially. in old
Of tho crippled navigation of our rivers,
where tho voice Of Iowa would hc equal to
that of New York. Il was al 10 no pnr-
p0sc--our enircatics and pro.cstaiions were
disrcgnrded.
Il NAV he here stated that nm extra scs-
sion nj that time was not thought Of rs a.
mong probable events. The dominant par
~ assumed the responsibility of posiponing
mn election until after the next general
election for members of the legislature ia
1913, md rs n consequence, Of dcpriving
the State of her representation in the u.
5. Senate until tho meeting Of the mex,
regular session, and tho people Of the State
Of Judges elected BY the general assembly
until the same period. They appealed as
they said 10 the people, filed their bonds
md adjourned. We acqnicsccd, wen,
home, aud were patiently waiting tho day
Of trial before The appellate power on the
first Monday Of August, 1913, when tho
proclamation of the Governor summoned
MS to meet in extra session.
In the internal between the Adjournment
OF the first session ef the General Assem-
bly, md the issuing Of the proclamation,
several vacancies occurred. Tho first in
order OF tima was the vacancy in the com
ty Of Mnhnskn, occasioned by the death of
the late worthy member, JOHN w. SMITH.
This was ordered &c DO filled ut the general
election in August. The vacancy in the
county OF Dcs Moincs was occasioncd by
tho resignation Of Capt. BowIE, which was
ordered TO be filled ut the same time. Ac-
cording 10 rumor several others had occur
red; Two in the district composed of tho
counties Of Polk, Dallas, Jasper and Ma
rion--onc Of these, that Of Mr.. kinsman OF
tho House By resignation and removal from
his district; tho other that Of Mr.. Baker Of
the Senate by the acceptance Of the office
Of prosecuting attorney for the county of
Polk-nnothcr in tho senatorial district al
Wapcllo and Monroc--another in Clinton
another in Dubuque, and yet another in
Davis and Appanoosc-nnd subsequently,
another, that Of Mr.. Baker in Lee, by re-
signn,ion, which was ordered to be filled
at a special election.
The question here ariscs, why was the
Legislature convened in extra session until
these vacancies were all filled? In Des
Moines and Lee writs of election could is
sue before tho ink in tho letters Of rcsigna-
ton had fairly had time to become dry.
Why is a different course pursued in.rc-
gard 10 tho designations in Wapollo and
Monroe and in Polk, Dallas, Jasper md
Marion? "Dcmocratc MEMBERS" We arc
told, ssare not allowed 10 resign" demo-
critic designations nrc not, il seems, re-
ccvcd; the seats Of .democratic" members
cannot, il appears, become vacant. Was
it unprecedented that those seats would be
filled By otl.cr than democratic incumbcnts?
BE this as il may il is enough for our pres.
cnt purpose to know that they were not Or
dcrcd 10 he filed.
The legislature WINS convened in extra
session Tor causes set forth in tho pr0cla-
nation Of the Governor. tho last on the list
being the "harmonious" election Of II. s..
Senators and Judges Of the supreme court !;
and VIC must be permitted 10 say that il II
our settled opinion TINT this was the main
and moving cause Of the session, the others
being mere auxiliarics 10 Oil mp the bill and
on account of which alone no extra session
would have becn called, ut an expense 10
the :cnr!c, ~ this has been, Of some ten
thousand dollars. Hero then il seems the
Dominant party impatient Of the delay Gre
sted by their conduct last winter, and with
out waiting for . decision by the tribunal
Of the people 10 which they had appealed,
hurry back here in extra session, and seek
to rescind the appeal md chin new tri-
al before the inferior tribunal from which
they had taken the appeal. Under these
circumstances, and laying out Of view Cor
tho moment, the illegal, unconstitutional,