Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-02-02

indeed be an anomaly in the history ofie
gislative and constitutional reform; ane
just such an anomaly is presented in the
resolution adopted BY the kingly majority
Of one in the House, declaring Mr.. Kins
mans seat vacant.
This, then, is the plain state Of the case
The House Of Representatives, in direc,
and deliberate violation Of the plainest pro-
visions of the constitution, have usurpee
a power belonging TO the Executive;
power which was carefully withheld
from them by the trainers Of that instru
meht, for good and sufficient reasons, til.
principal one being to guard against just
such an outrage az that which they havs
now committed. The sacrilegious hand
Of federal usurpation has been laid with
violence upon the most sacred Of popular
rights, the right Of the people to voice
in the legislative department of govern
ment; our liberties have been assailed in
the most sensitive and vital part; the con.
st'tution has again been rode over rough
shod bya desperate band Of political free
hooters; and all this to prevent an election
Of Senators and Judges in accordance with
the will OF the people SO emphatically ex-
pressed through the ballot box since their
former diseraceful session. This desper.
ate stretch OF power was assumed for the
purpose of enabling them to do, in direct
contravention of the popular will, the
same :hing for doing which in obedience TO
that will, they had loudly charged the
democratic members efthe legislature with
perjury and violation Of the constitution.
They are therefore self-condemued for a
violation Of the constitution; "out of their
own mouths" do they stand convicted Of
perjury in defeating the election of Sena-
tors and Judges; but their most heinous
crime is in the means to which they resor-
ted for efecting that object.
In this respect they are guilty of per-
Jury, and that Of the blacklist hue. We
do not, like our opponents, make use of
the term perjury as mere political catch
word; we mean to be understood as dis
|incily charging that the federal members
'fthe House, Individually and collective
y, by usurping powers interdicted to them
in the constitution, and that with the a.
vowed object ofneutralizing the majority
in favor of an election of Senators and
Judges, have one and all coolly and DELHI.
'rately reyured themselves. They are
low on level, morally, with their bribed
stool pigeon from Keokuk county, whom
hey have sustained throughout, and to
whom they are indebted for their kingly
An honest and respected rep
esentative Of large district has thus
,een deprived of his sea. in the house BY
he vote of that loa'l.ed and degraded
subject of 'bribsry and corruption" Mel
on King! Will the people look patiently
n and wink at such revolving scenes of
political villiany? Can their indignation
leep when they see their constitutional
lights voted away, and honest represen-
ativcs driven from the halls of legislation,
y the votes of such penitsntiary birds as
Nelson King and Of such moving mass of
moral depravity and idio,y as Josiah Cliff
on? When they see the constitution re-
'eatedly subverted by the arbitrary de-
ision ola lawless accidental majority,
an they slumber over the mine to which
he torch is already applied?
Our appeal is to the sovereign people
large, and to the honest masses of the
shig party in particular. Do you wish
see good order and constitutional law
ct aside, while discord, anarchy and law
sss violence reign supreme in your lesis-
ative halls? If this is what you desire,
ou have only to sanction the dangerous
precedent established by the federal ma.
orIty in the House Of Representatives,
I'd your desire will be gratifed. Then
will be understood on all hands, that w
ave no security for our rights in the con-
and every man will be prepar-
d to maintain his own rights as best he
nay. Then might will be the only test of
light; every question will be decided BY
numerical strength, and physical force will
re the final resort. The pistol, the dirk
nd the bowie knife will supercede the
orms Of law and order, as means of en-
orcing authority, and your legislative halls
will be consecrated 10 anarchy by the blood
ftyrants and martyrs to freedom.
If it be decided that bare majority
ray turn out members at will, on any pre-
ext, and that the only security of the mi
ori'y totheir seats, is in fighting for them,
hen let the people of each district select