The Democratic pioneer. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1845-1853, 1849-01-19

would not listen TO such claim for me
one man power for mnment, ana sha''
| we, in the chamber of the representa-
ives of free people, endure IT. Weare
invited here, sir, according TO him, to De
spectators, idle spectators, Of viola ion
of law, pretty entertainment 10 when
he has invited US! II This resolution 10
adopt rd, as hope 1t W i'll be, il will sim
ply give time for that reflection. which
know gentlemen have not given 1t. why
sir, what an astounding declaration that
we are to sit here, aud suffer declara-
4 ton to be made, which in a moment al.
ter, we will all admit to be wrong. was
Of opinion, before | was enlightened by
the genus of gentlemen, that it was the
duty Of representatives, TO hear ard con
slider and examine before deciding. j
will not now say that it Is the purpose Of
gentlemen to trampIe on the constitution
and the law. will not say that you have
determined on any particular course.
wait the cast of the die. But hope
Ina, that monstrous spectacle Of an indl
yidual seeking to usHrp an Authority
which no law gives him, will not be ex-
hbited before the people Of Ohio. And,
in reply to the Senator from Franklin,
before coming to the argument, that II
was not till geoIeman on the other
side called for the Sergeant at-hrms TO
silence me, that | called him coward and
dared bis force. ] have no language Of
intimida alton, bat ! will always respond
to threat like that. invite all the
gentlemen on the other si de Of the Cham
Der to a lair and manly discussion on he
law and the facts, and il after that argu-
ment they can sit here, remembering
that time when man must give an account
Of the deeds which are done in the body,
# they can sit here, and say on their oaths
that Seabury Ford has majority of the
votes, no man shall blame them. But, if.
Sir. without examination aad argument
they will blindly follow their potilical
prejud;ces, fearful will be their responsi
biIily. hope the Speaker Of the Senate
will pay that attention to the argument
that a common juryman would. The
question here is, whether the Speaker of
the Senate Can sit here obedient Ia moth
ing but his own will, to decide who has
r,aaivaI tl,a hinhact hor ,,f f,,,
Governor. THIS is the proposition of the
gentleman on the other side Of the Cham
ber. will wait till the Speaker is
through with his business: although he is
not incl ned to favor the argumenlswhich
the representatives of 76 900 Of the free
men Of his State feels it his duty to make.
hope VII at least be treated with the
ordinary courtesy which prevails among
gentlemen.
say then sir, that ii is the proposition
Of the gentleman, that you IRE omnipo.
tent on this subject and that your procla
nation can only be reversed on = contest
| deny il. 1t used to be an old fashioned
republican doctrine, that the powers ci
an officer should be consiructed strictly
and in accordance with the Constitution
The Consiu.,nn prescribes what your
power in the matter Of Governor is.
beg leave to read it, for there is no elec,
tion which has been so wrongly Construct
ed. 1t is supposed that it requires the
SPEAKER to declare who has the h'ghestt
number of votes; there is no such provis
Ton in it.
Now Mr.Speaker there is con, aimed your
warrant: within these five or SIX lines on
find your sole authority for all you may
attempt to do on this occasion. When
you receive the returns, what is your du
~ TO opon aud publish the votes, and
if on step beyond that you 'rample upon
show that you, sir, ami the gentlemen on
the other side of the chamber, have con.
CURED in this construction.
by what authority do these clerks sit |
here and count the votes, if il is your
right and yours alone, to open. publish,
and declare the v,tes--if you have the
power, sir, yen must exercise it yourself.
You have no right TO delsgate any par!
of your powet--if you have this right no
body else has any right, The Senator
ro IN G. may say, look TO the law and see
f that does not direct him to call to his
assistance those clerks; the law does not
10 so--what il did can any law cuntra>
'ene and override the Cons tuition. III
Tou have the power which is claimed for |
on it is coupled with duty. Ifit be so, !
you have violated the constitution. and |
not performed your duty, in suffering the
Clerk TO have any thing TO do with it,
You, sir, nor the most astute lawyers !
impelled by the blindest party prejudices
cannot SO construe this section OF the con