The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1856-12-15


0r3r We are arraigned by the Vincennes
Gazette for stating simple proposition and
Governor Wrght's proclamation distrlcting
the State. We have simply said, that if the
Governor had no legal rght--which we are
confident he had MOTTO prescribe how the
Senator'S and Representatives should he elect
ed, his proclamation was q nullity, and al
though there was an assumption, there was
no usurpation Of power, for the people were
under no obligations to regard his mandate in
the matter, more than an unofficial recommen-
dation. IF there was no law districting the
State, Governor Wright's proclamation could
not make a law-and if the election was held
without the necessary legal provisions for its
regulation and direction, the Legislature elect
! ed by it are without the authority of law, and
have no more constitutional authority, than
the Republican Convention called together by
Mr.. Defree's proclamation on the 7th of Jan
uary next, the representation in which the
chairman prescribes. IF the positions Of the
Gazette arc correct we are without a consti-
tutional Legislature, and their acts will be as
void as the proclamation under which they
were elected. To avoid the necessity of these
extreme conclusions-wthout any reference
to how the exigency was created-we intima-
ted some warrant for the act was to be found
in the necessities of the case. In answer to the
interrogatory of the Gazette "who is to Judge
whether the necessity warranted the act?''--
We reply the "people;" and we say the "peo-
ple'' did sanction the act by voluntarily COM
plying with the rcquisition, though they were
under no sort Of obligation compulsion to
conform to it. By the unwarrantable derelic-
ton Of the Legislature, and perhaps the equal
ly culpabe neglect, or refusal of the Governor
to call them together to remedy the om- 5tfo+,,
the regular succession of Legislative power
was lost and the government virtually dis
solved. For these grave offences, the people
had neither the power to punish nor remedy.
To avoid still greater evils, they have submit
ted to the act and given it a tact sanction. 1t
should be acquesced in at once by all, or re-
: sisted with the determination to settle forever
it's constitutionality; for its consequences will
u affect if we are correct, the whole future leg
islation of the State.
These unjustiiable violations of constitu-
tonal dutes-this substitution Of allegiance
, to party instead of the State-ma1ing the Fri
pmph of party paramount to all other consid
i" Grafton of right and duty, have been witnessed
= by the people, and silently tolerated as neces
: sary and inevitable evils of our political sys
= tenn; because they see no relief from them, fo
. one party is as prone to them as the other
=, What is condemned by one faction to day a
. most outrageous in the acts of their oppo
. nents is retaliated by nose who denounc
it to morrow. The people have no confidence
IN the moral integrity and patriotism Of eithe
party. The moral sense Of the country i
corrupted; and its faith in the patriotism, viz
tue, and integrity Of public servants is lost
" Corruption and political proiigacy is the rul
honesty and devotion to the public good
are the exceptions. This is the way in which
all people are prepared to submit to usurpa
ton and tyranny. The day may come
earlier than is now dreamt of-when the proc
lamations of some future Governor Wrigh
may superscede all constitutional and logisla
tive cnactments.
ID ST.. LOUISA census of this city has jus
C. been completed, but the aggregates have no