The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1856-02-23

shall have passed away, or only remembered
among the things that were.
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A GREAT WORK ACCOMPLISHED
The removal of Joseph IIufty from the Office
Of Sheriff has been decreed by the General
Assembly. On Thursday the address for that
purpose, which had previously passed the
House BY vote Of forty-fvc ayes to twenty
three nays, was voted by the Senate, by nine
teen ayes TO twelve nays ti
This grave step has been taken BY the ma
jority only after careful examination into the
extent Of their power to pursue il, under the
provisions Of the Constitution Of the State,
and also into all the circumstances Of the case.
| While 1t must DO apparent to every one who
reads the instrument, that the Article 81 Of
the State Constitution, contains grant Of
express and independent power Of amotion Of
all civil officers, except the Governor and Judg-
cs Of the Supreme and Inferior Courts, by the
majority Of each branch Of the General Assem-
bly,, it is equally clear that SO great preroga
tive should be exercised with extreme caution;
and only in such cases as are characterized by
features Of extraordinary and perhaps irrcmedi.
able wrong towards The community or Of gross
misconduct Or unworthness on the part OF the
individual thereby to be elected from public
station.
An effort has been made by the KLow-Noth-
ing presses and orators to convince the people
that the majority, in the step which they have
TAKEN intended to revise the verdict Of the
famous jury in the case Of Belvs. Hnfty, which
the ow-Nothngs, despite the repeated dec,
aratons to the contrary, during its progress,
Of the able and ingenious counsel who conduct.
ed il on the part Of the defence, now assert
was final and conclusive. We arc certain that
there has existed no such disposition on the
part Of the General Assembly No attempt
has been made to onst Hufty and put Bell IN
his place, nor will the adoption of the addres:
have that effect; it will Of itself, not confer a
scinta of right upon Mr. Bell, to take the
Office. 1t will only make it vacant, and throw
!, upon the Governor of the State the duty o.
), appointing some one to discharge the functions
of the post lie may or may not appoint Mr.
!, Bell Should he think him worthy, he vii
have the verdict of the majority of this parish
lawfully expressed last November, to back hin
in the propriety Of his selection. Should HI
think proper to send the name of some othcl
citizen before the Senate, neither Mr.. Bell MOI
any of his friends will be justified in saying
that he has been deprived Of any right. Hi
complaint on that score is against the sever
n jnrymen who chose, even under the solemn
obligations of their oaths, to disregard boil
/ law and evidence, and to say in effect, tina
the acts of a score or two Of midnight rulfian
/ were potent enough to destroy the franchise
. Of hundreds Of good and legal voters.
The proceeding in the General Assembly wa
o IN the nature of Grand Inquest on the part c
Q the people of the State into crimes and misdt
> mcanors against their rights-their peace
their sovereignty. In the eloquent language {
n Mr., Semmes, it was the cause Of the Peopl
!, against Rullianism----of freedom of election {
4 popular rights against banded yiolenee---of TIL
people of Louisiana against Joreph HUFF
o who was attempting TO benefit by outrages sui
yersye of the institution of free suffrage; an
IS the Representatives of people who estal
O lshed those rights as among the very elemen
q of their political compact, were bound TO regar
o it in that light, and not as a contest of the il
.. diydhals, John NJ. Bell end Joseph lIufty,
Is Timid persons affect to fear that the adoptic
II Of the address of removal by the General A
!? sembly will afford dangerous preeedent-,th