, 1856-02-01

MI Wallace-1hat lS all L want III
the gentleman, who has great experience,
admits we were in joint convention on the
FIRST day-that they did meet in joint con
vention, ! would like to know how they
have legally eXtricated themselves from
that convention. | have heard no argu.
ment which convinced me-
say that the Council, after assembling
in its conventional body, could not dissolve
itselfat the pleasure of the Council Mr..
President, certain things transpired in that
convention which have been alluded to.
What did the Chairman of that conven-
ton do? Sir, he ruled certain motion,
which. was made by member of that
body, out of order. That, sir, was the
FIRST great mistake; q great error, sir.
When we were in that convention, that
convention had the sole right to determine
what was, aud what was not proper.
| doubt whether there eau be found any
precedent for such decision, except in one
instance not long since, by the presiding
officer of this Council.
The records will show who was, and who
was not, ut his post; and | will inform
gentlemen that if they had remained ut
their posts when it was put, it would not
have carried; and, sir, this justification
which gentlemen seek, for abscnting them
selves from their strict duty, must, in my
opinion, be found somewhere else than with
the people Of Washington Territory.
Mr.. Catlin said-Mr President, it will
require but IL few words to answer the gen.
rlcman.
He says a joint convention has the pow
er 10 determine for itself what is, and what
IS not, proper to do in joint convention.
The organic act says the legislature shall
be composed Of two housc--a house Of
representatives and q council. 1t would
merge the two houses into one, and deS
troy the rights and powers of the Council
as legislative body, which has equal
rights aud powers with the Hoase. 1t
was an outrage upon the honor of man,
and the confidence they should be cntitled
20 repOsc in each other Such spirit Of
reckless betrayal Of confidence aud Justice,
if it generally prevailed, must d, S'roy the
rights aud liberties Of the people, proilu.
cling anarchy and finally despotisul. The
rights OF man can only he maintained by
the'virtue and intelligence Of the people.
II Is the same spirit that governs the va
rions islns-know-nothlug and fusion OPP
position-which are striving to destroy
and divide the Union. Considering the
source it came from, perhaps we had no
right to expect better. But was not pre-
pared to believe in such reckless and
open violation Of honor. But to return TO
the convention. When l refused 10 put
the appeal, it was moved to adjourn to
half past ten tomorrow; which was car
ried, but notice was given that the appeal
would be pressed tomorrow. The Coun-
Gil retired to their chamber and adjourned.
Ten o'clock, Friday 26, Council met and
read the journals. No notice being recei-
we'd from the House that they would re-
ceive us, and one Of our members becom-
ing refractory and refusing TO conc to or
der, there was no way but TO order him un-
der arrest, or adjourn. l saw the member
was very much excited, and, to prevent a
quarrel, suggested an adjournment. The
motion was made and carried, and the
Council adjourned. Now the gentleman
says the Council did meet the House in
joint convention yesterday, (25th) except
Il few renegades, and proceeded to busi-
ness. Yes, they did proceed TO business,
and elect Public Printer! which, report
says, was conferred OH the honorable gen.
tleman who preceded me (Col. Wallace. }
When the gentleman gets 10 printing the
laws, be kind enough to put me down as a
subscriber to his paper.
Now, how did the Council meet in con-
vention when it adjourned? 1t can meet
in no other way than as an organized body
with the presiding officer at its head, and
the officers Of the Council become officers
Of tho convention. The renegades the
gentleman speaks Of, were six members Of
the Council, and all the officers. But three
of them, in their individual capacities, did
meet, who had just as much business there
as any other private citizen, and no more.
But the gentleman sOys l got my opinion
from report. How am to get the factsI
l expect to get them from the journals Of
the convention, If they are not mutilated
or secrcted by secret session. Tue jour
mus muHI ohON JOihI COuNeuIlOu VI IhO
two houses. II they do, they will show q
falsehOod. II they do not, they show them
selves out of order. All their journals
Gun show is their tricks to coerce the
Council, and their Ignorance Of their pow
er to do so. The Council would be excu.
sable for not meeting in convention by not
receiving notice, and the necessity Of ad-
journing. But l place the cause for not
meeting in convention on the 25th, on
higher and broader grounds. ground it
OH the laws Of God aud the laws Of man.
Self preservation is the first law Of nature.
There was no other way We could preserve
the rights Of the Council and the dignity
Of its members. 1t was a duty we owed
to our constituents to protect and preserve
the legislative rights and powers of the
Council. The same right a man has to
protect himself against robber on the
highway. The gentleman wishes to know
how we are to get that assurance Of hon.
orablc treatment l am like the gentleman.