Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1857-02-19

it an useful and interesting paper.
Indiana sham United States Senator'S
al Election.
The recent ballot for United States Sen
ators by the Democratic wing of our Legis-
lature would be considered very good
farce, were it not that the actors therein and /
the Democratic party generally, seem deter
mined to palm off this informal and un-
precedented proceeding upon the country
as bona tide election. just look one mo-
ment at the circumstances under which this
so-called election took place. A portion
of the Senate, being less than orre-half of
that body, meet with portion of the House
and go through the forms of balloting,
and the result of this proceeding is that
Graham N. Fitch and Jesse d. Bright are
declared elected as Senators to represent In
diana in Congress. Now everybody knows
that less than a quorum of any deliberative
body is incapable of doing any business
whatever. Here then was less than a quo
rum of the Senate and also of the House.
Separately the action of each of these bod
les would be illegal and invalid. But ac
corling to the arguments OF. the Demo
cratic sheets, the action of these two bodies
united is valid and legal. Admirable rea-
soning, truly But will this action be sus-
tanned? The decision of the question rests
with the United States Senate, which is
strongly Democratic, and which no doubt
will resort to any subterfuge to maintain
these Sham Senators in their seats. 1t is
hard to believe that any body or party of
men will endorse such proceeding as this.
Some of our Republican journals think
that the Democracy dare not do this in the
face of Harlan's case, that the dictates of
policy would forbid it, and it is whispered
that the sole object of this election is to
/ give Dr. Fitch chance to visit Washing
ton at Uncle Sans expense, and to get
grab ont of the Treasury. This may be
charitable way of looking at this thing, but
such journals forget the character of the foe
they are dealing with. This trusting to the
conscience or the self respect of the Demo
cratic party is leaning on broken reed.-
When was it ever known that that party
paused in its course at the dictates of con-
science? When was it known that homes
ty or respect for the rightever checked them
in carrying out their nefarious policy
Can we suppose that men like Douglass,
Mason, Toombs and Bright will stop to ask
if this election is just and legal, or that
they cannot find some excuse for overriding
the voice of the people and keeping these
men in their seats? Has Douglass lost
that ingenuity and sophistry by which he
makes the wrong appear the right? Is Ma
son wont to respect honesty and justice,
when party ends are balanced against them?
Already Fitch has been sworn in las an act
of courtesy" and it is not improbable that
he will retain his seat ''as an act Of courte-
sy," and so Indiana will be misrepre-
sented by these Senators, not Of her own
choice.
The Ind annapolis Sestinei, the State or
gan of the Democracy, thus shows their
lime of policy: The United States Senate,
! it says, win admit Fitch and Bright to their
seats, and what then does it urge, NOT be-
cause they are legally elected, mot because
they are true representatives Of the State
s.6m because the Senate Is Thoroughly Dem
ocratic." This is the old argument col
might makes right''-the true spirit of the
Ostend Manifesto---the cool audacity ofthe
I villain who boasts of his immunity from
punishment because the jury, before which
|, he is to be tried, are fellow villains. The
} enemy are at work patching up this scheme
to make it plausible. The Republicans
must not sleep, expecting justice will be
done.
, An exchange suggests that it is high
time we had a vigilance COMMITTEES ap
pointed to protect our State when our law
are thus trampled upon. We await the re
suit. If the Democracy carry out then
: programme, then It is time that something
were DONE The people should not submit
There is point where forbeanncc ceases
! to be a virtue, and justice to ourselves de
mands extraordinary remedies. =
If a fow crafty politicians can thus over