The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-04-04
THE KANSAS LRGIsLATURE.


ssis upon ignoring the laws in Kansas and giving up
that Territory to anarchy is so audacous TO be sur
Frisng in that bold and reckless journal If legis
atnre surrourda with all tie Insignia of author
y then the Kansas legislature is surrounded which
the Tribune pretends to regard as nonresident When
Governor RI sder went to the Territory FIRST election
surrendered necessarily his care He was to pre-
scribe the time places and manner and to appoint the
judges Under hssupervon the election was held and
the result ascerained In districts there sug
gcston of fraud aud trials were had, In majority
Of cses however the governor recognised the election
valid and issued hii to the successful parties
The legislature assembled and Governor Reeder reeog
Missed it aud inerchanged communications with it. These
communications ceased upon any alleged fraud which
nullfed the legislature but upon question whether the
ezsatura had right change its place of meeting and
whether its acts done different place from that where
it had been called to meet would be legal The place
changed however and this question has been thought
worthy of discussion since The legislature pursued it,
wsy enacted laws and adjourned Some OF its laws were
unwe but those most complained of enforced
and have since been repealed at second session of tie
same legislature. Gov Rseder was succeeded by Gov.
Shannon and he also recognised the legislature legal
and its laws valid. OF course, the character of its
corrupt members on earth may yet have been fairly
chosen to representative position. The persons who
reported by the corruption committee Of the last
House, and who are among the most clamorops about
frauds in Kansas had valid titles SO far as know
their seats though they may hare prostitued their
stations TO selfish and unworthy purposes But they had
better title far all legal forms and securities
considered than they had who were certa.ed by Gov
Il, ~. -
either contested ese decided to be right
fully theirs Congress refused to ignore this legislature
and Gov Geary like his predecessors recognised its valid
existence Under these circumstances to pretend utterly
disregard it, upon allegation of fCaud in the original
election aud 10 denouncc everybody who recognises it's
laws border rutan argues, it TO us, either
perverted intellect very weak What decision
has been made against it Where the authority which
controverts It's prima acie right There ia fact tie
legislature is duly certfcated in majority of cases and
assumed TO be legal by Presidents and governors and
Congress Yet because the New York Tribune thinks that
its members not fairly elected told that it has
no legal existencel The New York Commercial (whg)
says on this subject
"The legislature may have been wrongfuy elected; but
it remains to be decided by compete authority that
so, and it remains to be proved that majority of its
bers illegally chosen. Until the freeState have
submitted their charges and specifications ubstantiae
such legaity to the Supreme Court to Congress- and
the Supreme Court Congress has decided that such lille
gay invaldity is proved, the powers Of legislation
rest in that body the legislature de aco. There
other legilaure other body that Makes make
reasonable pretence to be the legislature of Kansas
This ia the view of common sense. Bat what if q
case made to the Supreme Court, and the Supreme
Court should recognise the Kansas ensctments valid
is it not evident that this would make difference in
the opinions and action of the back-republean agita
tors2 Are they now denouncng the Supreme Court
s!avehoders court2 Do they spit upon its dec
on7 Do they talk of rebellion against its mandates
they not declared against it, and marked it
for destruction? 1t il not the Kansas legislature only
which these refuse to regard There scarcely any
thing sacred in their eyes except themselves They pro-
coed il they had infallibe judgments; and thus
hToned within the sacred circle Of their assumed per-
fiction, they try oil men and all institutions by their
standard and pronounce DEGREES with the magnificent i'm
portance OF many Jovcs But happily they have
Joves tbuudrbos to enforce their wishes. In practical
life, they better, wiser, powerful than
other Like other men, they live under government
of sw and they must obey the laws take the
quences II is in New York and Kansas alike; and in
either place. when legislature does conduct in such
way to suit the people, the plain remedy for the peo
pie is to elect better legislature next time.