The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-04-07
Gov. willard and the Extra Session.

Gov. willard and the Extra Session.
In reply to the committee from the State
Benevolent Institutions, who appealed to him
to know if any measures were to be adopted
to prevent the necessity Of closing the institu-
tions. the Governor replied, shat he has re-
ceived no new lights upon the subject since
the former meeting Of the Convention, and
has therefore no further communication to
make-that he would not, however, hesitate
to call the Legislature together, if he could
be assured that they would attend to their
legitimate duties, and not engage in political
squabbles." Here is q very clear and cool
assumption-an assumption Of dictatoriai
powers. He has no right to enquire, nor even
to express an opinion in regard to the motives
the acts, or the manner Of the acts OF 9co-or-
dinate independent branch Of the government.
Il is as great an offence against proprety ana
Is great an outrage upon the fundamental
principles of the constitution for him to as
sumo the right to criticse the doings and in
ten.ions of the Legislature, as it would be Tor
him to lecture the judiciary, and criticise the
acts of the judges upon the Bench. They are
both equally independent Of the executive;
and if there be one duty to the constitution
more sacred and binding, than another, it Is
the strictest observance Of this principle OF the
entire independence of the three coordinate
powers Of the government, which, in the opin-
ion of Madison, Jefferson and the trainers OF
our government, formed the dividing line be-
tween tyranny and freedom Tyranny was
defined by them, to be a government in which
all the powers of the Legislative, Judiciary
and Executive Departments Of govern
ment were united; and Republicanism was
defined to be government, where these
powers were separate and independent
Every attempt Of one branch to encroach
upon the province or Independence OF the 9TH
ers, is to be considered an act OF usurpation
and tyranny. By the constitution the Cover
nor has a simple duty to perform; and that is
when necessity exists, he shall call the legis-
lature together In his reply to the committee
he admits the necessity of the extra session,
by saying he would convene it if the members
would behave themselves, or pledge them
selves to act accordingly to his ideas Of pro.
priety. There is no law to pay the judges,
and we presume the courts will be put upon
their good behavior by the usurper. The
courts will be allowed to sit, and the judges
will be paid their salaries on condition that
they pledge themselves in advance to dis
charge their duties in conformity with what
the Governor shall prescribe as right and
proper. If they do not comply We may have
no courts. Such an interference with the ju-
dietary would not be a whit more outrageous
than the position he las assumed in regard to
the legislature. The conduct of the Senate
during the last session was violent and most
unjustifiab.e; but he is not the censor Of their
acts, their characters, or their motives. lie
has no right to know anything of their con-
duct except as their acts may be matured, in.
to laws and laid before him IN official FORM
1t is an offence against the constitution for him
to institute an enquiry why they have done
that or left this undone. He and they have
respective provinces Of duty, and both have
common master, the people, to whom each
is alone amenabls for its acts.
This disposition to encroach upon tho in.
dependence Of o coordinate branch Of the
Government, and bend it to the will Of the
Executive, exhibits how little Of the genuine
spirit Of Democracy-how little regard FOL
the fundamental principles Of the Constitu
tion-is felt by the noisy dcmasogues who
ride into power, by vociferously proclaimine
the cant phrases of devotion to the people:
rights. Every rejecting man must condemn
as outrageous and anarchical, the proceedings
the last Legislature; they have brought iniamy
and irreparable injury upon the State; and thu
guilty parties, when they shall determine wht
they are, the people will visit with sigma
punishment. The Legislature are the PEG
pies own agents, and they need not Gov
Wizards opinions nor his help to contro
them, nor to punish them. 1t is An insult t,
them, and gross assumption Of power 70
him to determine that the State shall remain
without law or legal government, because ii
his opinion, the men whom the people hav
elected their legislators, are unworthy t
perform their duties. He had better assum
the power and appoint more worthy ones il
their stead, after the Napoleonic manner; ant
proclaim at once, that the people are incapabl
Of choosing proper representatives to franz
their laws.
The motive for this course, is as shallow q
it is transparent. 1t is to push disorder Ant
misgovernment with their attendant evils t
the extreme. till they shall become intolerabl
to the people, and then by adroit political leg
erdemain and deception, throw the eniir
blame upon the Governors political oppo
nents, whom he thinks the people will ris