The Evansville daily journal., 1857-02-06
Tbs Legislature.
We do not beiidyelthsre has esefbee in the

We do not believe there hsseserDeeh ih ''io
history of the country-in the most discrgan-
lied condition Of border society--in the
periods OF the widest party excitement, .
Legislature in which the spirit of anarchy
OF faction and political proaigacy was so dom
inant as it has been in our own during the
present Session. ! 1t is reproach to the State
and her citizens Ia the opinion Of juIists and
of sound thinking men, we have no conssitu-
-tional goyernment-no legitimate authority to
make or Iexec1te/ths necessary laws. 1t is
said that it is useless TO dispute the authority
of the powers that now hold the reins ofrgov
ernmsnt, because the courts are filed with
their adherents, who will sustain their dOings;
this aggrayates the tyranny Of the factious rule
but does not iegalize nor confirm it; for there
are rights Of parties beyond their control, and
rights Of appeal to an authority beyond their
reach. And faction will not always rule. =
The time will come when the doings Of the
present, will be reviewed by independent and
impartial tribunals, and the constitutional va.
ldity pf. the acts of the present government
will be 'scrutinized and determined, and in the
decisiou the well being of society, and the in
terest of every individual in the State may be
involved. If,the Legislature he not constitu-
tionally elected, they have no power TO make
laws, and their enactmehts have no more au.
thurisy. lhanthe .rcsolses'ofa a political caucus.
lsi If the Governor was Ineligible and was not
constitutionally inaugurated and invested with
his official authority, he hasno power to com
mission the ministerial officers Of the State,
and none of their.acts can be valid. These
are questions Of serious import and cannot be
blinked outiof' sight. Perhaps the election o
Bright.and Fitch by a aiaction, in disregard O
the constitution, law, and all precedent, may
bring all these questions before the Senate o
the United States for discussion. . IL there
hadbeeh' any regard at all, to the constitution
aEforms and mode oforsanizins the jOintcon
.vantion--apy. legal plausibilty in'the proceed
ingr the inquiry of the Senate might extent
to the rights Of the Governor .tDnexsrese ,th
duties Of his Office and grant commissions. ant
ilto the legality ofthe election and organiza
ton of the Legislature. But the outrage o
law,and the Constitution is so apparent IN tn
s..erganization of the joint. convention it see m
as ifthe enquiry could not be carried beyon'
the manner of its own formation. II itcoul'
be, we might rejoice cyeri the event. as on
likely to settle our difficulties atonce. e., Il
We eapnYt believe such an election can b
-, sanctioned by the Senate OF the United States
- S;,teE It's action insthe ease of Senator Harlan
III would seem as il there were no motive
~ in going through the farce, but to secure th
emo!uments Of Senator. And we should SUP
pose men with any selErespcct would blus
to present such credentials. But We ar
told they have high authority in their part
ssforrsaying the election will be sustained, an
it was these. assurances from abroad that in
tlucel the. sudden determination to 60 int
the etection. s'tss1r ffai .yest 80 81 ~