Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1857-02-13
Prom tho Indiana Journal.
The sham Elections.

the progress Of tho sham proceedings Of
the "old liners" In the Legislature. which
had their elimination on Wednesday, 10
treat them with any degree Of seriousness.
There 10 one aspect Of the case. however,
which may render them Of vital import
ance TO the State. Should the Senate Of
tho United States regard these revolution.
airy and unconstitutional proceedings as
possessing any validity whatever, they
will become at once invested with an i'm
portancc outweighing any previous act Of
any political party In the history OF our
State Government The simple question,
whether a. mob can. by m endorsement
from the Senate Of the United States. an
initiate an independent branch OF State
Legislature, will present itself with vital
ity which must arrest tho attention Of ev.
cry thinking man throughout the country.
But It seems to us that It would DO doing
great injustice to that body to suppose u
will stultfy itself by becoming party to
such revolutionary proceedings moro cs-
pccially so close upon tho heels Of its do
cision Of the case from Iowa. To enlarge
on tho views presented by us day before
yesterday, wo shall assume the following
positions.
lat Tho election Of a Ocnator II a, leg.
islativc act.
I'D. There can 10 no legislative act with
ont the separate concurrence Of both BRAN
chcs OF tho General Assembly.
Sd. There was no such concurrence OF
two Houses In the proceedings Of wcdnes.
day.
4th. Tho Constitution Of the State
recognizes no such thing as Joint Con-
vention for any purpose. Legislative or 9TH
crwise.
9th. No law Of tho State authorizes
any Joint Convention Of the two Houses
except for single purpose. and that hav-
| ing no connection with tho proceedings Of
"Wednesday.
The third section Of the first article Of
tho Constitution OF the United States de.
clares that "the Senate OF the United
States shall DO composed Of two Senator
from each State, chosen by the Legislature
thereof, for six years." Our State consti-
tuition declarcs-Art. ", Sec. l-that "the
legislative authority Of tho State shall be
vested In the General Assembly, which
shall consist Of Senate and House Of
Representatives" Tho 10th section Of
the samc article declares that Each House
shall have all the power necessary for a
branch Of the legislative body Of free
and independent State" No legislative
act can have any force or. effect without
the separate assent Of each House. The
4ih section Of the first article Of tho Con-
siituton Of the United States declares that
"The times, places and manner Of holding
elections Of Senators and Representatives,
shall be prescribed In each State by the
Legislature thereof; but Congress may. At
any time. by law. make. or alter such reg.
ulations. except as to the law Of choosing
Senator'S" Congress has made no regula-
ton, by law, for the election Of Senators;
and rs the 3D. section Of this article makes
the choice Of Senators legislative act, the
object Of the exception In tho lth section
Is very apparent. Senators In Congress
arc to DO chosen by the Legislature, whes
IL 10 IN session, and not slsssshsrs
Tho Legislature. Is composed OF two
Houses, and they each have separate
place for transacting legislative business
Congress has no right to change those plaoes
Of doing business OF doing legislative bus
mess; hence tho limitation Of Ia power 10
the exception contained In the 4th section
Of the LIST article OF the Constitution, al
ready quoted.
That there can be no logi tive act Of
any description without III separate con.
currcnce OF each House. 10 too clear to
need any argument 10 ils support. Near
ly every section Of the fourth article Of
our Constitution recognizes this principle.
II would be subversive Of the gsnius OF
our State Government to maintain any