The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-02-28
The Apportionment Bill.

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The Apportionment Bill.
We give the Republicans the benefit Of
publishing Gov. Bissslrs message vetoing
the apportionment bill, against which they
have attempted to raise a furious outcry. |
look, but will not bear examination. His /
first objection, that according to the s0nsti- !
tuition counties containing q population OF
mere than one.fourth over the existing ratio |
cannot be joined to other counties, is ridicu-
lous, and was violated in the case OF La Sale
and dozen other counties by the last ap-
poztionment law. The next objection, that
die new county of Douglas is omitted in the
bill, is, II anything, more fimsy; for as no
such county is yet in existence, and its ever
being organized depends upon the contin-
gsucy Of vote Of the people in its favor,
there is no lawyer in the world but knows
that the territory will be represented by the
old county lines, whether the new county is
organized or not. The same answer will
apply to his pretence that certain towns in
Cook county are omitted in the bill.
The truth il, the Governor had no sub
stantisl reasons for vetoing the bill, and had
no thought Of doing so until forced into the
measure by certain disappointed politicians
This is evidenced by the well known cir
cumstances attending the veto, and which
are so extraordinary, that they will scarce
y be credited
Within day after the bill had passed
both houses, at least half dozen of differ
ent individuals were assured by Gov. Bissell
that he would sign it; and accordingly, on
the second day after the passage Of the bill,
Il was returned to the House by the Govern
or with his signature. And now occurred a
scene which is weakly characterized by the
term disgraceful. The Republican members,
on this announcement, were seized with
violent agitation, and turned pale with rage.
The next minute, they struck 4 Decline for
the Governors mansion, and in Is minutes
poor Bissen was surrounded by clamorous
mob of indignant fusion representatives and
senator's Their threats and seedlings fright
ened poor BisselI, and he did that which is
without precedent in Illinois legislation. He
sent message to the House stating that he
had signed the bill through inadvertance,
and, q few hours later sent another message |
vetoisg the bill.
The procedure was SO disrepu,able and 1
and the legality of the veto .
itself under the circumstances so question /
able, that the house refused to consider the /
message or enter it on their journal, and it ,
remains at least very doubtful whether the |
bill is vetoed or not.
"Inadvertance 1t has been limited that
Gov. Bisselrs mind is failing under the &C
Of bodily inirmities, and if we
allow that he did tell the truth in
saying he had signed the most important bill |
Of the session through inadyertance," how
will his friends relish such charity in view I
Of tho allegations Of imbecility?
But whether, after two days time for de !
liberation, the bill Was approved through
IS inadvertance" or not, a more important
question now arises, and that is, could Bis
sell in the mode be adopted, recall that in
adrertdnt approval? The constitution says,
every bill, after it shall have passed the
Senate and House Of Representatives and
received the signature Of the presiding ofii-
GERS of the two Houses, shall be presented
to the Gcv.rne-. If lac approves, he shall
sign it; if not, he shall return it with his
objection. In this case all the forms of the
constitution were complied with. The bill
had passed both Houses, being signed by
the 1t Governor and Speaker, was then
signed by the Governor, and returned to
the House in which it originated as approx
ed, and 50 entered on the journal, and SO
stands to this day, without anything on the
journal to the contrary. II, as an after
thought, the Governor could revoke that
approval, when are all the forms to be con-
sidered complied with to make a bill a law?
The only parallel case We have seen mention
ed is brought to mind by the Chicago Times,
where the President Of the L. S. once ap-
proved An act, and almost Immediately dis
covered it was an error. The President,
having once approved the bill, did not feel
warranted in revoking his approval, he never
supposed he had such power, but he at once
by special message communicated the facts
to Congress, and asked for repeal of the
act.
When the Governor attached bis signature
to the bill, it became 90 rns,Gate a law, and
We have no particle of doubt, if the case is
ever presented to cur supreme court, that
tribunal will so decide, and that nothing but
q repeal can annuI the law
Exciting News from Kansas.