Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1857-05-07

cry vital principle either in the body poll
| tic or the. human body, violation in any
degree is arrangement that may result in
death. 1t is possible that inherent vigor
may survive saeh blow or dozan, but
again it is possible that may not. There
is no SAFETY bat in the absolute preserva-
ton of the principle. For this reason we
hold any amount of temporary inconvc-
nience of less danger than single violation
of the fundamental! principle Of the Gov
esamcat whica may cause no inconvenience
at the moment. NOBODY may suffer at all
from single overthrow of the rights of a
majority by the minority, but where is the
security that second, and third. and a
fifth, and any number, may not follow the
first? The Government once moved. how
ever slightly, from It's foundation, may not
stop in its course till it rushes to ruin. This
danger it is the duty of every good citizen
to avoid. and see avoided by all within his
control. Aud it IS the more necessary the
more Insignificant The apparent danger
II a minority may, in a matter SO slight as
bear the majority by faction or revolution.
they may do it sgain when there is more at
stake. and give the example to their oppo-
nents to do it when the majority changes
sides. till there may be absolutely no gov
crnment lat the greatest force. or the most
resolute impudencc. We do not say such
a danger is at all imminent in this State,
bet it is no: impossible. And whatever Of
possibility there may be Of it IS due solely
u .oI II,
resistance to the laws by the minority in
the Senate, on the last night of the session.
That minority can as easily prevent AsY
legislation as they prevented legislation in
F., the Miller case. And the only security that
they will not is their own whims, or fears.
They have set the example of defying law
il the execution OF partisan purpose. That
example, like stone dropped into lake,
! is still sending widening circles, and dis
turLing further as it goes. The full meas-
urc of its influence is not known yet.
Against that act of the minority of our
/ State Senate. we protested recently in a re-
view of DIR. Sage's apology for submitting
to it, and said that it was of more import
aacc that this fun lamcntal psin.ipls oil III,
Governn,at should Be preserved than that
any particular a.. Of legislation should be
carriel or d.feat,i This New Albany
/ Tri5uac thus notices the position:
Strange 10 trim. this-that tn, ailnis-
sion or noa-admissioa Of any MAJ to the
1 Senatorial ri yhts IS of more importance in
7 preserving the Government than the pass
aSe Of the necessary revenue and appropri-
alton billsI Why, had Mr.. Miller and
Mr.. Shryock both been sent home to run
the ra,e over again. (and we are inelinei
to believe that woull have been the proper
course had Mr. Woods been expelled,
AMI tn. people of Clarke left without SEN
aso---inliyiJual rights might have been
outraged, and the will of the majority
overslaughed, and yet the wheels of Gov
ernment would still roll on
No, the mere admission or non .admis-
sion of man to seat in the Senate" is
not of s'more importance than the passage
of revenue bills nor did we say so. 1t is
the principle involved in the decision, and
not the Immediate consequences of it, that
W, regarded. The admission or rejection
of any particular Senator, by legal vote,
is OF no consequence to anybody but him
self But his admission or rejection, in a
mode that sets the Constitution at dcfauce
IS very different thing. A majority may
exclude member, and the worst of it will
be that he will lose his anticipated pay
But if minority decides the case, by de
, termined opposition to the laws and rule.
of legislation, the case is widely differon
!, anu worse. Against such an act the ma
!, jority ought 10 fight till the last. The,
may surely bcas resolrte in supporting tht
laws as the minority in opposing them.--
The half dozen shilings that John Hamp
den refused to pay as ship money were
trille, but the regeneration of the British
: Government sprang from his refusal ts
yield to the illegal demand for it. Gu
i New Albany friend condemns such picay
: une rectitude. The Rockford Herald put
: the case very forcibly in the following ex
5 tract from reply to DIR. Sage's letter.
The Herald, by the way. is an Amcrical
: sheet, and its remarks. therefore. the NOR
,l worthy Of attention, as not influenced b,
) party alta chment:
"Thc first duty Of the Senate was t
pass upon the qualification of its members
The case had been referred to committee
and as DIR. Sage says, had been laid over b,
consent of all parties until the last Satur
: day 70 the session. 1t came up in the reg
) rlar order of business and could have bcel
disposed of in ten minutes. The Demo
Gratis didn't doubt the justncss Of the dis
position they knew would be made of it
d for they were well aware that Miller hel.
: his by fraud. But tthey sworc that the,
e wouldn't stand to their agreement to. tax
up the case, and that no other busincs
should be done unless this case was lai
over until the next session. They violates
r their word, as they always do, and refuses
s to stand by an agreement entered into j,
: good faith. They were obstinate to th
. last. And whowill blame the Mad Repub
licans for manifesting as much obstinac
9 and frmness for the right as their oppc
pI nents did for the wrong? But the Rcpub
! licans. when they found their opponent
. would mt stand to their agreement ofserc
every fair mode Of getting over the dificul
9 ty. They offered to send Miller and Shry