Bellevue gazette. [volume] (Bellevue City, N.T. [i.e. Neb.]) 1856-1858, 1858-01-21
LEGISLATIVE HALL, }
January IA, 1858. I

Juiudly Ia 1910. .
To his ErceNency, Wm. Il. Richardson.
SrR:-We have the honor of being in
receipt OF your communication Of the 18th
inst. Tsl.a t'
Respect for the high Office which you
hold, as we'll as justice to ourselves, de-
mand a reply.
The candor and frankness Of your com-
mun'cation W. anticipated from one whose
name is part of the history of our Great
West. The same candor and ~frankness
in our reply will, we feel assured, not
prove offensive. '''- "
Acquainted as you are with the genius
of our government; experienced as you
are in matters of legislation devoted as
has been so large a portion Of your life
to making laws for your country +; we deem
il necessary to urge upon yonri Excellen-
cy how vitality important IT, is to the hap
piness and well-being of any people, that
those whom they may choose TO make the
laws under which they are to live, should
be unintiuenced by any intruding outside
pressure-free TO act and vote according
TO the dictates Of their own judgement and
The known wants and wishes Of their
constituents.
Among the many safeguards erected in
our country to secure the happiness Of the
people, we know of none more important
10 possess, none in the overthrow of which
more mischief would result Without it,
the people have no assurance of laws such
as they desire, and our government virtu-
ally becomes an oligarchy, the mob few
controlling the moderate many.
We submit q case in point.
The Legislature meet and organize a,
the place; appointed by law. They pro-
coed to legislate upon some subject in it,
self a legitimate matter of Legislative ac-
ton. The bill is obnoxious 10 the few
immediately surrounding their locality,
but demanded by the wishes of the great
majority of the people. as made known
by a majority of their representatives. A
few become violent aud threatening
Legislative action is no longer free
Votes are cast, not in accordance with the
dictates of reason or the known wishes Of
constituents, but with reference 10 the
views of an excited lobby and threatening
lntruders within their bar, winked at by
a sympathizing executive.
Whit course is to be taken
Three sugges, themselves. fr
Isl, To withdraw the bill producing
the excitement. To do this is TO allow
the will OF the few TO triumph over the
will of the many; the minority TO tri-
umph over the rights of the majority
course we Suggest to your Excellency, sell
dom adopted by American freeman.
2nd, For the majority to remain and
!, maintain their rights by opposing force
win force, a course which every true
lover Of his country hesi,ates long before
5 adopting, as it would give TO our history,
as it has given to the history of our sister
Territory, a story of blood.
Sd, To temporarily remove to some
other place where their action would be
|, free aud untrammelled ; where q majority
) of the Legislature might carry out the
, wishes of the people. Under similar cir
camstances, this was the course which a
majority of the Nebraska Legislature
deemed best to take, and upon their pow.
er TO do so, we wish in all frankness and
/ candor to express our views.
The Legislature once having met and
organized at the seat of Government, we
know Of no law, either organic or spe-
F., cia', prohibiting them either directly or by
+, inference, from temporarily adjourping to
y some other place, should their safety de-
: mand il, there being no law to the con-
tlUsry, their power % 50 adjourn follows in