The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-12-07

question, too, was determined by party con-
siderations, although Mr.. Davis, of Floyd,
made most earnest and forcible appeal not
to permit such influences to control their ac-
ton. If you will examine the vote, you
will discover that the Republicans anti-Le-
compton men-with, perhaps, one exception
Mr.. Davis and myself voted for the reso-
buttons. The present very great inequality
in the valuation of real property. vas the
consideration which mainly determined the
vote which was given by those of us who do
not belong to either of the political parties,
including Mr. Stinson. These resolutions,
which:d declare tito be unimportant to levy
tax for this year, were passed by a vote of
81 TO As. So that subject is at rest for the
present.
Yesterday the " Prohibitory Liquor Law"
was before the House, ON bill for its repeal.
The bill passed the House by vote of SO to
IL. do not doubt that some kind of law
will be passed, regulating the sale of liquor.
Most probably we will 60 back to the license
system, introducing, perhaps, one or two
new features.
Many plans are spoken of for the reforrna-
ton of our Judiciary and Common School
Systems. None of Them however, have, as
yet assumed sufficient distinctness to enable
me to form an opinion as to what is likely
to be the result. sv -Fzs
The Senatorial question, which, a few days
ago, seemed to excite more feeling and in
terest than any other, seems for the pro-
sent to be lost sight of. Rumor has it that
our Republican and anti-Lecompton friends
cannot agree. Whether this rumor is true
Or not do not pretend to know. 1t seems
tolerably clear, however, that an election
will be held during this or at the regular
session, for Senators to contest the seats of
Bright and Fitch. AS to the probabilities
of the contestors-when elected-succeed-
ing, the friends of an election do not seem to
be agreed. Mr.. Murray, of Elkhart who is
one of the leaders of the Republican party
in the House, said, the other day, in aspeech
which he made on the question, that he had
no idea that they would succeed in inducing
the Senate to retrace its steps.
The resolution of the House, which de-
clares the election of Messrs. Bright and
Fitch, at the election of 1857, to seats in the
Senate of the United States, to be unconsti-
tutiOnal and UOid was passed. While this
resolution was pending, proposed to amend
it by striking out all after the resolving
clause, and inserting the following: "That
in the judgment of this House, the election
of the Hon. Jesse D. Bright and the Hon.
Graham n. Fitch to the Senate of the United
States, by the General Assembly of this
State at its session in the year 1857, was i'm
proper and irregular, and that the course of
those gentlemen in demanding and receiving
seats in the Senate, by virtue of such cleo
ton, is worthy of censure.
ResoI0ed further, That it is to be deeply
regretted that the Senate of the United
States by its resolution of the 18th of June,
1858, which reads as follows:
Resol0ed, That Graham N. Fitch and
Jesse D. Bright, Senators returned and ad-
mitted from the State of Indiana, are en-
titled to the seats which they now hold in
the Senate as such Senators aforesaid, the
former until the 4th of March, 1861, and
the latter until the 4th of March, 1853, ac-
| cording to the time of their respective Gre
dentials, has pronounced final judgment,
which precludes this General Assembly from
making further inquiry into the tenure by
which seats are now held in the Senate
aforesaid by the said Graham N. Fitch and
Jesse D. Bright"
Those who voted with me for this substi-
tute are Messrs. Boyd, Clayton, Davis Of
Floyd, Wing Harvey, Lawhead, Demo-
crat Major Anti-Lecompton Democrat
Rowe, anti-Lecompton Democrat; and Stin-
son, anti-Lecompton Democrat The Demo
Gratis voted against the amendment because
the election was pronounced improper and
| irregular, and the Senators worthy of cen
sure for demanding seats by virtue of such
an election. The Republicans voted against
it simply because it stopped short of deelar
ing the election cold.
In this case, as in most others about
which political parties dispute, you may OK.
pect to find the truth somewhere about mid
way between the two. That the election Of
Bright and Fitch was an outrage on legis
lative propriety, have no sort of doubt
nor do know of any party, save the Demo
cratic party, capable of perpetrating sucl
an outrage BUTT is to he remembered tina
there is but one tribunal on earth compe
tent, iu legal sense, to judge whether o
not these irregularities made the election
Uoid That tribunal is the United State
| Senate, and by the Constitution Of tn
United States, it is made the sole judge c
the "returns and qualifications of its owl
3 members 1t is judicial power, and tn
, results of its exercise cannot be changed O
, | modified tO suit the changing opinions c