Brookville American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1858-1861, 1859-01-07
Unitef sarrfsyzenators.

We were enabled to announce in q
portion of the edition Of our last paper
that the Legislature had elected two
United States Senator'S in the place of
Bright and Fitch, who now illegally
hold seats il the Senate. Every true
friend of Indiana will hail this as u tri
umph of the people over the corruptions
of party-as a vindication of the digni.
ty Of our State, and as an evidence that
the right of free people cannot be
trampled upon with IMMUNITY.
The people of Indiana and their rep
rescntatives have done their duty, and
it now remains to be seen whether a
parsizan Senate, under the lash of the
Executive, will sustain Bright and Fitch
in their seats and treat with contempt
the will Of the peOIic Of sovereign
State. The Lecbmpt @itesinquirc what
good will this electi5 do? and answer
the question themsclI by saying that
the Senate of the United States alone
has power to determine the qualifications
of its members TO seats. Admit that ii
has-does that prevent it from doing
Justice aud acting honorably? Our
Courts alone have the right to determine
the fate of citizen charged with muir
der, but is that any reason that man
shall be hung without any proof of
guilt?
But they inquire again, how are you
to open the case after it has been once
determined. 1t has not been finally do
cided True, committee reported a
resolution declaring that Bright and
Fitch were entitled TO seats in the Sen.
ate, which rcsolrtieaxas passed, and
they hold their seats. But on the last
day of the last session the same Senate
passed resolution "directing its Ju-
dietary Committee TO report ut tho next
session whether further legislation on
the subject of the Indiana Senatorial
election case is necessary This opened
the case anew IL il had been finally set
tied before, and when Mes srs. Lane and
McCarty go to Washington the Judi
ciary Committee will be furnished with
the most cogent Of reasons why further
legislatonis necessary. They will car :
ry with them tho solemn legislative de-
caration Of sovereign State that tho
rights Of that State have been usurped,
and certificates under tho broad seal Of
that State, demanding that tho legally
elected Senators -shalYsake the place of
those now there without color Of law,
or Justice, or the will of the people. If
the Senate refuses TO admit the new
Senators, it may then be said the people
of Indiana, like the negroes in the eye
of tho Supreme Court, shave no rights
which white men have q right TO re-
spect." We hope the newly elected
Senators will 60 to Westinghouse the
capital, and on tho floor of the Senate
demand that the voice Of Indiana shall
be heard, in accordance with its const-
tuition, its laws, and thevoico Of its poo
pie legally expressed.
We confess that we have but very lit
tie confidence in the Senate, yet il is no
less the duty of the people of the State
10 demand their rights, and If they fail
TO procure them now, our constitution
marks out way by which justice can
be obtained, and tlat-b-fhrough the
ballot box. The present Senate and
party in power hold place at the will of
the people, and to that tribunal an APP
peal will be taken in 1860. Thepowcrs
Of no branch of our government are
hereditary, and we require no bloody
revolution TO secure Justice from tho
hands OF the "powers that DO" but at
stated times under our constitution this
power rovorts back TO tho people, and
they, wo trust, will ever act with indie.