, 1862-02-17
'Gtjrz + TrihUt1f.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY II, 1869.

etc Urtnuut. |
NoNDAY, FEBRUARY II, 1869.
THAT MoR AT SPRINGFIELD.
We hold that that mob Of se7enty-dve
1scn at Springfield, clain,in; to be Con
~S:,tion cf delegates for proposing to the
1:rorle amendments to the Constitution Of
tie state. is an illegal body, and that no
3:,,~dy is bound by its ordinances, DEGREES,
Or acts # legislation. It is not constituted
according t. the Constitution still in force;
il LAS not complied with one Of the plain
est provisions Of the law, yet unrepealcd, /
which called It into being; and to all IN
fcnts and purposes, legally considered, it is
mol, and nothing more; and the secre-
1ary OF State, who has charge
rf lie Capitol building, would be
justified in driving the usurpers out with
horeewhrs, OF, as Old Nol1 Of blessed
gnemo7y did the Ru,np Parliament, at the |
point Of the bayonet. The proof Of our
propositions is clear and indispntable:
The Constitution Of the State Of Iliaois, !,
AnT. Eli, sEc.,so, says as rlain.::y as Ian
guage can speak, that
Every pe+--ou who sha1l be chosen or appointed |
to shy office Of trust Or profit shall, before enter
srg upon the dutiea thereof lake an oath to cup
pert the Constitution Of the United States AND of
THIS STATE, and also an oath Of Office
This is plain and imperative and can be
lodged cnly upon the absurd and m
1cnable hypothesis that when these seven
ty-tiye met ut Springfield and elected
1,,eir officers, the existing Constitution was
suspended; that, save such laws as they
might sanction, the State was left without
law; tl,a. al the functions Of the Execu-
tive, Legislative and judicial departments
and all the rights Of the people under the
Government, were lodged in the Constitu-
Ton, 10 be 1.y it doled out as the Egyptian
.@ajori.s might wish. Cannot be lodged,
,se sa y, OILY upon this hypothesis which
is too ridiculous to be seriously discussed.
We appeal 10 our readers then, and to
ill other air1uinded men: 1sa scat IN the
Constitutional Convention an "of{lce OF
1rust?7 Do they say No? How shall
trust be defined, il tho power to propose
amendments to The Constitution un-
der which nearly two millions Of mcn
must I've, amendments which affect the
Eecu1ity Of person and property, the social
advancement and happiness Of every man.
woman and child, ct whatever race,
nationality, OF color, within the broad
area cf tie State, is not ''tFust? =" What,
VIC .vould ask the photographers Of the
Co.y+a.:ica, does The word mean? Is
=, ;::lcc ore Of profit" Let the pay
&. :,.,:r dollars day, besides Prerequisites in
lie way Of stationery, postage stamps, news
7,rers, &c, which the members have voted
themselves, bc the answer. How, then
have tic requirements of the Constitution
1cen compiled witl2 Weappend the oatt
that The members Of the Convention did
uud the Only one Gkat they aeould, to&e:
You, ard each Of yon sole1anly swear that got
iil s1pport the Constitution Of the United States
sud faithfully discharge the duties Of your Office T.
deleeate to this Convention for the purpose Of rc
>izins ami, amending lie Constitution Of the Stat
o1 Illinois: SO help you God.
Let tic reader look ut This carefully, an.
it'll wherein The delegates, filing Offices q
*'trust' and profit" have complied Wit
1Lc Constitution that called them into off
cid being 2-1chersi,l fhey hars taken on oat
10 sup57ort the Stt:te Constitution s-whcrci
1ley offer from any other mob that may ca
itself Convcntion3 They are usarpe.
=nd should be treated as such But
make the case stronger, VIC copy anotnt
clause from The Constitution:
A171c1E SATISFACTION sG-11aat from and aft
The adoption of this Constitution, every perss
T.Lo shall be elected or appointed to anE office
p.ait, trust cu1o]uue,l. ci'1l or military, leg
5ative executive or judicial, Under the gosernme
Of this State shall before be enters upon the duti
I'll lis Office, in addition to The oath prescribed
znc Constitution. take the following oath: II
sn1esauly Ewear {or sfrra az tie case may be,) Il
hasc nS. iouznt I duel. 1scr sent OF aeceptct
challenge to fight Gnel, the probable aEeuc
which might hare been death Of either. party, I
1'tcn second to either party, no1 in anT HAL
.a:ted cr assisted III such duel. nor been k1owis
Lie keazc- u st1ch challenge acceptance, sn
The adoption Of The Constitution and TINT ,
= rot teto engaged OF concerned, directly OF II
7rc1ls. in nbout zns such duel during MY c
1iauance N Office So help me Cod:
Is ills law now? Let Us see- Suppt
Gch. Singleton had, within the Ssatc, a
since the November election, c1allcng
EIr Thornton 10 mortal combat-to igl1
due, Would he he permitted to take
graf in Tie Conyeutiou9 We say I
and so will every fair-ninded II
say. The Constitution is then
force, OR that clause Of it, at least; :
If that clause, why not that as =
Which prescribes thefor Of oath by nh
unmbcrs Of the Convention shall be qu
lcl for their duties? viii any casulst
tie Convention answer? But, say
7ssurpcJs, :" Nc arc superior to the Con
1rtion.' II go, they are superior 10 all
laws IN the statute book, because the L
l,aye, each one Of them, their origin IN
Constitution Suppose, nov, to test
that Gen Singleton hits fellow men
Of the Convention on the head, with
cane, IN the street, some day, and br
Lin Can Gen. Singleton be tried
court, for the ofense, under the ezis
statute? Even Hacker would say, yes
1le law Of Battery is in force-a law
Aas. only Legislative sanction-wly is
lie Constitution in iorcc-the basis O
1aw2
Iut We need moi argue further.
t:Se is SC T1ain that We need, after priI
1Ec facts, TO alulegise 10 our readers
adding illustrations to wiia. no ilustra'
<:an make clearer Tic matter, then, St
711cs-
/. The Constitution prescribcs that e
officer in tic State holding place Of
CT p1cfit, shall take 4 certain cath, Il p:
Which is 10 supper, The Constitution o
s;la:c, :;ad another oath in relation to
ing
IT, Membership Of tie Convention
1.l,,ce lttl, Of trust ard profit.
I'll The members Of The Conve
l:arc neglected or refused to talke
oath; TIT text Of which is prescribed
Constitution. Hen2e,
" There is no legal Convcntio
SESSION That body at Springfield