The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1862-03-17
The SOphistry of Gov. Yates Exposed.


SPRINGFIELD, Feb. ii, 1862
A. you have already been advised Cover.
nor \ atcS sent document to the convention
yesterday, which concludes with the follow.
ing sentences in which the SHQuiter IN BsOdC
| and fortiter in re are most beautifully hlen
| del
| I" desire to say, with the utmost respect, tina,
do not acknow ledge the right al your HONORABLE
| body to Instruct me IN the performance OF my
| duty, and shall feel myself bound to regard
| your instructions in the light ofsurgestions wheel
| shall adopt when think them right, and no,
otherwise, holding myself responsible alone tc
| the constitution and the people who elevated III,
| 10 the Office hold.
| have great regard for the members ofthe c on
ventIon, and believe that they are fully capa bl,
IN wisdom and experience to make suggestion
which will be of great service TO me, and | shall
always be thankful TO them for their advice"
This was, in part Il reply to certain in
terrogauons (which he answered touching
the movements Of the army auditing board
Here he says he holds himself responsible ia
the existing constitution, &C.. but denies the
right Of the convention to catechise him in
relation to executive doings.
Now let Us see the attitude he has assumed
The law passed at the extra session, calling
tins convention, embraces the following pro
vision:
"Au public officers shall furnish such conven
tioh with all such papers, statements, books or
other public documents IN their possession as the
sald convention shall ordcr or require"
lhls was law passed pursuant to the con
stItutlon, which he says he is responsible j"
to, and law too, which he officially approved
by his signature. Now no one asks him to
do more than this law aud the constitution
he SO much rGvereS require of him and "lN.
sTRuCT" him to do. lie has never been in.
structed beyond the right of the honorable
body to instruct. But lest this should not
show him up sufficiently, the following may
be quoted from the same state constitution to
which he so bIandly and patriotcally &C
knowledges allegiance:
SEC. 7. "He SHALL, from time 10 time,
give the general assembly information of the state
of the government, and recommend to their con-
such measures as he shall deem expedl-
emit"
Here is another paragraph from the law
from which we have quoted above:
" That said mcE oers shall be the judges oftheir
own privileges and election, and shall be entitled
To the same privileges to which members of the
general assembly are entitled"
Above we have both the law and the con.
sututon which he has approved. Hardly a
word neei be added to show that his note,
from which we have extracted, sets both at
defiance
But suppose nothing mandatory had been
provided IN either the constitution or the law I
would he have the right" to tell the ne,.
pie OF Illinois, that though they have sent
ueIesates mere pursuant to constitution and
law to frame IA new constitution suited IN
their wants, it was none ofhs business IN ala
them by furnishing such information as might
be necessary, nay, indispensable to a proper
of the work assigned to their
performance They came here to lerislate
n regard to the executive, as well as the 9TH
er branches of the government, and they
nave full power to possess themselves of all .
he facts they may demaHd calculated to en-
ighten them in the discharge of their duties. ,
They know that abuses exist, and they have
he right by principle and by law-organic
and legslative-to pump the source of these
Abuses in order to find out better, if not a
pc RECT plug, against them in future.
Inc law puts the privileges" of members