The Xenia sentinel. [volume] (Xenia [Ohio]) 1863-186?, 1864-01-26
GREENE.
Especial Correspondence Of the Sentinel ]
Letter from Columbus.
Co7nm5ns, Januarg q, 1864

OOtUMC0e1 OUHUAiy y @O1 4CuE'
Allow NE to say, in introducing this
letter, that it is not within my province, as
a cbrOnicler of current events, to discuss
any topic OF extend my remarks upon any
thing that may fall under my notice. My
object has been, and shall be, to give a
brief synopsis of Legislative doings, and a
passing notice to whatever else may come
within range of my vision.
Nothing of interest transpired, since my
last, in either branch of the Legislature
until Wednesday afternoon, when the
Senate took up the "Relief Bill, - as it is
familiarly called here, and after dicussiDg
and amending it, passed it on Thursday.
Two mills of State levy and one of county
The House has yet to act upon the bill. I
will say more of it when it passes both
Houses,
On nthesame day the Committee on Privi-
leges and Elections, in the House. reported
on the contested election case from Ash
land cOunty-the report being against the
sitting member, Mr.. Larwvill, Copperhead.
Mr.. Stanton, Of the Committee, led off in
favor Of the report in a neat speech of
thirty minutes, and was followed by Mr..
Delano, on the same side, in a speech of
nearly two hours length, CA mastery eff
fort) Perhaps it will be interesting to
sketch at few points he made in the dis
cussion of the subject:
His first position was, that the House
was the only judge Of the election returns
and qualifications Of its members. This
he contended was the plain reading and
Interpretation of the Constitution yet all
should regard with due respect decisions
made by other tribunals.
I'd. Claimed that the law allowing per-
sons in the military service of the United
States to vote, was not void, for It did not
conflict with Section 16, Article II of the
Constitution; that it did not, in terms or ef-
feet, repel any prior law regulating the
elective franchise-that it was an addition
to former laws prov ding forauother mode
OF voting in certain cases.
Sd. Claimed that Article V, Section l
of the ,titution did not attempt to reg
ulate the manner of its exercise, provided
It be done by ballot.
He made other points, but I was unable,
from my stand point, to understand them.
He quoted extensively from VatelI, Story,
Marshall, and others, to make clear his
positions. 81
Mr.. Odlin followed, on the same side,
with an elaborate argument, and to my
mind, ezhausting the whole subject
Uhl, Dresel and Bloom followed on the
opposite side, with mere " "twaddIe," They
would not say the law was unconstitutional,
but thought it an extension of power not
within legislative bounds.
I could not discern the difference be-
tween an unc Institutional law and one be-
yond the bounds of legislation. The pre-
is, they wished to consume the
lime of the House by hummery. They
asked that the House postpone the subject
me week, which it refused to do.
Then they (the Cops resOrted to par
Liameniary strategy to ward off a vote, but
it was no 60, the Union members were re-
solved the case should be decided, and so
i was, by ousting Mr. Larwill from his
seat, and giving it to Mr.. Cary.
This was soon followed by giving Mr..
Nofit the same shute, aud putting in his
place Mr.. White, of Wyandot county.
Yesterday morning, at 9 o'clock, both
Houses adjourned over until Tuesday.
General Heintzelman has taken up his
quarters in this city as commander of the
. Department of Ohio" embracing Ohio,
Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan.
At Ellsler's Atheneum, Miss DAILY and
Mr.. Ward have been drawing crowded
louscs for the last four nights.
Captain Williams, with his famous whale
ooat, said to have been twice arOuId the
word, occupy Naughton'S Hall-which is
Ilso literally patrouized.
Snow four inches deep. All the sleighs
n the city appear to be in motion.