The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1865-02-01


the question.
Mr.. Warner. Of Oakland, was for laying
the petition on the table, inasmuch as the
whole subject had been heretofore disposed
Of. After Mr.. Bailey had been dispossess-
ed Of his seat, q motion TO allow him and
the other contestants to reclaim their seats
at any time, had been indefinitely postpon-
ed, and had consequently, according to
Jeferson's Manual, disposed Of the whole
question for the whole session. The House
cannot 90 back Of its own action. Mr..
Reed is a member OF the House, and can
not be put out except by two thirds vote.
He may be expelled for crime, or for any
fragrant offence, but even then Mr.. Bailey
could not be put in ais place.
/ Mr.. Dunlap OF Grand Traverse, was for
referring the petition to the committee on
elections, and refusal to do it b. the Re-
publican party looked like a disposition to
gag down debate. He would recognize a
decision OF the Supreme Court, but had not
had time TO consider.
J
nothing TO do with the decisions Of the Su-
preme Court any more than we have with
the man in the moon. Each House Is CO.
ordinate in power with the Supreme Court.
The House Is an Independent; body. We
have a right to decide as to who are our
members, and the Supreme Court cannot
review our action. We have decided, and
we cannot 90 back. Three-quarters Of this
House have voted that Mr.. Reed Is a mem
Der. The soldiers voting law was good
law when we declared our members, and
we were bound to regard II. No Legisla-
ture in the United States, after admitting
members, ever reversed their own decisions.
After the House has decided on q question,
il would be absurd to refer that question tC
a committee No member, once admitted
should be unseated by dragging in deci
sion Of the Supreme Court made after hi
had become a member.
!, Mr.. Welch thought the action or The
House fnality. We are to Judge; w
haze Judged, and We cannot go back &C on
own action.
Mr.. Monroe said that when Reed was ad
mitted, nobody knew what the decision 0
the Supreme Court would be, or when
would be- Bailey and Reed both submit
ted their claims then. Reed was admitte,
under the law Of the country then existing
and everybody was bound by it. We ar
hxrf bn nf
! Supreme Court, but that decision had no
! then been made, aud that action OF the Su
] preme Court cannot now be made retros
pective on US.
Speeches in favor OF referring the pet
ton were made by Messrs Chapman, Look
Brockway and Maxwell, and at late hou
= e 90 s---.>~ - We e~aiir a. rasa--" 4
BRANCH STATE PRISON.
g Mr. O'Grady has introduced lntoF tn
House bill for the establishment OF
branch State prison in the Upper Peninsula
q 1t is urged and with apparent force, tbs
o the necessities Of that important section {
. the State need and require the establish
p ment or such an institution. The considers
a tons urged are
II l. Their remOteness from the State pri:
4 on at Jackson, the distance being, by tn
: most feasible route, $50 miles.
n 2. The great cost incurred in the trans
a portation Of a convict 80 great distance
! and the liability Of his escape on the way
\ WEIGH I am informed, has frequently occur
red
s. That almost complete isolation rror
the rest Of the State for period Of fy
=, months, and the consequent cost to tn
? counties in keeping prisoners SO long pc
, Rod.
1t Is claimed that the convicts can b
. employed In the mines, as has been don
!, Win great su ccess III some Oh the states.