The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1865-10-14
STATE RIGHTS DEMOCRAT.
THE + SESSION.

bSN"SNA SIBNSHC oHihAVus &c vi
either the propriety or policy of the step.
Whether it has been from selEconviction
or outside pressure that he at length re-
solves in favor of the measure, we cannot
be expected to know. But he has issued
his official proclamation for the legisla-
tors to assemble. He does not say for
what express purpose he calls that body
together in special session; he simply de-
elares athat measures highly important
to the Interests of the State and Nation
ssfRqasdiFFfff e th psFiba pn St t lhs legislature sg at
al session." We DO not propose to be
hypercritieal upon the peculiar arrange
ment Of the Governors language, but we
would RESPECTFULLY desire to be informed
how happened it that he placed the
Estate" before the Nation" in his
Proclamation? The Governor belongs to
theparty whichdeelares the Federal
Government, orr Nation" as they prefer
enormously to call it, every citizen of u
State owes sparamounta allegiance" Then
why put the cart before the horse-the
Estate" before the Nation ?" When
the question whether there should be a
called session was first agitated, only one
cause was alleged for its nceessity-that
Of passing the proposed amendment to
the Constitution for the total abolition of
slavery in all of the United States.
There was no mention made of the neces-
sity Of a special session for any mere
State purpose whatever. Yet now it
seems the States necessity is paramount
and the Nations necessity secondary in
importance. What has transpired with
IN the past six or eight months which
has created this pressing State necessity,
and rendered legislation for the State of
paramount importance to Legislation upon
the proposed amendment? There has
been no turmoil in the State, no appre-
tensions of any; there has been no oppo-
sition totany of the laws, no fear of any;
there has. been no alarming cause precipi-
tated upon the State, or in any portion of
IL In short, in every aspect and in every
particular, things have gone along with
more harmony and less diseord than at
any previous time since this present Ad-
ministration has been in power. The
vexed questions which did for a year or
Two disturb communities and the people
ton and Federal Acts, have been def.
Aitely settled by the Supreme Court, and
there no longer exists any delinquency.
neither of counties, corporations, nor in.
dividnals, with reference to these former.
y vexed issues. The payment of taxes
IN gold and. silver, the military tax, and
other disputed subjects have been com
posed, and disputation upon or non-con.
formity to them is no longer heard. Their
why. NE ask again, does the Governol
mention that highly important State in
terests require an extra session? Some
thing must have occurred within the pas
few months to cause the Governor to be
lieve that State necessity required thi
extra session-would it not have beer
gracious in him to have told the peopl,
briefly what this cause is?
The Abolition organs of the State hay,
several times made allusion to the fac
that an unusual number of emigrant
were coming into Oregon this year, an,
stated that a very large proportion Q
them were Democrats. They stated fur
Their that many of these emigrants wer
from Missouri, and hence argued tia
they were secessionists and rebels, an
therefore ought not to be permitted t
vote IN Oregon next June, notwithstand
ing our State Constitution gives then
the right so to do. The same organ
have IN connection with this subject pro
posed that a law be enacted which woul,
inhibit these Missouri emigrants fror
the right of suffrage.
IF it is to have an Act passed whic.
shall provide that the immigrants, or an
portion of them, of this years advent I
the State shall not be permitted to vot
IN june next, If they in all respects COZ
form to the requirements of the Stat
gonstitution, that Gov. Gibbs has Gale
an extra session, We can respectfully bl
very emphatically assure him, his an
the Legislature's labors in that particuls
win be vain, idle, worse than useless
for he and they viii cause trouble to a
without the slightest chance of efectin
what is proposed.
The Constitution preseribes and estal
fishes the elective franchise. Any an
all who come within She purView of !
provisions have a right to vote, and ne
Their the Legislature nor any other al
thofity except the people themselves, ]
the mode and manner prescribed by tt
State Constitution, can alter, amend
abolish any of the provisions already e
tablished. A people may obey an A
efthe Legislature generally believed
be unconstitutional until the proper of
eial declaration that it actually is SO is pr
bounced. But we know that we utt.
no idle words when we say-and we wiz
the Governor and Legislators to noti
what we say-that the Democracy of @
egon viii not suffer these immigrant
from Missouri or elsewhere, to be d
prived Of their votes in the < Sta
election, if the Constitution invests the