The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-04-04


heretofore appeared
To the Editor Of the EUening Telegraph
PHILADELPHIA. April 4, 1886
must think that the severe condemnation Law
ished on JAMES M. SoovEL, of New Jersey. is pre-
mature and untounded. About the time of the
meeting of the present Congress- your correspondent
took occasion, in the presence of Mr.. SCoVEL, to
express admiration OF the sentiments of the Presi
dent, as expressed in his message, when Mr.
SOovEL volunteered tho statement or prophecy that
il ANDREW JoHNsoN's acts were good as his
words, there would be much cause Tor rejoicing
But that he knew positively that he would prove
traitor only to the principles he had avOwed, but
also TO the generous party that had trusted him
and placed him in position OF honor. He said this
was matter Of certainty, not only with him, but
also with HORACE GREELEY, with whom he tMr.
SCovEL) was in daily correspondence, and other
prominent political prophets; and then, in the most
emphatic language, he denounced the traitor 1oho
acod espOuse he principles OF party only to betray
st, declaring that DGS bound to carry out the
principles of the party 6y 'ohom he nominated.
Having heard these remarks from the lips OF Mr.
SoovEL myself, feel bound to believe that he vii
not commit the crime Of treason to q party that
raised him from the condition Of third-rate petti-
fogger to position TO which his moral character or
intellectual ability would surely never nave ele'
waited HIM. MAC.
Also, the following characteristic incident,
which proves that ten years ha not changed
the President of the New Jersey Senate: -
Editor of the B0ening Tetegrdph:-
Some years ago, when the three parties (Whig
Democrat, and Native American) were in the field
SCovEL went to an old gentleman of Camden well
Versed in politics and asked his advice as to which
meeting he should hod forth at. The old gentle
man slyy .old him, "JAMEs, thee had better speak
at al OF tbem," and JAMES did so. CAMDEN.
We should think that if the Sena-
tor has one spark OF honest pride in his
character he would be by this time thoroughly
ashamed of his conduct His detection has
caused the raking up of old and almost for
gotten incidents, and there are not few per-
SONS who recall the fact that when SCovEL,
"the man with the empty purse" desired to
secure the seat in the Senate which he at
present holds, the man whom he is now ira
ducing was the first to furnish him with the
funds necessary in the canvass. And now
this creature of bounty turns upon the man
who supplied him with funds and the party
which gave him their votes, and, to crafty
personal spite, violates gratitude and pledges,
and acts with his opponents. We had fondly
hoped, when the will of his constituents and
his fellow-members was made known, that he
should return to the side where he would
naturally be found. We have deluded our
selves with the belief that this man had one
grain of truth, one atom OF honor still left in
his constitution, and that when the unanimous
wish of his party was expressed he would
vote for their nominee. Such a trust has
proven nl-fouDded JAMES M. SCOvEL is
no, eless renegade. He has wilfully and
openly perjured himself, and the best thing
that the party can do is to let him alone.
We greatly doubt the legality of the law
adopted by the majority of the New Jersey
Senate, which requires that majority Of the
whole number of Senators shall be necessary
before the body can go into joint conven
ton. A majority of the Senators voting, pro
vided quorum be present, is, in our opinion
sufficient to adopt resolution. In the pre-
sent case there are 21 members, of whom 8
vote. OF that number 10 are in favor Of
going into convention, and 8 against it.
Surely, by such vote, the Senate is author
lied to go into convention. A clearly legal
majority is in favor of such an action,
unless law be adopted requiring some other
than the constitutional vote. No single reso-
luton can change the law any more than the
Senate might demand two-thirds vote, as
easily as they can a majority of the whole
number.
The proper course for the Union members
of the Senate, in our opinion, is plain Let
them move to go into Joint convention, and
when the vote is annou need as 10 to 8 let
them go in. IfSCovEL won't go, let him stay
behind. The House will receive them an
election will be held, and the Senator be sent
to Washington. His case can then be investi-
gated by the Senate of the United States
II the election OF the New Jersey Senator be
illegal, then the new Senator will be ousted
If, on the other hand, as we are convinced
that the action of the Senate is totally
without sanction Of law, then will this
election be lawful, and the dead lock b6
broken. We do not advise any act which
would be wrong; but, when there is doubt
let us have the benefit of it, and by our actor
rid ourselves OF the tyranny which Academia
circumstances have placed in the hands of {
traitor.
TIE HIGH SCHOOL INyEsTIG ALTON