The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-01-07

repeatedly informed by both his OPP
ponents that there were doubts about
his obtaining his seat In case he was
elected. Mr.. RITTER insisted on this
point more strenuously than did Mr..
SMITH. Mr.. Brown recognized the
objection, but INDUCED in great deal
of Kentucky brayado in answering
it-a bravado that is recalled to our
mind by an article in the Henderson
reporter since his rejeetion-appar-
emily thinking that the same kind of
buster that elected cheers from a
Kentucky audience would intimi-
date a Congressional Committee.
That committee carefully examined
all the evidence that could be adduced
in his favor by his friends. After
carefully canvassing the whole matter,
the Committee decided that Mr..
BRowN had destroyed his eligibility
to seat in Congress by the part he
took in the early events of the war.
liz other words, that celebrated letter,
in which Union soldiers were TO be
shot down, was too much. 1t return
ed to plague the inventor more than
he dreamed when he penned it.
We were always under the impress
ion that Mr.. Brown would find that
letter blocking up the doors of the
Capitol against him, and are not sur
prised that it hasso turned out. We
told the Democracy of the Second
District that it were better for them
to nominate and elect man whose
loyalty was 50 unmistakable that he
would experience no difficulty in get
ting his seat. No." was the re-
sponse; 1--WE will elect whom we
please, and let Congress dare to re-
fuse him seat" Well, Congress has
dared to refuse. What next? :" Well"
say the Louisville Courier, 1Noattor,
and Reporter, 's'elect him again" Ifthe
people of the Second District desire
to remain unrepresented in Con-
gess that is the very best course for
them to adopt 1t is well establish
ed fact that Mr.. Brown cannot be-
come member of the Fortieth Con-
gress. That body will care Little for
the rebuke that may be conveyed by
his reelection. It viii only regard
such action on the part of Mr..
Browns constituents, as an indica-
ton that, if they. cannot be represent
ed by disloyaltg they will not berepr
resented at all. It may conclude
that a military commander is the
proper antidote for such obstinate
perverseness. e.tsEF
We presume Mr.. Browns friends
feel indignant aud disappointed. We
have no doubt they are willing to
play the martyr for the benefit of the
Democratic party, and go unrepre-
scented if it is calculated to do that
organization any good. But we i'm
agine the spirit of martyrdom will
soon de. IF the Republicans con-
troll the Forty First, as they do the
Fortieth, Congress, the role Of re-
electing man who can t be admitted
will soon become unpopular, even in
the Second District, and wiserlcouuA
ellis will prevail.
The people of Kentucky have a
right to choose a representative,
but hat choice must be made toscoas
firm 10 he laao. They have right
to vote for whom they please for Pres
ident OF the United States, but would
their votes be worth anything if cast
for man who was not native born
citizen? The people of the Second
District might prefer notorious
criminal, under sentence for crime,
with the impression that his election
woul humiiiate Congress, but would
that secure his escape from pun
l.hment and his admittance to posi-
ton of honor2 We apprehend not.
The argument that the people have a
right TO elect whom they please to
any position in the Government is a
iallacy. They can only elect in ac-
cordance with the provisions of laws.
Ii they choose a man who is statutory
iue'igib e, they must expect 20 have
their election set aside and a new one
ordered.
Declaration Of Principles.
Editors Journal: AN
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