The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-10-20
REPUBLICANAC CANDIDATE FOR
REPRESENTATIVE IN CON-.
ara GRESS

c}5sf9c Z hf7-- $50 3pfg
WILLIAM P. LYON, Republican Cardi-
date for Representative, is so we'll known
In this District that there need be but
little said in relation to him. He has
been tiwce member Of the Legislature
and twice Speaker of the Assembly.
And as legislator and presiding officer
he has had but few equals. He has serv-
ed his country asa soldier three years in
the war IF the rebellion. He went into
the army as Captain and vas promoted
to Colonel and we believe transferred to
another Regiment. And as an officer he
stood we'll withthe army On or before
his return from. the army he was. elected
Judge of the Circuit Court for this Dis
trlct and. now holds. the office As
Judge, he is able, i'm partial and incorrupt-
ible.
The only obj ections we have heard or
seen made, against the election of Judge
Lyon are that he is we'll qualified for the
office of Judge and not for Representa-
tive, and that the constitution of this
State provides that Judicial officer shall
not be eligible to any office but Judi
eial one during the term for which he
was elected. That Judge Lyon is we'll
qualified and suited to fill a Judicial Of
fee no one will dispute. But it does not
follow that he is not equally we'll or even
better qualified to fill Legislative office.
He was a Legislator and a presiding Leg
islatiye officer before he was a Judicial
officer. And asa. Legislator and Speak
er of the. Assembly he acquitted himself
as ably and gave as general satisfaction
as he has rs a Judicial officer. Such be-
ing the case, it is clear that those who
raise this objection are not candid, but,
unable to find any real. objection, resort
to this for effect. They know well Will
liam Pitt Lyon is equally as well
suited to. the Legislative. Hail as to
the Judicial Bench
The State Constitutional objection is
not a new one. 1t has been raised before
and has been acted on by the people, by
the Legislature, and by Congress. And
we believe it has in every case been held
to be inapplicable and Invalid But as
the objection is brought up pcrsisently,
it may be we'll to re examine it. The
clause Of the constitution professed to- be
relied on is as follows: they shall hold
no office of public trust, except a judicial
office, during the term for which they
are respectively elected, and all votes for
either of them, for any office except a
judicial office, given by the Legislature
or the people, shall be void.p To under
stand it fully and clearly, it is necessary
to have clear understanding Of the S.
constitution relative to the eligibility
and election of Representatives and Sen
ators in Congress, and also to what con
stitutes the supreme law of the land, in
full force when the constitution Of Wis
consin was adopted. There are three pro
visions of the U. S. constitution which
are applicable here. They are as follows:
"The times, places, and manner of hold
ing elections for senator's and representa-
tiyes, shall be prescribed in each state
by the Legislature thereof; but the con
gress may at any time, by law, make or
alter such regulations, except as to the
places of choosing senator's -" Each
house shalt be the judge of the elections
returns and qualifications of its own mem
bers. "-'e This. constitution, and the laws
ofthe United States which shall be made
in pursuance thereof, and all treaties
made, or which shall be made,
under the authority of the United
States, shall be the supreme law of the
land, and the judges in each state shall
be bound thereby; anything in the con.