The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-04-09
RADECALlSNl.
Tho Grimes and Blundcrs Of the Radical |
Party.

As~~ N'AA.'~" VIVA .SA"sAuSAS Va s"c AHduACaA
From the Chicago Tribune, March q.
In the matter Of the claim of Gen. A.nes to
seat in the United States senate, the judiciary
committee reported that he was not an inhabi.
tant of the state, and, therefore. not eligible at
the time of his election. The discussion, how.
ever, has developed determination on the part
OF some senator's perhaps a majority to admit
Gen. Ames anyhow. because he is republican.
Senator Carpenter, in speaking of this subject,
forcibly condemned the prevailing practice of
disregarding law upon political measures The
Judiciary, he sale, becoming a useless an.
pendage OF the government, and he expressed
willingness. so far as he was concerned, that il
be abolished, "cOnceding, for the purposes of
this discussion, that whenever the constitution
stands in the way Of what we deem human
rights. of what we deem temporary advantage,
OF what we deem party end, that is to be
trampled under foot and disregarded" While
the senator was thus willing to concede away
the judiciary, whenever demanded by party, he
was not willing to give up the constitution in
this particular case, because there was no neces.
sity for it. eithe! of national party charac-
ter, and, therefore. there WAS reason why the
senate should decide this question on party
grounds The rebahe was not ill.tmed. Though
uttered with reference to the case of Ames it
has All equal application TO those members of
congress who, Tor mere partisan purposes, are en-
deavoring 10 force upon The people of Georgia,
after their terms of Office expire, gang of state
officers who not wanted by the people Lay
ing aside all considerations of constitution, law,
Justice and good faith, what possible interest
have the republicans of Wisconsin and Illinois
in keeping in Office in Georgia set of men go
odiss that they dare not trast themselves to the
chances of an election where they have the polit.
ical machinery in their own hands! Is the
country to be saved by keeping particular leg
islature and governor in office against the wishes
Of the people? Is it not libel upon the repub-
lcans Of the United States to assume that they
approve of any such policy, or that they refuse
permission to the republicans in Georgia to dis
miss at the next election gang of officials whose
terms have expired? Instead of being a party
measure to keep Bullock in office in Georgia, it
is an abuse OF party confidence, and an abuse Of
senatorial responsibility and decorum, to attempt
any such revolutionary and repulsive act.
But this is not the only case in which congress.
sional morality has persisted before the mistaken
policy Of temporary party advantages. The iu.
dicial proceedings of the house Of representa-.
tivcs upon cases Of contested elections have sunk
"a low In public estimation as those Of the hire.
ling courts of New York. Law and evidence,
facts and justice, are treated with contempt or
unconcern, and questions Of right Of mem bership
and validity Of election are decided exclusively
BY politics of the contestants Mr.. Dawes, of
Massachusetts was chairman Of the house com.
mittee of elections for many years, and in his
Judgment the house placed great confidence but
he could not stem the tide OF partisanshp and
he retired in disgust from the committee. In
recent paper read before the Social Science Asso.
citation, he said:
" All traces OF judicial character in these pro.
ceedlnss contested elections are fast fading
away ana the preeedents losing all sanction.
Each oa,o - a1ming to mere partisan struggle
Al inc 'ir . OF party majorites tho committee
hust "S.'' NOT follow the law and evidence ;
and he viii best meet the expectations of hi. nm.
pointment who can pu. upon record tho hss, -ap-
sons for the course thus pursued This ,e,5o,.
cy is 70 manifest 20 those in a si,uation % h-
serve, that 1t has ceased to be questioned MI !;
now but little resisted. There is no tyrnr,,
like that OF malorities, and efforts in the nast ~
resist them, and to hold the judgments ~ ~ y
committee of elections above the dirty non, &c
party politics, have encountered snoh bi..or a,,a
unsparing denunriaton, and such rebnko Co.
treason TO party iealty, that they are not lkalv
to bs repeated. The whole proceeding mus, sir /
into contempt. Seli.respoct, IA well AZ leyol y,
tanmen., will soon retire from service upon .
committee required, in the name Of the law. nm 4
under the cloak Of judicial sanction, TO do M,
work of partisans."
Since Mr. Dawes retired, Mr. Paine, Of Wis
consin, has been chairman Of the committee o.
elections, and he, too, has become so disguised
with the course Of the house in overriding Law
and justice, that he has frequently asked TO b,
relieved from service on the committee. Their,
never was Il greater mistake made by part,
than the prostitution OF its numerical strength
10 the ~ ,,ypced anita mar ri