The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1871-02-02

Special Election in third Congress
siOnaI District.
The committee on Federal Relations of
the Senate, yesterday reported back
through its chairman, Mr.. RooT, with
amendments, the resolutions offered by
General DURBIN WARD, in relation to
Governor HAYES, disregard of law in the
matter of q special election in the THIRD
District. The report of the Committee
was unanimous.
The preamble declares that it was practi-
cable to have had an election to tlll the
vacancy caused by General SCHENCK's |
resignation, as early as January "a, and |
to have had the votes canvassed and re-
turned in one week thereafter. This Is
supplemented by two resolutions, the first |
of which declares the Governor should |
have ordered an election as early as |
January "a, and the second emphatically |
says an election should get be ordered |
by the Governor"
The report created considerable stir in |
the Senate, as indicating that some of the |
Radical Senators were not disposed to
help Governor HAYES out Of his scrape, |
| even by silent aequiesence in his neglect
of duty The State Journal predicted that
| General WARDS resolutions would sleep
the sleep that knows no waking" IN the
ators, and especially the Radicals, were
| quite prepared for such resurrection as
| this IA.
Mr.. Howard. of the Champaign dis
trict, moved to strike out the first reso-
luton, declaring the Governor should
| have ordered an election on the oath inst
Oddly enough Senator HOWARD holds
his seat by virtue of special election,
ordered on twelve days notice, and the
proclamation for which was issued before
| the body of his predecessor was put under
the ground, such was the haste of the
Governor IN that instance.
Senator DUNBAR, of the Colunbiana
district, opposed the report Of the Com
mittee, and took the ground that it was
not practicable TO hold special election
in the Third district. on the oath inst;
there would not be time. He also argued
that the propriety of a special election
was matter purely discretionary with the
Governor
Senator ODLIN, of the Preble district,
submitted the general proposition that
the Legislature had no right to interfere
In the matter The responsibility for
action or non action rested with the Gov
ernor, and it was question that concern
ed the conscience of the Executive alone.
Senator RooT, of the Erie district, who
reported the resolutions as Chairman OF
the Committee on Federal Relations, de-
clared'it it was the business and duty of the
Legislature to discuss, criticise and dis
| approve the action of the Executive when
ever he gave Just occasion; and unless
he changed his mind he would al
ways opposed the tendency to concentrate
power in the hands of the Executive. In
this case, the law was imperative, 1t did
M COZ ha a 81
tion, but that he ''shGE' do so. There
was no discretion confded to him. Mr..
Roof further declared he believed there
was ample time to have held an election
for the votes to have been canvassed, and
the member elect TO take his seat early IN
February He referred to the spcial
election for Senator in the Champaign dis
trict as case in point In order to Sc
cure the ratification of the Fifteenth Amend
ment, the Governor had ordered special
election in that district on twelve days
notice, and before the term for which the
predecessor of Senator HOWARD had beer
elected, had expired He (Mr. ROOM was
glad the Governor had done so, for it en-
abled us to ratify the Fifteenth Amend
ment. Wecould not have done it without
7 Senator HowARDG vote. Suppose, con-
: tinued Senator RooT, vacancy had oc-
4
GARFIELD's district, and we had In the
Executive chair Democratic, anti-war OF
! Copperhead Governor, suppose he had re-
, ceived such information as Governor
HAYES had IN regard to the Third
: district and had refused to order an cleo
3 ton to fill the vacancy. What would we
have said? Would we not have made a
fuss about it, and given him some solid
, and very plain advice as to his gubernatlal
duties. In conclusion, referring to the ples
, of Senator ODLIN, he said if the Republi-
can party boasted many such politicians a.
that gentlman, in the Third district, i
was no wonder their majority had been
reduced in few years from tive thousand
to something less than nothing.
| This closed the discussion and the Sen.
ate proceeded to vote Senator HowARDi
amendment was rejected, and the first re-
solution declaring the Governor should ye
order an election was agreed to-ayes %
: nays Il Senator WARDS original re
solutions as amended, were then adopted
: ayes q, nays g. The Republican Sen
ators who voted with the Democrat!
throughout were Messrs. RooT, McKIN
: NEY, WADE, WALES and YEATMAN. TIL,
Democratic Senators did not participate II
the debate but were complacent specta
2 tors and Gsteners-Ohi0 StatezRldn { 18th.