The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1872-01-13
a Raaical Outrage.

At the last October election, the candi
dates for assembly in Warren county were
Luther Green, Democrat, and William II.
Short, Radical. When the Return Judges
met at the time and place designated by
law, and the vote of the different election
districts was counted up, it appeared that
Green had received ! 1913 votes, and Short
1878, making Green's majority .. a cer-
tifcate of election was accordingly made out,
signed by the Return Judges and delivered
to Luther Green. Some time afterwards, we
do not know how long, upon an allegation
that mistake had been made in the actual
vote received by Short, the Judges, or al
least the greater number Of them. met
second time and in some way ascertained
tha! Short had received 1903 votes, being
ten votes more than were polled for Green.
They then made out another certificate in
which they declared that William II. Short
had been elected. Upon this brief statement
Of the facts in the case, the question arises,
who was eutitled prinaa jacie to be sworn in
as the member from Warren county2 Most
unquesLionably Luther Green, for the plain
and obvious reason that the certificate Of
election held by him was made out and
signed on The day specyGed in tie Act Of As
semJly for that auty to be Pertormea Any
other certificate subsequently manufactured,
although it may have been signed by the
very same men who attached their signatures
TO the first one, was in clear violation of the
Act of Assembly-without shadow Of val.
iiity and absolutely void. IF al error had
bscn committed in any of the election returns
to the prejudice of Short, the law afforded
him an ample and complete remedy by con-
testing Green's right to bis seat after he had
been admitted.
When the Return Judges Of county have
met, performed thsir dntis. and adjourned. .
their official existence terminates, and their
re- assembling for any conceivable purpose
whatever is mere farce. But such was not
the opinion of the radical majority of the
House of Representatives at Harrisburg
They refused to permit Mr.. Green to be
sworn in as u member, and referred the case
to a PACKED COMMITTEES of FIVE, who of course
promptly reported in favor Of Short. The
report was adopted by solid radical vote
and Wm. II. Short took his seat. No more
aagrant outrage has bsen perpetrated since
the days when Democrats were unceremo-
niously kicked on! Of Congress without a
why or a wherefore, by an insolent Radical
ma jority submissive to the vigorous and un~
sparing lash of Thaddeus Stevens. No ex~
cuso las been or can be offered for it. 1t is
against all precedent and in shameless vio>
laton of all law. An arrogant majority
tramples upon the plain requirements of the
law and invests man with the powers Of
legislator on bogus certificate possessing no
more legal force than an Internal revenue
lager beer stamp. If any one is anxious to
know how Samuel Horny, the member from
Cambria, voted on this question, we answer
that he was true to his party and stood man
fully up to the work ef excluding Luther
Green from his seat, notwithstanding the
fact that the certificate which he presented
was as valid and legal as that held by any
other member of the House. Mr.. Henry
believes in the doctrine that Democrat has
no rights which q Radical msiority is bound
70 respect.