The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1872-01-25
Who's Right.

VINO Gl1gn
Some of the Radical editors who
profess to blow their own umpets
and not to be the penny whistles to
echo the utterances of the metropofi-
tan, journals have made the discovery
that Lieutenant Governor Mueller
was entirely right in refusing to allow
the members of the Joint Convention
the privilege to change their votes for
q. S. Senator after they had once
been cast, asserting that vote once
cast it is finality, and that no MEM
Der can claim the right to recall and
reeant his vote. 1t is a little strange
that in the Radical caucus, but four;
days before, the proceedings of which
are supposed to be proper and con-
Quoted in accordance with the rules
governing parliamentary bodies, when
a number of members had cast their
votes for the candidate Of the privi-
legged orders, full opportunity was ex-
tended to all to change their votes.--
If the same anxiety had been mani
tested to consult the interests and will
of the people that was to conserve that
of Sherman and his ring, why should
the privilege have been denied in the
Joint Convention2 But the privilege
was given 10 aportion of the MEM
bers. Then, why should it have been
denied to any? If, as is claimed, this
privilege of change could be extended
only as a courtesy, why should it be
denied unless from fear that the in
terests and wishes of the people would
thereby be consulted instead of those
of the Sherman ring 2
Rnt, is-the- parliamentary rule, as
laid down by these knowing Radical
Journals in order to shield an officer
of their party, the law in the matter?
The Louisville Ledgersin discussing
this position, as asserted by. the Gin
cinnati Commercial, says:
.It is well settled in this country
that a member of the Legislative As
sembly has a right to change his vote
as. often as he pleases, and it is equal
Iy well settled by the practice and de-
cisions in Congress and the several
State legislatures that this right con-
TIMES up to the time when the an
nouncement of the result is fully COM
pIeted. Mr.. Gushing says, in his
work. on the claw and Practice of
Legislative Assemblies, that until
the calling of the roll is completed
- "a
ced, members have a right to be call
ed again and change their votes" See
sections 1S25-1828. Now what is an
ion 1t will not be pretended that
the mere act of rising from his seat by
the presiding officer constituted any
such announcement, but it is said that
he had commenced to state The result,
land had declared the number of votes
cast for one of the candidates. This
makes no difference whatever, and it
would have made no difference if he
had actually, declared the numher Of
votes cast tor each and all The candi-
dates il nomination, provided he had
not yet announced the effect of the
vote that is the question determined
| by it, An announcement of the num-
Der of votes cast for and against a
proposition, OF for several candidates
for an Office, is not by any means an
announcement of the decision which
is the result of the votes. The right
of member to change his vote is not
affected by the mere announcement OF
the votes cast, as has been repeatedly y
decided in Congress and elsewhere in
| this country. Let the Commercial, ii
it doubts this, examine the journal OF
the House of Representatives, Sew
enth Congress, page 342; same, Twen-
tieth Congress, second session, 355
same Twenty y-eighth Congress, second
session ,494; same Thirty-first Con-
gress, first. session, 1856; and also
Congressional Globe, viii, 494, 531
same, oxi, 667; same, xiii, 230; same
XIV, 529 same, xviii, 572.
These authorities will show that the
ruling of the Lieutenant Governor
was palpabIe violation of parliamen-
tary law, and that Mr.. Sherman has
been, to all intents aud purposes, de-
clared elected TO the Senate before the
vote was completed, unless there is
| some special rule in Ohio Inconsistent
with the general rule and practice.
What the motive of the pending affair
was is wholly immaterial SO far as the
legality of the proceeding is concern
ed, and we do not propose to discuss
that matter.
In discussing the same question,
the Steubenville Daily Neaos Repub-
lican,) says: ..z..4.ss go.
- IF, Lieutenant Governor
Mueller's action is fairly reported, our
| inclination is to believe that the an-
| thourities- on parliamentary laws are
against him. Cushing's Manual has
this to say: :eg5s ss4fgE 10 ssag}. se.
Paragraph 1Sl4.-aAccording to the
pretice of our legislative assemblies, a
member may change his vote as ma
NY times as he pleases-"'
| !, Paragraph 1825.-sIn the House of
Representatives, of the United States
anta the calling Of The roll as compile
ted, members haze right to be called
again and change their votes"
| Paragraph 1S28.-"According to the
practice of our legislative assemblies,
therein agreeing with the ancient
practice. and rule of the House of Com
mons, member may change his vote
before they announce the result, or, 1t
taken By yeas and nays, have his name
called again before the decision of the
assembly is announced"
reference to the Journal of II. of
R. of Doth Cong, I'd session; 29th
Cong, 2d session; Both Cong, 1st ses-
SION s@ - " &
Effect of Radical Teachings.
The instruction and advice that the
Radicals have been instilling in the
negro mind are bearing their natural
fruit. The outbreak in Chicot was
the legitimate offspring of the advice
that such men as Gov. Davis and