The weekly clarion., 1873-11-20
The Election in the Courts.


From the Vicksburg Times CRepublican.1
1t is very probable that the persons
recently elected as Senators and Repre-
sentatives will, IN january, assemble and
organize themselves as a Legislature.
II is probable that they will adjudge
themselves to be constitutionally elected
body. Indeed, we think no great harm
can result to the State from such action.
For if the time contemplated by the
trainers of the State Constitution for the
general election has not yet arrived, and
will not arrive till next year, the recent
partial vote of the people was harmless
recreation, and the assembling of the pa
triots chosen in the progress of the farce
will be equally innocent. The sage as
semblage will at least possess no judicial
power; and consequently its decision
upon its own constitutional validity will
amount to nothing unless the courts,
after careful consideration of the ques-
ton, shall reverse the judgment of the
present Attorney General, the present
Chief Magistrate, the present House of
Representatives, majority of the present
legal Senate, and the opinions of at least
two-thirds of the first class lawyers of
the State who have examined the sub
ject.
From the Crystal Springs Monitor.
Since the Senate acted so badly In re-
gard to the Election law; and also in
permitting persons to sit and vote who
had no earthly right to be there, the
remedy is in Gov. Powers retaining his
position, refusing to count the votes and
testing the legality of the election in the
Courts.
We have no doubt Gov. Powers gould
be sustained in this course by the almost
unanimous voice of the Conservative
masses.
From the Columbus Index.
The question Is, was the election con
stitutional? If it was motif the
Governor thinks it was not-as his law
adviser, the Attorney General, thinks il
was not-as the Legislature refused tc
decide-as majority of the intelligent
people of the State repudiate it-there is
certainly nothing undignifed or i'm
proper in an appeal to the High Court
for a decision of the matter.
From the Vicksburg Herald.
This question was ably discussed and
calmly considered by the Legislature, re
Gently assembled at Jackson, and in It's
deliberate opinion the law directing an
election to be held this fall was pro
nounced both constitutional and proper.
From the Meridian Mercury.
Governor Powers, we are assured, will
not deliver up his Office either to AlcOrn
or to Ames, claiming under an election
next Tuesday. The present Secretary
of State will not issue commissions to any
of the elected, because he believes the
election unconstitutional and void. Gen
eral Ames needn't expect to get into of
fee by violence, and we think will be
disappointed in Federal Intervention to
install him. The courts of Mississippi
will decide the question without molesta-
ton. The law points have been recently
stated SO clearly by distinguished law
yer at the Capital, that we cannot enter
tain doubt of the result in the courts.
From the Westville News.
Powers and the Attorney General de-
cided, before the election came off, that
it would be unconstitutional, hence frau
duIent, and it is their duty to protect the
people from all fraudulent measures and
impositions; they are therefore hound by
their oaths to resist those whom they
term usurpers. In this they should have
the support of the people, and to prove
our loyalty we must sustain our State
government. Powers should hold on to
his seat until the courts decide against
him.
From the West Point Times Republican,
There is higher power in the State
than either the Attorney General or the
Governor or the Secretary of State. We
mean the Supreme Court. The issue
will probably be made up and submitted
to that tribunal, and upon its decision we
have every reasotf to believe that Gov.
Powers and all holding offices with him,
and so with Gen. Ames and all elected
to hold office with him, will cheerfully
abide its decision.
From the Pascagoula Star.
We endorse the remarks of The
CLARION, and hope that Gov. Powers
will hold to his place until it shall have
been determined by the Courts" that
Ames and his crew were constitutionally
elected.