The Van Buren press., 1874-05-05
The Cloven Foot.

and corrupt character Of the proceedings
Of Brooks and his handful of adherents
than the pertinacity with which they stick
to the text, that the action ola mere Cir
cult Court, L. giving judgment as was
done, technically and without even pre-
tended examination into the merits, was
final and conclusive settlement of the
great question Of the control Of the Ex.
ecutive branch of the government, and,
n any event, warranted the revolutionary
and forcible deposition ofa regularly in.
auguratcd and acting Governor. For,
by their method of reasoning all these
are parts Of one whole; the suit, the
judgment, the forcible entry into The
Capitol, the election of an acting Gov.
ernor, and the occupation of new Coy
ernor by military force. And IL not tbc
result Of conspiracy, yet they ela...
this succession of events as making an
impregnable and final case as to the right
of Brooks to be recognized as dc jure and
de facto Governor Norris this to be in
Quired into or questioned by the people
in any manner. Therefore, when Gov.
Baxter anxious to avoid all complica.
tion and disturbances to quiet the coun-
try, to prevent violence, disorder and re
sort to extreme measures if possible, is
sued bis proclamation to convene the
Legislature, these pure patriots loudly
cry that the whole matter has been set.
tied By "a Court of general and compe-
tent jurisdiction that the Legislature
has nothing to do with the matter; and
the members are advised to stay quietly
at home. Why this anxiety on the part
of Brooks and his advisers? Ii it is
true that they are unsefshly anxious to
secure the people in their expressed will
at the ballot box, why this trcpidation at
like an investigation? Why,
in the name Of all just dealing and hon
est purpose, in this time of agtation aud
danger. object to the assembling togeth.
er Of the representatives of the people 10
the condition of the State and
consult as to the best manner to restore
and confidence Here shows
the cloven foot. Brooks cares for moth
ing but the office. Clayton, Mcclure d
Co. care for nothing, just now, but the
removal of Baxter The one seeks to
crafty his ambition; the others, their re
venge And all are utterly indifferent as
to the means to be used. The rights,
the interests, the welfare of the people
are net to be considered. And the sens
tive pertinacity with which they cling to
the infallibility and impregnabiity of this
Circuit Court bull proves this.
Now, why should not the Legislature
mectf We will say nothing here about
the exclusive power expressly conferred
upon them, in the Constitution, to exam.
inc and determine all contested elections
for executive offices. We will remain 81.
lent upon the repeated solemn declara-
tions, in this very ease, by the Supreme
Court of the State, that neither the Su-
prcmc Court, nor any other Court Of the
State, had any Jurisdiction to try any suit
for the purpose Of determining whether
q person had been elected to exercise the
office of Governor, but that the authority
vested exclusively in the Legislature.
These facts stare us in the face. The
State is in condition of unwonted eX
element. Men are under arms and
conflict has been prevented only by the
Intervention of the troops Of the United
States. Daily meetings are held, rcsolu-
tions passed and offers OF men and mate
rial sent to Gov. Baxter. An insurgcnt,
surrounded by few bold and unprinci-
pied supporters, has seized the Capitol
buildings, the archives and the Treasury,
and holds them by the strong hand Of or
ganized force. Justice is dealt out NJ
street corners by itincrant Judges. A
general sense Of insecurity pervades the
entire Commonwealth. Trade is para
lyzed, travel stopped, and all good mon
are looking for some powerful means to
avert a storm which will wreck the for
tunes Of all the State if it strikes here.
The speediest, the surest, the safest re
lief Is in the assembling of the Legisla-
lure This question is in every mans
mouth, and discussed in every town and
hamlet. The Representatives would come
directly instructed upon this all ll.absorb-
ing topic. They will know what the peo-
pie think. They will be representatives
in the entire sense OF the term. They
will DO competent to consult and to ad-
wise. They constitute the branch Of the
government which can give to the doubt
ing at home, and to all the world assur-
ance of the opinion. the belief, the action,
the determination Of the people, with an
authoritative voice. Already is the nc
ton Of the Governor in convening the
Assembly most favorably spoken of
the United States.
Let the pooplc--let every man Of the
people-make this cause his own, and see
to it that the Representatives from the
respective districts come up to the Capt.
tai. Let no bad advice, no evil counscls
influence any Senator or Representative
to shirk the serious duty imposed upon
him. The obligation is plain, simple,
an urgent one.
In this manner We believe all these
dangers which beset us may be averted,
and we repeat, if Mr.. Brooks aud his
q tissue Of right in the re-.
markable and revolutionary course they
have pursued, they will court this ref.
erence to the people, whose obedient
servants they so vauntingly proclaim
themselves to bel. II. Gazette.