Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-08-12
LAID ON THE TABLE,



publication of some high sounding resolu-
tions passed at the late meeting of Chester
county Republicans against the rebel
Democracy and slavery. It is well to note
that the following rigorous declarations
were offered for the confederation of that
meeting of Chester county Republicans by
Mr.. VIM. E. Lockwood, and dozen of the
local party leaders sprang to their feet to
oppose them. They were laid on the table
by an almost unanimous vote. Read them
honest Republicans and see if there is any,
thing in them that honest Republicans
should hesitate to assent to:
brains enough to know dishonesty when
they see it, and courage enough to fight it
when they find it.
That the corruption Of our legislative
bodies is one of the gravest dangers affect
ing our civilization and our free institu-
tions, adding to the burden of taxation, and
debasing tho standard of public and pri-
vate morals.
We believe that impartial justice should
be administered by our courts to all
classes, making no discrimination ON the
ground of social position or wealth, save
as the greater degree of light and oppOr-
tunity carries with it the greater degree of
guilt.
That We express our sincere acknOwl
edgment to his Honor John J. Pearson,
judge of the court of common pleas for
the 10Th district of tho state of Penusyl-
vania, for the just and not unduly severe
sentence, pronounced upon the men con-
victed of attempting to bribe members of
the Pennsylvania Legislature. He has
entitled himself to the gratitude Of all
good citizens, by imposing q sentence
which has some meaning, and which is
likely to act as q preventive to similar
crimes in the future.
"That We cannot too strongly utter our
condemnation of the action Of the board
of pardons and his excellency tho gover-
nor, to whom, assuming without consti-
tutiOnal authority, the exercise Of judicial
functions, have relieved tho criminals Of
all the more significant portions of their
sentence, and that they should have done
this in q manner which violated their own
established rules, and allowed no fair
hearing of the friends of public justice !;
and that for such acts, the Republican
party of Pennsylvania should in conder,l-
nation of the same, never allow any Of
these high officials to further hold any
Office of honor or profit in this common
wealth."
"That wo return our thanks to all,
who, in their positions as legislators, or in
other official stations, have labored to pro-
mote public honesty, and to prevent
bribery, or to bring those guilty of public
offences to their merited punishment.
Among these we would especially mention
that fearless, indefatigable and unflinching
Republican, Hon. Chas. s. Wolf, of Lewis
burg, Union county,"
"That rs the tools of a great principle
have either plead guilty or been convicted
the new constitution, which makes the act
| by fine and imprisonment, and that prin-
ciple being we'll known by the confession
of one of its attorneys (himself convict
ed criminaD, which confession is in these
| words, which are to be found in the Ap-
pendix to the Legislative Record 1878, part 2,
Riot bill, No. 1O3, Page 10. Il Iamemploy-
ed by the Pennsylvania railroad to look
| after their interest in this BILL" That is
exactly what it was Of course, was not
here for love, or any thing Of that kind,
but had no authority from them to do
anything at all that was wrong" That
our senator and legislators about to be
elected are hereby instructed to aid to the
extent of their ability, at tho next meeting
of the legislature, to bring that principal
and its unconvicted tools to final trial,
conviction, fine and Imprisonment" as q
just penalty for their acts in this matter.
This principal which has held itself aloof
from and above the supreme law of the state
to which all its citizens are amenable, hav
ing by its own act, as stated in an opinion
of the most learned jurist of this state and
concurred in by two of his Associated
Judges Duncan VS.. Penn'a. r. r. Legal
Intelligencer, Dec. 12, '7g placed itself
under the new constitution is now amenea-
bic to it's pains and penalties, for any unjust
and unlawful acts of its officers, directors,
agents and attorney, or employees, and they
should hereafter be held to strict ac-
count.
That VIC look with alarm and apprehen-
sion upon the pretentions of tho great
transportation companies to be above tho
fundamental law of this commonwealth,
which governs all else within our borders.
and until they accept the constitution of
1878 in good faith, they should remain OBJ
jects of the utmost vigilance and jealousy
of both Legislature and people.
As it is openly asserted in the public
journals "that two judges of the supreme
court of this state had gone to the depot
and given Mr.. Kemble cordial shake of
hand, as if in approval of his conduct"
We earnestly and heartily condemn such
action in the highest judicial officers in
this state, and that their names should be
learned and the Republican voters now and
hereafter cautioned against such represen-
tatives holding so high an honor.