Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1880-02-04
CUE AntLer Citi=en An

! not been acquleSced III by quorum oi
those appearing to have been elected to
/ either House. 1t is matter OF history
that after unsuccessful resistance to the
! Illegal action OF the officers attempting
to create legislative organization on
that dav, a majority Of the persons who
appeared TO be elected in the two
Houses formed an organization OF
themselves. They refrained from form
ing an independent organization until
the 18th of January. hoping until then
to obtain their rights. They were
forced into such position by the lile-
gal action of minority Of members
whose action they were not obliged to
submit to, which they could in no
other reasonable manner resist. The
organization made on January II was
made by a majority of members ap-
pearing to be elected, and having
prtma facie rights to seats.
The point is raised by the statement
and questions submitted, that no egal
organization could be formed on Janu-
ary y. because no notice Of intended
action was given to them to participate
therein. The minority were not eX-
cluded. The organization was made in
public manner The minority were at
the time claiming to be, and are still
claiming to be, the lawful Legislature.
1t is not presumed that they would
have abandoned that organization at
that time had notice been given. We
do not think that want of notice lnva!-
idates the organization of January IL.
There may be irregularities in the man
ner in which such organization was
formed, but the voice Of the people Is
not on that account to be stlted, nor
the true Government to fail to be main
tanned No essential defects anywhere
exists, but only such departures from
ordinary forms as circumstances com
PEELED. History can never fail to dis
close the vital fact that the organiza-
ton of January IL, was formed by full
quorum of persons appearing by the re-
cords and returns as duly elected men,
bers of either House. 1t cannot be that
such construction must be given to
tHt NOHSLituliOlt vi tbt JluNt CO. VIZ
subvert the plain and obvious intention
Of its trainers, or place it in the power
of few men 10 perpetuate their hold
upon officers in the gift of the people in
defiance of the will Of the voters, con-
stitutionally expressed and ascertaincd,
because their own neglect Of duty has
made some departure from directory
provisions and ordinary forms inevlta-
BILE.
A legally authorized Legislature be-
ing now in existance and exercising its
constitutional functions, it follows that
no Convention of mcmbers-elect OF
either House can exist which can be
treated as a nucleus for another organ
ization. Two Governments claiming to
be in existence as valid and entitled TO
obedience of the people cannot right
fully exist at the same time but one
Government can be recognized and
obeyed. The responsibility and solemn
duty are imposed upon us to determine
which is entitled to judicial recognl-
ton. We, therefore, after due delber-
dIlDH anu VI ii"bH''0
involved, affirm and declare our Judge
ment TO be that the Senate whose pre-
siding ofliccr'is Hon. Joseph A. Locke,
and the House Of Representatives
whose presiding officer is Hon George
+. Weeks, constitute the legal and
constitutional Legislature Of the State.
JOHN APPLETON,
CHARLES w. WALTON,
WM. q. Burrows,
CHARLES DANFoRTH,
JoHy A. PETERS,
ARTEMUs LIBBEY,
JOSEPH w. SYMoNDs.
To Albert G. Andrews and Ii. III.
Chceycr, Augusta Maine.
MAJOR SMITH SAYS lie HAS GOT
THROUGH PLAYING GOVERNOR AND
WILL 90 HoME--OTHE8 FUsIoNIsTS