Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1880-01-28
A New Parliamentary Code.

solid as they were on Garceions
questions. On every one OF the
q points raised they sustained the
Republicans unqualifedly, assum-
ing in each case that the state OF
facts, alleged in the questionsis the
true state Of facts, and paying no
heed to the opposite assertions OF
Lamson, president Of the Senate.
AS we said the other day, the fact
that they recognized the Republic
can caucus as having right to in
terrogate them officially, carried
with it the whole Republican case,
and il was a matter of course that
their answers should be just what
they are. Reduced to q single
proposition, they are in effect, that.
after the persons certifcated in the
usual way as members of the State
Legislature have met in the usual
place and at the usual time, been
sworn in by the regular authority
and organized Senate and House,
minority of them can at any time
hereafter gather at midnight, and,
uniting with q number Of persons
who CLAIM seats bat have no certi-
fcstes, organize another Legisls-
ture that the Legislature SO or
gained is the true Legislature of
the State, provided (which they as
sumo in this case) the claimants who
have no certificates, as above men
toned, have g good Prigad .tdcie
case in the returns from the polls.
1t viii be seen that, under this
Interpretation of law there is no
longer any security for the stabili-
ty of government in any Of
the States of the Union nor in the
United States. For, after q Leg
islature or Congress, whose mem
bers have been certifcated in the
usual way, and have had their
credentials vised, by tie usual
authority, has organized, minori-
~ Of the seated members NAV re-
tire, and, by uniting with claim
ants, make up q minority as
IS legal or even more 80 than the
first.
Heretofore il has been assumed
that contests for seats must be set
tied in the parliamentary body itself
composed ST first and organized by
those holding credentials, howsoever
they came by them. This machin-
ery, DO doubt, has often worked
injustice, but il is the best ma
chiDery which human wisdom has
heretofore devised. The Maine
iugdes have now overturned al that
and given rs an entirely new and
original parliamentary code. For
the future claimants are TO with
draw altogether, with their friends
among the members Of the sitting
body that bold seats; they are
then 70 set up rival body, and ap
peal 70 the courts TO sustain then
IS the rightfnl Legislature. II th'
highest courts be OF their owl
party, in which case alone the.
would appeal to it, and spprov'
their claim, which in that case it j
pretty certain 10 do, they are tn
rightful Legislature, and, as such
can proceed to levy war sgsins
the other fellows and crush then
out as rebels
Thus the organization OF q par
liamentary body is ultimately re
: duced 10 any given case TO ques
] ton Of force. and for the future i
\ the United States, no party whic
|, holds the executive and judicia
branches and the military arm
need ever permit, and viii probabl
e never permit, its rival TO organic
:. 9 Congress or State Legislature.
II What folly il was for the Reput
!. licsns to permit the Democrats
organize the present Congress
y There were claimants. or migl
Is have been, with plausible cases
" sufficient number TO change ii
= complexion Of both houses. VIII
:. were not these pressedi OF cour'
the Democrats who frsudulently g
X in FIRST would reject their claim
lie That was to be expected; bot
D. would make no difference. Ma
as i would not even be necessary
!, submit the case n the houses
= al. All the Republican membe
~ need have done was 70 retire, uni
r, With the claimants, hold meetinI
e. 10 the capitol at midnight, organi
o. another Senate and another Hous
appeal TO the Supreme Court
recognize them as the legal Co
gress, and presto ! the whole WOO
have been accomplished. II
be court being Republican, would
es course have Sustained them, a
n the army being in the hands
!. their friends, they would have be
able easily 70 hunt out the rel
Oh brigadiers end copperbeads Who b
&c sudscity to pretend to be the &C
at gress Of the United States