The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1882-02-04
Obliteratlng the Old Landmarks.

1t might be supposed that the funda-
mental principles upon which repose the
rights of representatives in this country
were tolerably well settled by this time.
But such seems not to be the case, at
least so far as some of the leading Re-
publican members. of Congress are con-
cerned. In the contested case of Dele
gate from Utah these Republicans de-
mand that Campbell shall be admitted
to seat, though it is acknowledged that
Cannon, his opponent, received i'at the
election ten votes to- his One. The
ground upon which this pretcnsion in
favor of Campbell is raised is that Gam
non issR polygamist, and, moreover, an
unnatfnsaized fdreigDk, These may be
good reasons for tAer ej6ction of Cannon,
but they do mot strengthen in the least
Campbelr claim to a seat. If on inves-
tigatian it should turn out that Cannon,
though receiving an overwhelming pa-
jority of the votes Of the territory, issnot
entitled tOsaseat, 1t is certain that Camp
bell's prefensien is as barren as If he bad
received no votes at all
Are the Republican leaders In Con-
gress utterly obl7siois of the rhem5ra-
bic strAggle = hundred years agp in En-
gland when the great question hvolved
in this case Vas fingAf and authorita-
lively settled? JohnSWilkes defeated
Colonel Enttfell by an I overwhelming
vote for the House OFFS Comrhons But
the majority, IN obedience tqthe COM
mand of the Tory ADM iistrAtion, ad-
mitted Luttrell to a seat<with Ms hand
full of votes on the ground that as
Wilkes was disqualified, all the votes
cast for him were illegal and void, pre-
cisely the position taken in behalf of
the man who was not elected Delegate
in Utah. But the British people indig-
nantly rejected this doctrine. Burke
Numbered in the Commons against the
act as an outrage upon the rights of
representation, and denounced the ma
jority for having reversed alike the rules
of arithmetic and common sense. After
a fierce struggle running through many
years the Ministry responsible for the
attack upon sound representative prin-
ciples were overthrown. Colonel Lut-
trell was elected, and Wilkes, as a
member of the House of Commons, had
the proud satisfaction of drawing with
his own hand deep black lines of era
sure through every vote, motion and
resolution on the journal connected
with the former admission of Luttrell.
To make this ceremony forever memoir
able, it was performed in the presence
of the assembled Representatives of the
British Nation. 1t was the solemn pro-
test of iberty-loving people against a
dangerous violation of the rights of rep
| resentatiOn.
Have the Republicans in Congress a
mind to overthrow this great precedent?
To the people of this country it is a
matter of small concern who shall be
the Delegate in Congress from Utah, or
whether the Territory shall have a dele
gate at all. The Delegate has no vote,
and can exercise extremely small influ-
| ence in political affairs. BUTT does
concern this country very much that the
great and Observation-Disclosures of repre-
sentation shall not be assai1ed under pre-
tense of a superior regard for the cause
of morality. Ii Cannon does not possess
the proper. qualifications for Delegate
Llet him be rejected. But the admission
of man who VIGOROUSLY was not
elected and was not the choice of one out
Of ten of the voters of the Territory
would be gross fraud upon the princi-
Piles of representation, and precedent
fraught with danger to republican in
stitutions. During the baleful period Of
reconstruction there were instances OF
the admission of carpet-bag members
by Inscriptions majorities upon pre-
tensions entitled to no more respect
than is due to the claim of the Utah
contestant. But these acts, performed
ia time of political violence, will not
sBrve. for. examples now when the coun-
try would gladly forget them Harris
burg fPa) Patriot. .E~ "a