Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-05-20

of a majority of all the members elected; it
further provides that less number may ad-
journ from day to day and compel the atten-
dance of absent members. On the 9Th day of
May, there being less than q quorum
present, call of the Senate was made for
the purpose of bringing in absent members,
and the Senate on that day adjourned. On
The 7th day of May warrants for the arrest OF
absent members were, in pursuance of said
call, placed in the hands of the Sergeant-at-
Arms of the Senate, who returned the writs
on May 18th, indorsed mot found"
In the mean time, on May 8th, in violation
of Article 2, Section of the Constitution OF
our State; of Rule II Of the Senate, which
provides "that when less than q quorum vote
on any question pending in the Senate the
question shall be declared lost, and no ques-
tion affecting the right o; member to his
seat declared carried when quorum is pres
ent, unless a majority Of all the Senators on
the roll shall vote theresor;'' also, In VIOLA
tion of rule % Of the Senate, which provides
that "when the right of two or more peesors
to q seat in the Senate is questioned by con-
test or otherwise, no joinder of such contss-
tees or persons will be permitted in anyIhea.4
ing or proceeding before the Senator" also,
in violation of rule 72 Of the Senate,
which provides that no resolution OF mo-
tion affecting the right of any person
or persons To seat in the Senate
shall be declared carried, unless the ma
iority of the members on the roll OF
the Senate concur therein; also, in violation
Of Article 4, Section 4, Of the Federal consti-
tuition, which guarantees to every State in
the Union reput lican form Of government,
with seventeen members Of the Senate pres
ent, and no more, said minority voted for q
resolution seating the said contestors, and
The presiding officer Of the Senate dscla red
said resolution adopted, and administered to
said contestors the oath Of Office of Senator'S,
whereupon said contestors took seats in said
body, and, despit protests, have assumed to
exercise Legislative powers.
The rules Of the Senate to which we refer
were made in pursuance Of Article 8, Section
ls, of the Constitution, which provide that
"each House may determine its own
rules Of proceeding" The violation d
the rules and Constitutional provisions
referred to, and the fact that less thar
a quorum were present when the vote
was taken on the resolution seating The
said contestants, were fully set forth In
various protests, madeand offered by Senator
Van Cleaf on she floor Of the Senate. The
Constitution Article 2, Section 10, provides
| that any momUoI VI olciior hOueo 5udil uhvs
the right to protest against any act or reso-
luton thereof; and such protest, and The
reasons therefor, shall without alteration,
commitment or delay, be enetred upon thu
journal. s
Yetdespite this plain end mandatory pro
vision Of the Constitution, the presiding
officer Of the Senate assumed discretionary
power, and refused to permit said protests x
be entered upon the journals, to the end tha
the journals may not show q reference to ths
fact, while he and every Senator on the Apol
Of the Senate knew there was not quorum
present at the time u taking the vote OH ~,
resolution seating the conterting delsgatior
from Hsmiltoa county. As our pressnc'
would tend to make valid that which woull
otherwise be nullity, W have remained b
! yond the reach of ths process Of the minority
leaving them powerisss p make, read Of %
prove q lswfdl iopsnal, *
We, 1 majority li li \ quorum If ths mem
J bsrs Of the Senate n Ohio, duly elected al
qualified, DO therefore protest against the u
sumption of lesialstiye power BY the bcd
|calling itself ths Ohio Senate, and We pro