The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-05-25
TO TIE PEOPLE.
THE DEMOCRATIC SEN ATORS
HEARD FROM.

10 The kOflE Vr Univ We icOOS
nize that 1t is due to the people OF OHIO
10 briefly recite the causes which i'm
PEELED us. as their representatives. to
leave the Senate Of our Stale without
quorum.
Oa the 29.h day of April there we're
offered for adoption in the Senate OF
Obio two reports fiom the Sub-Commit-
tee on Privileges and Elections, which
we're made matter Of special order for
May 5.h; one recommended the seating
OF the contesting, the other the contest
ed delegation from Hamilton County =
1t was known to as that the presiding
officer of the Senate had determined,
upon prearranged demand for the pre-
viods question, in violation OF the con-
stitu,ior and rules Of the Senate, to call
The roll Of the Senate on the question OF
lbe adoption OF the report seating the
contestants, emitting The names OF the
contestees, declare the report adopted,
and Administer to the contestors, who
were 10 be in attendance, the oath OF
Office.
This action was to be entered upon
the journal, and, upon the theory that
The journal entry was conclusive would
have been made valid by our presence.
Oar only remedy against this revolution.
AIRY proceeding was to leave the Serate
without quorum. The Senate consists
OF thirty-seven members. Our consli-
tntion provides (Article 2, Section 81
that quorum TO do business shall con
sist OF majority OF all the members
elected 1t further provides that less
number may adjourn from day to day
and compel the attendance OF absent
members. On the day of May. there
being less than quorum present, call
oi the Senate was made for the purpose
OF bringing in absent members, snd 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. AIMS of The Senate, who re-
tnrned the writs on May 18th, indorsed
'Not found"
In the mean time. on Nav 9Th, in vic.
lation OF article 2, Section 6 of the con
s,ituiion OF our State; Of Rule II of the
Senate, which provides 'that when lees
than a quorum vote on any question
pending in the Senate the question shall
be declared lost, and no question affect
ing the right OF. member TO his seat be
declared carried whena quorum is pres
ent, unless a majority of all tie Sena-
tors on the roll shall vote therefore,"
also, In violation OF Rule % Of the Sen
ate, which provides that "when the right
of two or more persons 10 seat in the
Senate is questioned by contest or 9th
erwise. no joinder OF such contestees or
persons will be permitted in any herring
or proceeding before thsr Senate" also,
in violation OF rule ~. Of the Senate,
which provides that no resolution or
motion affecting the right Of any per-
son or persons to a seat in the Senate
shall be declared carried, unless the ma
jority Of the members on the roll of the
Senate concur therein; also in violation
Of Article A, Section 4, CT the Federal
Constitution. which guarantees 10 every
State ip the Union Republican form OF
government. With seventeen members OF
the Senate present, and no more, said
minority voted for resolution seating
the con'estors, and the presiding officer
Of the Senate declared said resolution
adopted, and administered 10 said con-
testors the oath OF Office OF Senators,
wheIeupon said contestors took seats in
said body. and, despite protests have as
sumed to exercise legislative powers
The rules Of the Senate to which we
refer were made in pursuance OF Article
3, Section 8. of the Constitution, which
provides that "each House may deter
mine its own rule of proceeding" The
violation OF tie rules and Constitutional
provisions referred to, aud the fact that
less than quorum were pre>ent when
the vote was taken on the resolution
seating the said contestants, were fully
set forth in various protests, made and
offered by Senator Van Cleaf on the
floor OF the. Senate The Constitution,
Article O. Section 10. provides that any
member OF either House shall have the
fright to protest against any act or reso-
luton thereof; and such protest, and the
reasons therefor, shall without alteration,
commitment or delay, be entered upon
the journal.
l Yet detp;te this plain and mandstory