Omaha daily bee., 1890-01-12
NEBRASKA'S SEAL STOLEN.
An Exciting Incident in the States
Political History.
THE NOTORIOUS REMNANT CASE
An Almost Forgotten Occasion When
h People OF Nebraska Antici-
pated Bloodshed-A West
ern Coup d'Etat.
The Tenant Caee.

braska politics" said the Hon. Ed z.
Roggen yesterday, "you will doubtless
find the most exciting incident in the
history of the state to be the celebrated
Tenant Case, which occupied the atten-
ton of the people generally and of the
legislature and supreme court particu-
larly during a portion OF the month OF
February, 1872. Look that up If you
want something interesting in the way
OF Nebraska history"
The suggestion was taken and the fol-
lowing summary Of the case is pres
ented:
Governor David Butler had been i'm
peached and removed from office.
Under the constitution then existing,
the secretary Of state, w. II. James,
became acting governor. Isaac S.
Hascall, n senator from Douglas county,
had been, at an adjourned session,
elected president of the senate and was
therefore next in the line of succession.
La the early part of February, 1872,
Acting Governor James left for Wash
ington to attend to some business for
the state. 1t is said that j. II. Note
ware accompanied him as far as Gales
burg or Bloomington, ILL.,, to be sure
that he was we'll on the way to his
destination. When Hascall learned of
this fact, he came to Lincoln and OBJ
tanned possession of the great seal from
Governor James private secretary long
enough to get its impress to a paper,
which afterwards proved to be an ex-
ecutive proclamation converting the
legislature in extra session.
MIR. Hascall desired the governors
private secretary to record this docu-
ment in the book of proclamations,
which he refused to do, when Hascall
concluded that heroic measures were
necessary, and undertook the work of
recording himself. Just for a Joke,
some one handed him out a bottle of
French copying Ink, which never would
dry for a couple of days Or more unless
run through the copying press, and the
celebrated proclamation was recorded
with this gummy fluid. OF course when
the pages were closed, they stuck
together the same as if SO much mol
asses had been spread over the book.
and 1T was some years before they could
be opened. Now they resemble a war
n OF Europe. more than the record of
an executive proclamation.
This proclamation was published in
the state papers and was served on the
members and senators and he'd the
effect of bringing the Legislative body
together. The following is u copy of
the celebrated document:
PROCLAMATION FOR CONVEYING THE LEdr4.
LATURE.
In accordance with tho nrov;eiopo of tbo
constitution of the state of Nebraska, and by
virtue of the authority vested in the gov
ernor to convene the legislature by procla-
nation on extraordinary occasions, and as
the occasion contemplated by the constitu-
ton now exists, it being necessary now to
have immediate legislation to encourage and
promote Immigration, to improve the finances
OF the state, and for other purposes that
more fully appear IN the subjects of legisla.
ton hereinafter contained, /, Isaac S. Has
call, president of the senate and acting gov
ernor OF the state OF Nebraska-a vacancy
existing IN the office of governor, and the
secretary of state beng absent from the
state-do hereby convene the legislature and
call upon the members thereof to meet at the
capitol, in the city of Lincoln, on Thursday.
the hfteenth day of February, A. D., 1872. at
y o'clock p. m, for the purpose of taking &C
ton upon the following subjects of legisla-
ton?
L. The encouragement of immigration and
the appropriation of money for that purpose.
issuance OF Sou,UuO In state bonds.
the sale and disposition of the same; the
funding OF the state Indebtedness, and the
Improvement OF the finances of the state.
a. The investigation of the official standing
OF any state officer, and il deemed expedient
the impeachment of such officer for any mis-
oemeanor in office.
D. The common schools of the state and the
amendment or repeal of any laws relating
thereto, or to the funds for the support of
the same.
6. The amendment of any law relating to
cities and towns.
4. The defining of the boundaries of coun-
ties In the unorganiZed territory of this state.
and providing for the organization of the
same.
s. The appropriation OF any money that
may be deemed necessary for the welfare of
the state.
.. To provide for the better securing and
safe Keeping of state prisoners.
10. To provide for increasing the jurisdic-
ton OF the probate judges in civil cases.
IL. The correction and approval of the
journals of the last regular session of the
In witness whereof ! have hereunto SGT my
hand and affixed the great seal of the state
OF Nebraska, this eighth day of February,
A. d., 1872. ISAAC S. uAscALI. -
Acting Governor of the State of Nebraska.
AS soon as Acting Governor James
was advised of this proceeding he hast
ened home from Washington, and on
his arrival issued a proclamation revok-
ing, annulling and resembling the Has
call proclamation and requesting the
members not TO meet in pursuance OF
said call. The revoking proclamation
was Issued on February Il, just two days
prior to the day set for the meeting of
the special session. This proclamation
had been mainly written out on business
cards and scraps of paper on his way
home. and the separate items were
handed to different clerks to copy on his
arrival, so that there was no delay in
getting the document before the people.
In it he declared Hascall's action null
and void; that no extraordinary occa-
sion had arisen; that the state was not
threatened with foreign impressions,
depredatlons nor direct hostilities; nor
had occasions arisen rendering extraor-
binary action necessary to overcome un-
expected calamities, ETC., etc. He fur
Their declared that his absence from the
state was only temporary aud was not
OF that character Contemplated by the
constitution which provides for a sue
cession.
Notwithstanding the of this
revoking proclamation, several mem
bers assembled, When the 18th day of