The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1894-02-28

feclly legal, we have offered to go through
the formalily of organization again pro
vided the rights of all Senators are re
spected, as in former years
"But observance of formalities Is not
the question. The question, so far as
there is any question at all, is whether
Senators elected by the people have any
right 10 enter upen the discharge Of their
duties until the peoples decision has been
approved by Daily, McDermott and Ad-
rain.
"'The Supreme Court has no power TO
decide that question.
'If the court has any jurisdiction of
the matter, it may decide that the organi-
zation OF the Senate as effected by the
msjority is legal. We do not need any
decision from the court 10 that effect.
The court may also decide that the Adrain
sc-called Senate was legally organized.
That would in substance be decision
that Senators elected last November must
suppicate Adrain aud his associates for
permission to obey the mandates of the
people.
81 do not hesitate for a moment TO say
that if the latter conclusion should be
reached by the court, l would not con-
form to it, and feel confident that no
other Republican Senator would do so.
therefore do net think we should
voluntarily take part in the proposed liti-
CATION, for if we should do so there would
arise an honorable obligation, at least, to-
abide by the result
"We are willing TO submit our title to
office to the judgment of an organized
! ,NrNoaaAinn In tho rannlar
| of business established by fifty years OF
precedent, but we will never submit cur
| right to represent our constituents to the
decision Of a disgraced and repudlated
minority of the Senate.
SIT seems that no Republican member
OF the Senate has been made party to
the quo warranto proceeding by name ex-
cept President Rogers. His title TO the
Presidency of thesSenate depends entirely
on the title of all the Republican Senators
to the office, and for that reason every
Republican Senator is, in substance, a
party to the lawsuit. President Rogers
was elected by majority of all the Sem
ators. The Constitution declares them to
be the sole judges of their qualifications.
Besides, the third article OF the Constitu-
ton says: "The powers of the govern
IN ent shall be divided into three distinct
departments, the legislative, executive
and Judicial, and no person or persons
belonging to or constituting one OF these
departments shall exercise any of the
powers properly belonging to either OF the
others, except as herein expressly proyid-
| ed.
ssThe court has no right to make de-
| ~ mr. nac
the Senate's judgment or selection. The
election or renewal of President OF the
| Senate Is the exercise of power that be-
longs to the State itself, and not to the
court.
"We were sent to Trenton to legislate,
not TO litigate; and the necessity for re-
form legislation is being made to appear
more and more clearly as the desperate
character of this conspiracy is developing.
The only obstacle to the orderly course OF
business OF the Legislature will be remOv-
ed shortly by the Legislature itself and the
wishes Of the people expressed at the last
election will be recorded in the form of
statutes. In word, the majority In the
Legislature will do their duty and the peo-
Pile will dispose of their enemies in their
own way.
81 do not wish my remarks on this
subject to intimate any disrespect to the
Supreme Court. That court and the Court
of Chancery are abont the ouly ones of the
/ principal departments Of the State Gov
ernment that have maintained their title
to respect during the past few years, and
the only way to retain public confidence
is TO keep out OF controversy that the
courts can not determine