Middletown transcript., 1896-04-11

l
The SUSSEX Journal makes reply
the criticism of the TRANSCRIPT upo
it's declaration that "the Delawar
State Senate decided that Gov. Wat
son had right to VOTE" We supposed
and the average reader would suppose
that the Journal meant that the Senat
had considered and passed upon tn
right of VIM T. Watson. acting Gov
ernor, to vote as State Senator. Thi
was misleading and is misleading
Just what the paper did mean it tell
last week and our readers shall hav'
its explanation.
1--WE shall answer that his right tt
vote is based on the acknowledged
fact that (1) he was recognized and &C
knowledged by his party, (2) by hii
brother Senators, both Democratic and
Republican, (3) by both houses of the
Legislature and AZ by an unbrokel
stretch of precedents for one hundred
and four years"
Let's analyze the answer. 1. Ellis
party recognizedand acknowledged
him." Recognized and acknowledged
for what2 The Journal does not state.
Does 1t mean ''his right to vote?''
Then for the sake of an agreement let's
agree, though in fact many Democrats
in private acknowledge that they dc
not believe he had such right. But
this cuts no figure.
q. "By his brother Senator's" Here
is the vital point. If the State Senate
and the senators acknowledged Mr..
Watson's right to vote on May 9th
then would the Democrats have estab-
lished their claims, from their view,
that Col. dupont is not entitled to be
seated as Senator. Their claim is that
the State Senate, whether right or
wrong, is the sole judge of Watson's
right to vote. But did the Senate and
the Senators SO acknowledge The
journal of the Senate, as we have fire.
quently pointed out, shows that Mr..
Watson did not vote; and three of the
Democratic Senators refused to
strengthen the Democratic claim by
refusing to make affidavit that he did
vote or take part in the proceedings of
the Senate; and three of the Republi-
can Senators make affidavit that he
did not vote and did not take part in
the proceedings Of the Senate. The
only reference to Mr.. Watson in the
Senate journal is that at the hour of u
o'clock "the Senate, preceded by the
Speaker and attended by the Clerks
and sergeant-at-arms, proceeded to the
Hall of the House, &C." This shows
how weak in the whole Democratic
claim. The Journal is satisfied with
It, of course, because it has nothing
stronger, and so are the Democratic
U. S. Senators who are talking for
lays right along this line and with ar
yument as flimsy as is this offered by |
,he Journal.
8. "By both houses of the Legisla-
ure." But the Representatives in the |
General Assembly had no ''putn in the |
settlement of Mr.. Watscn's right, ac-
'ording to the Democratic theory; then |
low trifling this answer. Nor did they
acknowledge the right but protested |
lgainst it.
4. by an unbrcken stretch of pre-
'edents for one hundred and four years"
The Journal is either very ignorant or
-, well we prefer not to character
ze it. 1t is we'll known that there is
10 precedent of an acting Governor
'ver taking part in the legislative pro-
seedlings in this State, or that one ever
attempted it or claimed that privilege.
That a Governor or an acting Governor
Ifter he had ceased to be such again
ook his seat among, and acted with.
lis brother senators is no precedent.
The journal knows this and must
lush when it thinks Of its attempt to
eceive the people in its claim that
here ever was precedent" for the
votes cast by VIM T. Watson on Nav
th.
In answering this one sentence from
be Journal we have answered all of
Is argument. Our readers can Judge
ow weak is its position. The paper
lrther says, ''his right to vote as SEN
tor was not brought before the Sem
te." The decisions of the Senate
ere constructive decisions" Our
,aders can now judge of the material
lat entered into the CONSTRUCTION j.,
I'd how utterly at variance with com.
on sense, with right and justice,
ith the decisions Of the Supreme
ourt of the U. S. States, is the !
aim that VIM T. Watson exercises
70 Offices ct one and the same time. :
may be that these "chickens shall
me homo to roost" like the assess- -
snt Of Collector Whann.
We thank the Journal that it has !,