The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-06-09
JUMPING ON RIGGS.
Frank Bergen AssaiIS the G ov-
ernor and the Attorney
General Their Replies.
Especial to 'eThe Jersey city News

topecidl 70 Inc Jersey City eWS.I
TRENTON, une 8. 1S97.-Erank Bergen
of Elizabeth. Trainer Of the Voorhees, ju-
dicial amendments to the Constitution,
which did not pass. has surprised the
politicians and lawyers Of tie State by
criticising the Attorney General for the
opinion that he rendered on the day of
the special session of the Legislature.
He throwns down the gauntlet in the
form of a pamphlet, in which he severely
arraigns the Attorney General. and, in
cidentally, the Governor himself. The
Governor and the Attorney General are
surprised that he should take such a
course and resort to the unusual proce-
dure of issuing a document in which
public officers are attacked.
It will be remembered that on the day
of the special session Of the Legislature
to correct the error in a special election
bill the Republican members OF the House
IN a caucus voted to give consideration
to the VOORHEES, judicial amendments.
When the amendments came UP for
consideration the Attorney General was
called on for an opinion, and he decided
that the Legislature in special session
could not consider business that had re-
ceived final action at the regular session.
The Attorney Generals opinion had the
effect of bringing the session to a speedy
conclusion.
Senator Voorhees, friends were very
much chagrined h the legislators were
frightened away by the opinion. At that
time the best of feeling did net exist be-
tween Senator Voorhees, and the Cover
nor, due to differences of opinion on GER
tain political action. Mr.. Bergen was of
tha 9 ~, A~;o -le x.-.-..- .--A-
from Union and he nursed his wrath as
long as he could, then came but in his
pamphlet, taking exceptions to the opin-
ion of the Attorney General.
The most pertinent part of the docu-
ment is where he b~elittles the opinion
of the Attorney General. ITO get a legal
opinion for the purpose Of confusing the
populace or their representatives. he
says, land thus Illustrate or delay a
movement toward better conditions does
not possess even the merit Of novelty.
1t is a dodge that crafty politicians
learned from Kings. Charles I. got an
opinion ship money was a lawful tax.
George III. was advised hat the stamp
act was legal.
THE slave power in this country got
a Sdictum from fancy that the Missouri
compromise was void. An Attorney Cen
eral gave an opinion to Buchanan that
the National Government had no power
TO preserve the Union or to coerce a
State, as he chose to express it. And
every schoolboy knows that all of these
opinions were given just befofe the col
lapse of those who instigated the move
ments, to obtain them. Their purpose
was short-sighted; the effect IN every in
stance was to accumulate Indignation
He then quoted the instance of the
opinion given by Attorney General
Stockton in the case of the l,ump Sen
ate, which opinion was not sustained by
the Supreme Court.
Governor Griggs was asked for an
opinion on the pamphlet, and said:-"It
would not be proper for mo to discuss
party to a controversy. If l took ex-
ceptions to everything that was said,
and answered all criticisms on public
acts | would make an awful lot of USE
less work for myself. 1 will admit that
Mr.. Bergen took an unusual course, but
| uppose he has q right to take any
course he pleascs to express his views.
4 had nothing tosdo with the opinion;
I did not request it, 1t was the House of
Assembly that asked for it, and they got
one."
When the Attorney General was seen
in his Office and asked for an opinion on
Mr.. Bergen's production, said:-I have
no opinion to give on his opirion, for l
don't know just what his opinion is.
NJ Bergen is a lawyer. and natur-
opinion. 1t is evident that he thinks
enough of the opinion to have it printed,
SO that many people can have opinions
on his opinion of my opinion. l have no
desire to go into any controversy with
Mr.. Bergen"