The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-11-21
HE HAS NO CONSTITUTIONAL
RIGHT.

General Wheeler is not entitled to a
seat in the federal house. The Con-
%stitutiOn certainly settles that. It says
Cart. /, section g. land no person hold
ing I'M other office under the United
States Shal be a member of either
house during his continuance in office"
If General Wheeler cannot understand
that, he has not intelligence enough to
serve as a representative. If he does
understand it, as we suppose he does,
he a no moral or legal right to ask
to hold a. seat in the GUS while hold
ing the rank of an officer in the army.
Surely that is plain enough, and no
n should err therein" Whatever
his merits, his bravery, his popularity
he is not entitled to be a representa-
tive of a congressional district and to
hold the office of Major General in the
invading army. He may help to kill
the Fflipinos fighting for their rights,
but he has no right to try to kill the
letter and spirit of the law of the con-
stitution. 1t does not add to his lustre
as a soldier or his charaster as a
statesman to attempt to hold both
places in open defiance of law-of the
fundamental law he has to take
a solemn a to maintain. The Oma-
ha Bee considers the question and says
kindly:
Because Fighting Joe Wheeler is a
picturesque character enjoying great
| popular favor the politicians lack the
moral courage to judge his case pure
ly on it's merits. General Wheeler is a
popular idol. Many little incidents,
true or fictitious, have thrown a luster
about his name. He stands in a way
as the reincarnation Of a united north
and south. His genial personality,
his democratic spirit, and the kind
ness with which he treats all his &C
Quaintances ave extended and siren
| gthened the sphere of his popularity.
But all this does not alter Article I,
section s, clause 2, Of the constitution
of the United States"
Speaker Tom Reed was precisely
right when he did not believe Wheeler
had a right to his sea and, therefore,
he would not recognize him from the
chair as a member of the. house OF
representatives. Several officers hold
ing seats in the house as they may
AVE thought in the last congress-, were
not so regarded by the committee or
privileges and elections. 1t reported
that all were ineligible, but some how
it was not considered by the house
most culpably, General Wheeler, we
think, was the only one of the number
who eSSayed to be a member any how
He tried several times to secure recog.
milton from the speaker, but failed
completely much to his chagrin. Hen,
derson may pursue another ourse ant
disregard the letter and spirit of tn,
organic law and allow General Wheel
er to take his seat and draw his TIVE
salaries. The Baltimore Herald a re
publican Mckinley paper, says this:
Under the constitution the hous
has the imperative right to decide upol
the admissability of. members. JUS
as the senate may or may not choos
to admit senator's appointed by gov
ernors Of the states. so the house is tn
supreme arbiter as to its membership
1t a do as it pleases with referenc
to General Wheeler. In this connec
ton, it remains to be said that tn
popular sentiment Of this country i
radically against a United States arm,
officer sitting in congress The Amer
lean people still cling to the idea tina
the military power should be a thin
entirely separate n distinct from
the civil authority, and PARTICULAR.
that the former shall always be subor
dinate to the latter"