Nobody was disturbed by the military who had a legal right at that time
to occupy a seat in the legislature. That the Democratic minority of the
house undertook to seize its organization by fraud and violence; that in
this attempt they trampled under foot law; that they undertook to make
persons not returned as elected members, so as to create a majority;
that they acted under a preconcerted plan, and under false pretenses
introduced into the hall a body of men to support their pretensions by
force if necessary, and that conflict, disorder, and riotous proceedings
followed are facts that seem to be well established; and I am credibly
informed that these violent proceedings were a part of a premeditated
plan to have the house organized in this way, recognize what has been
called the McEnery senate, then to depose Governor Kellogg, and so
revolutionize the State government.
Whether it was wrong for the governor, at the request of the majority of
the members returned as elected to the house, to use such means as were
in his power to defeat these lawless and revolutionary proceedings is
perhaps a debatable question; but it is quite certain that there would
have been no trouble if those who now complain of illegal interference
had allowed the house to be organized in a lawful and regular manner.
Pages:
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630
631
632
633
634
635