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Further Encroachments by the Convention.
The assumption of unauthorized power by the Convention in one case, only paves the way for additional encroachments upon the rights of the people. We have already alluded to the report of the Judiciary Committee in which it is decided that the Convention is not only superior to the Constitution and laws of the State, but "supreme in the exercise of all power," etc. We have also referred to the report of the Judiciary Convention in which they decide that the Convention is "a Legislature with power to enact laws, re-district the State for Congressmen," etc. The Judiciary Committee are now called upon for another report, which, of course, will be forthcoming like the others. The following resolution was, on Friday, offered by Mr. Brooks, and referred to the Judiciary Committee:
Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be instructed to inquire and report whether this Convention has the power to elect a senator to fill the vacancy in the United States Senate, occasioned by the death of Stephen W. Douglas, and now temporarily filed by the appointment of the Governor.
Of course it will not take long for the committee to decide this question. If the Convention has half the power which they have already conceded to it there is nothing that it cannot do. For that matter it can set itself up as a "permanent medium," and not only run the whole State government, but cut it loose from the Union and attach it to Jeff. Davis' model Confederacy! We are prepared for anything now, — even this.
Let the Convention go on in the course it has marked out for itself. Let it usurp all the power it may deem necessary to its ulterior schemes. Let it outrage the people and their rights in whatever way it may see fit for its partisan purposes. By all means, let it at once go to work and elect a United States Senator, as suggested in the above resolution! Give it all the rope it wants and let it hang itself. It is the speediest way for the people to get rid of it, of its assumptions of power and of its gross partisan outrages upon popular rights.
Let the Convention have its day. It promises to be a short one; for as sure as there is such a thing as popular vengeance, a swift and sure retribution is bound to overtake it.