Rensselaer Republican, Volume 19, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 March 1887 — The Republican Case. [ARTICLE]

The Republican Case.

T’he following statement of dates and facts connccUd with the Democratic usurpation will be found useful. Ou Nov. 2, 1886, a vacancy existed in tho office of Lieutenant governor of the state, according to tho opinion of the Demt'cratic Attorney-general, and ihe general acquiescence of the people, and in a general election held on that day to All the office, Robert S. Robertson received 231,922 votes, and John G, Nelson 228.603 votes, giving tho former a legal majority of 3,319 votes. Ou Jan. 10, 1887, in obedience to the Constitution, the Speaker of the House published and declared the said vote 3 in the presence of members of both houses of the General Assembly, and Robert S Robertson took the oath of office and was duly installed as Lieu-tenant-governor. Section 21 ot Article sos the Constitution declares that “the Lieutenantgovernor sliuli, by virtua of his office, be President of the Senate.” Senator Green Smith, assuming to act as Lieutenant-governor by virtue ot an election as temporary pre-idiug officer of the Senate, obtained from the Marion County Civil Circuit Court a writ of injunction against Robertson, whereby the latter was enjoined trom attempting to preside over the Senate a- provided by the Constitution. Tne Supreme Court, reviewing the case, declared the irjunction mill ;:nd void, and that Smith’s claim, which was in reality a contest lor the Lieu-Jtenant-governqrship, could only fe maintained before the General Assembly in the manner and ferm prescribed By law. Tho law provides :3ee. 4744 R. S.T that any person may, within twentydays after the first-day of a session of the -Legislature following a general election, give notice to the Speaker of the house of a proposed oontest for any State office. No sueh notice of contest for the office of Lieutenant-governor was ever filed w;ith the Speaker, wherefore Robertson s title to the office was not contested according to law. The people, to say the least, had given him a prima facie title to the office. On the 23d of February, 1887, the Senate declined to receive an official notification of the decision of the Supreme Court above referred to. On tha 24tli of February the Lieuten-ant-governor attempted, in an orderly manner,, to take lawful and peaceable | possession, of the chair of the Senate, in ohedien e to tlie Constitution, but was surround d, sei jeJ, burled down the -steps of the platform, and vio'entlyejected from the Senate chamber by ! the Dour keeper, acting under the dirert and personal orders of Green , Smith, and aided and abetted by the • Democratic Senators, Under these, circumstances the House of Representatives declined to have ar y official’ communication with the Senate until the Ideutenant-goye’raor was admitied so the peaceable discharge of his constitutional duties as President of the Senate. TrYk The Senate refused to permit the 1 Lieutenant-governor to preside or even j enter the chamber, forcibly excluding [him day after day, and maintained its j illegal and unconstitutional attitude, With Green Smith in the. chair, until! the end of the session -Indianapolis ] JoornaL - •* :/ —j