Edwardsville Spectator

"Strange Doings."—Information from Vandalia is received in this town, that the House of Representatives has reconsidered its vote which was passed at the commencement of the session, declaring that Nicholas Hansen was entitled to a seat in that house, as a representative from Pike county, and admitted Mr. Shaw in his place.

Having heretofore refrained from making any remarks upon the contested election between Messrs. Shaw and Hansen, it may not be improper to state the case.

At the last election in Pike county, a dispute rose relative to the appointment of judges, at the principal precinct, (the county seat of justice) which terminated in a separation of the two parties, and each chose a set of judges. Thus arranged, the citizens proceeded to give their votes under the superintendence of the judges by them, respectively, elected; and at the close of the polls, it was found that Mr. Shaw had received between eighty and ninety votes, and Mr. Hansen twelve only. The returns from the other precincts gave Mr. Shaw a majority of nearly forty votes over Mr. Hansen, out of about one hundred and sixty, the whole number in the county.

The Clerk of the county, (although a very honest good sort of a man) thought proper to reject all the votes given at the principal precinct, excepting the twelve for Mr. Hansen, and accordingly gave the latter a certificate of election.

In pursuance of this certificate, Mr. Hansen took his seat in the House of Representatives, which was contested by Mr. Shaw. Our readers have seen the proceedings in the House, on this subject, at the time. Mr. H. was declared to be entitled to a seat, by a majority of six votes. This result was truly surprising to us, and we believe unprecedented in all legislative assemblies. Decisions relative to contested elections in Congress have uniformly had reference to a fair expression of the voice of a majority of the people, although the letter of the election laws may not have been strictly complied with; and the same rule has been observed by state legislatures, as far as our observations have extended.

But this is not the way we do business in Illinois. Policy, not propriety, seems to govern.

intrigue, and prejudice, predominate over truth, justice, and right.

At the commencement of the session, the Senatorial Election was the great desideratum, and the rallying point of barter and sale, with the friends of Judge Thomas. Mr. Hansen was in favor of his re-election. Mr. Shaw was opposed to it. The friends of Judge Thomas, out of the house, used their utmost exertions to influence the members in favor of Mr. Hansen's retaining his seat; and in the Ayes and Noes on the question, a line may be pretty distinctly drawn between the members in favor of Judge Thomas, and those opposed to him.

The Senatorial Election being over, the next point of cabal and intrigue, was the Convention Question. Whether Mr. Hansen had engaged, not only to vote for Judge Thomas, but also, for a Convention, in consideration of retaining his seat, must be left to conjecture. But it is certain, that his votes on that subject, throughout the session, show him to have been on the side of the conventionists, until his vote, only, was wanted to make a constitutional majority, and then he voted against them.

We must wait for further intelligence from Vandalia, before we attempt to assign a cause for this change. It may be suggested, however, that, although the Executive influence was used in favor of Judge Thomas, the Governor was, with all his strength, opposed to a convention. He may have bid higher for a casting vote, than its friends were able to do.

Since the above was in type, the eastern mail has arrived, bringing us two letters from Vandalia, which we hasten to lay before our readers. It now appears, that the Convention Question was finally carried by turning Mr. Hansen out of the House, and letting Mr. Shaw in!