Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-01-10

'"c ''e" SoN ernIHht oy WitnhoidiDg Ms Senat,
anu Chhf Magistrate. Among other things
they said-"The State Governments NAV h,
regarded as constituent and essential parts O
the Federal Government, willis, the latter i,
no use essential to the operation or organiZa
tion OF the former Without the interv entiol
OF the State Legislatures, the President o
the United STATES cannot be elected at all
Ihey must IN all cases have great share in
ms appointment, and will perhaps, in mos
cases, themselves determine il. The Senate
VIII be elected absolutely and exclusively by
the State Legislatures. Even the House al
representatives, though drawn Immediately
rom the people, will be chosen very much
under the influence of that class of men whose
influence over the people obtains for them
selves an election into the State Legislatures
Thus each of the principal branches Of the
Federal Government, will owe its existence
more or less, 10 the favar of state govern
ments, ana must consequently feel a depen-
dehce winch is much more likely to beget a
uispOsiiionfoo obseqnious, than too Overbear-
Ing toward them" The ratification by a suf
ncient number of the states was obtained.
On reference, however, to the proceedings of
the state conventions, il will he seen. that in
several OF the states, the control by Congress,
over the choice of Representatives merely.
was strongly demonstrated against. That
amendments were proposed for its Quafca-
non, by the states of South Carolina, North
Carolina, Virginia, Massachusetts New
hampshire, Rhode Island, and New York
That most of them resolved that il should he
standing instruction to their Delegates in
Congress, la endeavor 10 effect that and other
amendments proposed. The proposition oi
the gentleman from New Jersey, to which
Nlr " Is. had alluded, would, ifadopted, brea k
an important link IN the chain of dependency
OF me general upon the state governments
IL would surrender To the general government
all control over the election of President and
vice President, by placing the choice of cleo
'ors on the same footing with that of Repre-.
IsentatVes. LIZ would at this time he prema-
lure 10 go INTO minute examination of the
provisions OF the resolution alluded to. 10
show THAI SUCH would be its effects. Upon
examination. IL will be found that such would
he MS construction. That il does in substance
wnat another proposition, upon their table
originating IN the other House, dies i'm words
bn' even was there doubt upon that subject.
mat doubt should be removed by an express
pTo'ision' reservIng 10 the States their pre-
sent control over the election. except as tn
what Is particularly provided for in the reso
lutIon now proposed. If il is fit 10 take from
uhf STATES Their control over 1he choice of
Electors OF President and Vice President. and
give u 10 me federal government, it would he
equally proper, under the popular idea of Civ
ing theii election To the people, TO divide the
STATES into Districts for the choice Of Srna-
Tors, as was proposed in the Convention. and
give TO Congress the control over their rl.c-
'lon also If the system he once broken in
upon III TINS respect, the other measure will ma
iuraily follow, and we will then have Via,
was so much dreaded by those who have
gone before us, and what hr feared would be
SO much regretted by those who come after
"a completely consolidated governments
government IN which the State governments
would bs no otherwise known or felt than as
!, nechIhe necessary 20 control ihsm. To all
'''s, W.T.. van Buren, was opposed. He was
SO, because u was mailer not necessarily or
h''y connected with the subject under conside.
ration, that being a question between The
States themselves, as To their relative inteycst
question which might and ought to be sell
'Pu' ana leave their relation To the federal go
'ernhent as 1t stands al present The other
IS a qutstlon between the States cnllpclvrl,,
ana the federal government, affecting most
materially the relation they now hear to each
other. But, even if it were presented under
different circumstances, he would oppose it,
because, however ardent his attachment to
the federal government, and however anxious
ne m'Sht De To sustain ~, in the exercise of the
powers gwen TO 1t by the conslituion-and.
IN that respect, he would, hg trusted. eo as far
aS any man ought TO gO-he WAS unwilling
I'D destroy or even to release ITS dependence
on the State governments AT the Jim, of
the adoption of the federal constitution. if wa.
question of much speculation and discussion
whlch Oh The two governments would be musI
I'D Danger from the accumulation of inhupnc.
ny the operation OF the powers distributed Inv
the Constitution. That discussion was fund
ed on the assumption that they were. In save-
| raj respects, rival powers, and that si,rh my
ers would always be found in collision. The
best lights which could then be thrown upor
| the subject, were derived from the examines
Afforded by the fdtes of several of the goyrrn-
mems OF the old world, which were deemed
10 be, IN some respects, similar TO ou1s. But
tue governments la Question having operate Pc
upon, and been administered by, peoul,
whose habits, characters, trmpers. and cnndi
lions, were essentially different from Ours
the differences To he derived from that source
were' at best, unsatisfactory. Mr.. V, Il
houSht mat experience, the only unerrinc
cTiPiIon ny which matters Of this description
could be tested, had settled for us the genera
pOlnt OF the operation Of The powers confer
red by the Constitution upon the reI,ti, .
strength and influence Of the resnectjys Oh
| vernmenis. IL was, in his judgment, suscepti
oIe OF entire demonstration, that the fedora
constitution bad worked gradual If not M
undue, Increase of the strength aud contrh
oI the general government, and a correspan
dent reduction of the influence, and. conse
quentiy, ~ the responsibility Of the state 20
vernnents. The evidence in support of fhi
position was abundant, and, ii the mattr
should come under full discussion, could b,
readily afforded. He thought, further. tina
existing causes, which were pVerv dav oain;n,
force, would, for the future, more rst,idlv i'm