Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-03-24


never iusedi into one homogene mass to be after
wards re-modelled and re-distributed by one ma
! ion Inc general Convention of 1887 were the
iihi'eo deputies oil states only, appointed, not as
the gentleman from New York, MIR Storrs) sup
posed, oy the people, tbrous conv entions but by
the Stdle Legislatures, and invese ed only with the
power 10 propose plan; and, indeed many Of the
a' nave already shown, confined the de-
Pu'ies 10 the " sole and exclusive purpose" of A.
mendins the Confederation. The State Conven
oohs winch ratified the Constitution had only the
power OF ratification or rejection. When there
core, 'he words, We the people of the United
ofoteS' Were used in the Constitution, it never
e'"ia nave been intended by its wise iianers to
mean more than the People OF America. a. FORM
IA estinct and independent political societies
'ow' Deg, gentlemen to take the Constitution
=" 'hef hands, and ioliu me, step by STEP willis,
demonstrate, by Its provisions, that il il based
"fon me existence and sovereignty OF the States
ana Is, In Its character. legitima,ely federal
ana hrst, as to the House of Representatives
MS Rouse Is The only departure from the federal
Priheipie, and was intended 10 be the popvlsr
feature IN this Government. Now, by whom are
me members OF this House elected By electors
% 'he most numerous branch of the State Iees-'
iatures. Here the right of suffrage is placed ON
oinerent grounds II The Constitution had been the
act OF an .fmerican People, as one, why not
uniformity in the creation of this lIouse1 The an
swer Is obvious 1t being the act of distinct and
independent States, in their political Characters the
right OF suffrage was permitted TO remain 40 cot
teu by the respective States. Sir this House s
passed upon the existence of the State legislatures
ana without State Governments there can be no
house oil Representatives! To know who are the
electors OF this House, you must ascertain who are
ne electors OF the State Legislatures If there be
no Sta'e Legislatures, there be no electors for
'he House OF Representatives, and consequently
no House of Representatives. Again. each STATE
| Is 20 have one Representative on this floor. mo
matter how small the number of her popula,on
may De; and why! AS security for State So
vereignty Look, sir, to the provisions in rela
hon 10 the SENATE? From what source do tbev
spring: IhS State Legislatures, and intended to
t"pfessht alone State sovereignty; and there is an
express denial ih the Constitution of any mower IN
amend SO as deprive the States their eoua, suf
rage IN mat branch of The Gov ernment So, too.
were tho'e clauses requiring the concurrence OF
.hrse-ionrlhs OF the States in amendments; giving
10 each state two electors for President, and di-
Iectin5 the ultimate election in this House. bv
state. Ihey were all intended as safeguards of
State sovereignty.
| a gain. The second section of the fourth article
provides, 81 That citizens of each State shall be en-
tied TO all the privileges and imnunities OF citi
zens IN the respective States Now if all the
States were, by the-adop,ion of this Constitution
and Government, consolidated into one, there
could have Bon no necessity for provision of
this character. VI again; there is another clauss
IN tue ConsiitutIosS5,ich provides, that Congress
shall exercise legislation, in all cases. within the
ten miles square. This power was deemed essential
10 preserve The authority and dignity of the Gen
eral Government; but if the States were formed by
the Constitution into one entire Government. then
the supreme legislative power would extend itself
10 every part OF the Union, and though the States
might have subordinate legislative power. vet all
/ would be under he
United States, in all things; and if so, this proyi
sion would have been wholly unnecessary. The
whole Character Of the Constitution, then, shows
that the States were parties 10 it in their SOVEREIGN
and political characters
| Upon this point, Mr.. S. read the following pas
sage from the Federast, lst vol. 256-7, BOG:
:" The Constitution is to be founded on the assent
and ratification of the People of America, given by
deputies elected for the special purpose, but the
assent and ratification is to be given by the People
not as individuals composing ONE NATION, but
as composing distinct and independent States
6 That 1t will be a federal and not a national
act, as these terms are understood by the obiectors
the act OF the People as forming so many indie
! pendent States, not forming one aggregate ma
ton, is obvious, from this single consideration.
that 1t is 10 result neither from decision of a
majority OF the People of the Union, nor a majority
| o; The States; 1t must result from the unanimous
assent OF the States who the parties 10 it.
8 Each State, ia ratifying the Constitution, is
considered az sovereign body, independent of all
others, and only bound by It's own voluntary
act. II will be federal and not national
| Constitution
"The State Governments are to be regarded as
constituent and essential parts of The Federal
! Government, whilst the latter is in no wise pc
sen'ia to the operation organization Of the for
mer.'
! lie read, ALSO extracts from the resolutions nj
Virginia and Kentucky in 1898, and The celebrated
report of Ms. Madison, which he said was con-
sidered as the Magma CtIsrta upon which the Re
public settled down after tie great struggle of 100
The. principles of this report, he said, had been
justly characterized sustaining equally the right
and powers Of the States and The safety and in
dependence OF the Union. For IFS truth, perspicui
| ty, and moderation, 1t probably had never been
surpassed. So far, then, MIR. Chairman, as TO the
manner in which this Constitution was formed
submitted, and ratified, / contend that the States
were parties TO it in their sovereign and political
character, and reserved TO themselves all the
rights and powers not delegated 10 this Govern
ment.
! / come now to the third proposition, which Is.
that the election OF President o the United STATE
was OF the most important rights intended 10 be
secured 10 the Siatessn their political and federal
1 character, and to be exercised according 20 the
interests and sovereign pleasure Of each STATE.
And here, sir. am met by the propositions OF
the honorable gentleman from South Carolina. that
the election was to spring from an immediate act
! OF the American People, That il was usurpstion
in the State Governments and Legislatures 10 ap-
point electors, asd that voting by districts was the
only mode intended by the Constitution, and ought.
/ therefore, 70 be made uniform. shall deny ali
these propositions, at least in the extern, they have
been laid down, and shall cndesyor 10 show, lat
That this right OF appointing electors is federal