Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-03-22

| tuition submitted to the people oil Tue o'o'e' W.
ratification? Because, Mr.. Chairman they
stood IN the attitude of the people OF the STATES
, under their own State Governments. Anu oe'
cause they could act upon the question WIN great
or convenience and despatch, where all the nc
cessary facilities for calling their eoo'enuon'
were already provided, within their own 'err,lo'
rial limits They had been accustomed also,
under the confederation, to act as States, on all
subjects. That Government was strictly con-
federation of States The votes we're taken by
States IN Congress; the members Ut which we're
paid by their respective States. Acting as States
upon all subjects, both under their own State 60.
vernments and under their Confederation, 1t was
not in the power of the Convention, or OF Con-
gress, to change their attitude, or to submit the
Constitution to the people in any other character
than that IN which they stood: to wit, as people
of the States. But that moment the people Of
the States spoke the Constitution into existence,
they effected radical change in their condition.
The Confederation, Government to which the
States were the parties, was then abandoned,
and the Constitution, government to which the
people are the parties, was adopted. BY this
change, effected by the people themselves, the
people of the several States became one people.
to wit, the people of the United States. united
under one government, to wit, the Government
of the United States. The fact that the Consti-
tuition was ratified by Conventions OF the people
within their respective territorial limits, imparts
to it no additional federative feature. But the
preambes to these two forms vi Government,
give very distinct definition of their dissImilar
characters. The Confederation is declared to
be. what in truth it was, "Articles OF C0nfede-
ration between" thirteen enumerated States.
viz: New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay
&c. &c. The Constitution IS declared to he,
not Confederation between certain enumerated
States, but Constitution Of the "people OF the
United States" SC. sc. 1--WE the people OF
the United States, in order TO form more per-
feet union" &c. &c. do ordain and establish
this CONSTITUTIONS" &c. &c. The Confederation
was a union Of the States. The Constitution
is more "perfect union'' Of the people and the
States. Union which rests upon the authority
OF the people, and not upnn that OF the State TO.
vernments, as did the Confederation.
The President and Wee President are elected
by the people, or by electors who are chosen BY
the people. The members Of the House Of
Representatives are elected directly by the peo.
PEE in equal ratios, throughout the United States.
Without the consent OF tins branch OF the nation
al Legislature, there can be no legislative action
upon any subject. Resting upon the principle
Of popular election and equal representation. it
affords every security to the people that could be
desired in a representative government. But it
is said that each State being entitled to two Sc
majors, to be chosen by the Legislatures. that the
government ia. in that respect, entirely F"der-
al The Senators. Mr.. Chairman, although
chosen bv the State Legislatures, still the .e
representatives. Of the people. For tins f'derat've
feature of the Constitution does not operate after
the choice is made by the Legislatures, as the
Senators do not vo'e by Mates, A proposition
was made in the Federal Convention. 10 have
the Senators chosen by the individual Leg'sla.
lures
This was agreed 10 bv the Convention. 1t
was then moved, that IN the Senate the members
should vote bv States. THIS motion was mega
ltiy.d Ii was then moved that the Senators
should vote like the members in the House OF
ACKNOWLEDGMENT Senator having one vote.
This potion vas adopted. So that although the
Legislature " as allowed 10 choose the Senators,
vet the Convention refused to permit them TO
vote by States The frderative character, then,
OF the Senate, Is limited to the choice OF It's mem
bers b, the Legislatures, and to the equality OF
its REPRESENTATION from each State. But the Sc
majors being lett to vote per capita. and not BY
States, they are like the members OF the other
branch Of Congress. the representatives OF the
whole people OF the United States. as well as OF
the people of their particular States But the
proceedings Of the Convention upon this point,
will more satisfactorily appear by reference to
the journal itself
"a question vas taken on the resolution sub
mtted b. Mr.. D,,keison-namely: Resolved,
That the members uI the second branch OF the
National Legs srure. ought to be chosen BY the
individual Legislatures"
{" And on the question to agree to the same,
it passed anonymously in the affirmative"
ut was (after"ards) moved by Mr. Sherman.
seconded by Mr.. Ellsworth. that IN the second
branch OF the National Legislature each State
should have ore pois On the question to agree
to the same, it passed ia the negative"
" [. was then moved by Mr.. Wilson. seconded
by Mr.. Hamilton, to adopt the following resoiu
,ion-nanely: " Resolved, that the right of
spffi age ia the second branch Of the National
Legislature, ought to be ascending 10 the rules
established for the first" .'On the question to
agree to the same, it passed in the affirmative"
H.. IN mi NAT had