Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1834-05-07

sdnctoneu ny JuuN'a' "SS'eo"', o"e
tacitly submitted to by the people over
whom they operate, il would seem to
your committee very dangerous as
sumption Of power in one branch Of Com
press or even in every departme Mt ofths
General Cove rnme mt combined, to inter-
fere with the. internal afregulations Of the
State, and to denounce the body by
which these laws and resolutions were
passed as a mere assemblage Of citizens
without amy public authority whatever,
and not the Legislature Of the State
Such a power does not belong 10 the
Federal Government, X would, If claim
ed and carried out to its full extent, an
initiate all the reserved rights of the
States. 1t is a general princi pie Of ma
tional law, applicable to all distinct and
indie DE ndent Governments, that If there
arise any disputes in State on the fun
damental laws and public administration,
or on the prerogatives Of the different
powers Of which it is composed, it is the
business Of the State alone TO Judge and
determine them in conformity to its po-
litical constitution. No Government has
a right 10 intrude into the domestic af-
fairs of another State, and to attempt to-
influence its deliberations or TO control
It's action. This principle is recognized
in the constitution Of the United States,
by which the respective States anited
aud formed themselves into a Federal
Republic. Concedipg, as we feel bound
TO do, to the State Of Rhode-lsland, I'M
common with all the other States of the
Union, the power to decide for itself all
questions relating TO its domestic policy
there would seem to be no ground on
which to rest doubt that she has decid
ed, in the most solemn manner, the char
ucter and powers Of the body by which
MIR. Robbins was chosen a Senator to
Congress. They passed numerous laws
which are in full force. They elected
Judges of the Supreme Court Of the
State, who have taken new engage
ment or oath of Office, and accepted new
commissions from the governor; entered
on their official duties, and condemned
to death citizen found guilty Of capi-
tai offence against the laws Of the
State. They received compensation out
of the treasury of the State for their ser
vices, and disbursed the public money
necessary for the support Of the Govern
ment. No question has arisen touching
or impugning the validity Of any one Of
these acts, because they were passed or
performed by an incompetent body, with
the single exception Of the attempt made
by a succeeding Legislature to vacate
the election of MIR. Robbins. Your
Committee cannot omit to refer 10 the
preamble of the act annuiing that elec-
tion, in which the Legislature fully re-
cognize their predecessors as "the Ge-
neral Assembly" Of the State. The on
ly ground assumed to justify the act de-
ciaring the election null and void, IL
comprised in single sentence Of the
preamble, in the following words:'
Whereas, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
which elected Asher Robbins Senator
to the Senate Of the United States, or
the nineteenth day Of January last, diO
not comply ,rith the provisions Of an act
entitled Gan act in addition to an &C
entitled Gan act regulating the manner
Of admitting freemen, and directing the
method OF electing officers in this State,
Sy virtue Of which the members Of one
branch Of said Assembly then held thei
Offices, but proceeded prematurely therein
and the said election is therefore void
and ought 80 to be declared by this As
sembly. Therefore, Be it enacted,"-
SC.
Again: the same Legislature at thei
session held in May, 1888, passed al
act to repeal the law Of January, 1882
in the ordinary form, but express no o
pinion that the law 50 repealed was null
and void, and thereby admit its validity
up to the date Of the repeating act. l
is worthy Of remark, also, that the SANE
Legislature at the session held in Octo
ber, 1888, passed special act to carr
into effect an act Of the Legislature pas
sed in January, 1888, changing tn
mode of electing represe natives to Con
gress, ard declaring that plurality {
votes should in future decide the elec
tion in certain cases, contrary to tn
former and long established law Of IN
State, by which a majority Of all tn
votes polled at any such election wa
necessary to a choice in all cases. Thu
the power Of the Legislature assemble
in January, 1888, to enact this impol
tant law, is fully acknowledged an
conceded by their successors, Will
their power TO elect Senator to Cor
gress is denied, and declared null an
void. Your committee advert to thes
acts as conclusive, in reference to th
character Of the body Of men which ,
lected MIR. Robbins. lfthey were con
petent to bind the people Of the State b