Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-07-14
THE AproRTIoNMENr Bill.

In another column, the reader will find the
sons which the President saw proper to flo in tie
State Department, upon sfixing his signature to
The Apportionmen, Bill lately passed by Congress
When the message of MIR. TrLKR was read IN the
House, announcing that he had done thus, mark
ed degroe Of excitement manifested al thi'
unusual procedure, uncalled for as II Is oy 'ne
Constitution, which requires the President 10 SUD
init reasoos to Congress only when he shall di'Hp-
prope any Law. Mr. ADAMS immediately miro
doced a resolution, which was sdopted, calling Ton
these reasons" from The State Department, and
for the appointment Of select committee upon the
matter, ~i,h power report thereon.
The President, BY this act. has Sc, = most dan.
retous precedent aud given another evidence of
his ;ocspacfy 70 decide upon the character of the
laws Of Congres. /, is commended that he has thus
opened the door TO notification by doubling the ma.
,,a- and effects If law which he nevertheless
,ign., and which he would be bound by bis cath TO
execute. He says.
That Congress itself has power by law to alter
State regulations respecting the manner OF holding
elections fut Representatives is clear but its pow
er TO oommand the States to make new regua
question upon which have tlt deep and strong
doubts"
Here is refined abstraction for you, eminenj
worthy Of the Captain. One would infer tha, Mr.
1rLER means Congress must command the
States to nuke regulations. but after they do make
their regulations, they to be told nhefher Con
grfss ~iH accept them not. The power to alter
the State regulations is admitted, but the power
devise the manner in which these regulations shall
be made, is denied, just "a IL such construction
would not render mere sound the clause in the
Constitution which gives the power to alter for
any ono States may refuse to carry into ef
tpct whatever regulations Congress should adopt,
SIMPLY because the, might choose TO constIue the
mixing Of these regulations into command
Such procedure the part of State, would en-
danger the very existence of the House of Repre-
,sntatives itself, more, it would be equivalent to
dissolution Of the Unon--by its refusing to obey
The mandate, not Of Congress, but of the Const,u-
ton OF the United States which, as Mr.. CaMPBkLL,
Of South CaroIins truly said the bond Of union
betweenshe States, and which not only Congress,
bu, the State Legislatures were bound to obey
We annex the remarks f Mr.. Boris upon the
matter, which, at a glance. will be- found to en-
brace a proper Wow Of the noxiou. precedent which
the course of Mr.. Tyler will establish
Mr. BORIS said that he felt very strong inclin-
alton to express tho views he entertained upon thi,
extraordinary, most novel and highly reprehensi-
BE course on the part Of the President. 1t was
course which, in his judgment, was calculated to
excite dsorgsnzin and revolutionary spirit in
,he country. Tho reasons contained, in his opn-
ion direct invitation TO the States TO disregard
and disobey law of Congress mandatory as eve
~ law of Conetess must be--mandatory by the
Constitution Of tho United States. The reasons
rnvired q disregard and di.obediencs to that Law
whtch the President had himself sworn see faith
fpliy executed. The President had given notice in
s,ivance that he would not il faithfully execu,-
81 He had taken the ground that tho questions
we're tn be settled they He (Mr. b.
mould take occasion To express his opinions freely
en- tti. subject hereafter.