Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-06-28
CONGRESS--2d Session.

SPEECH OF Ms. BUCHANAN tCoNcLuDEp
Ny freed from New York (Mr Nneh) has been
very severely assailed for what he has SAID this
,ues,on Senators have tod Us that when the hon
was roused-wAen NV Yori. threa,ened--it was time
Tor the smaller STATES 10 take the aarn But did the
Senator threaten. What the lar pGrport of those
remarks which have been The cause, or the pre'eSt,
Of such storm: The Senator supposed II possible
Cha, The Legislature OF his State might believe your
las: to be Unconstitutional, ard therefore night not
obey IT'S directions pro?aing for The election OF Re
representatives. TO Congress. who, then, mus; decde
ihs question; TIE Constitution Itself declares that
coach House shall be TIE Judge o! tEr elections re-
tnrns and qualifications %! rs own members There
- no mode raising tits question for The decision OF
the House, which Is ti!e only competent tribunal, but
by G,srerardng your law, and electng reprcscn'a
,iyes MS the States haze tcne heretofore III manner
Il, NAV best The convenience OF the people Was
n them a threat for The Senator from New York TO
declare that the House oug; long, very long, 10 hest
tate before they would reject and taxa out OF doors all
The representatives elected in THIS by the reo
pie of New York /, myself, ,..ni they ought long,
very long, to hesitate before they would pursue any
snch course. In my o?nion, II they should decide
acco-dtnp TO the PLAN import Ci the Constitution, they
would declare the act OF Congress 10 be uncoasuon.
nj IN ISSUING inuiaie 10 tie State Legislatures and
therefore admit - Their seats such members elected IN
violation of fhis mandate.
irthe Senator had threatened war and boodshcd,
,esoiaou and carcage, ~ case he House shonld re.
fuse 10 adm, Representatives from New York elected
N violation oil :S acl, lie could not have been asSaisc
nv n louder tempest OF eloguence 1t is truly most
terrible threat say that the House, unGer such CIR
cums,ances ought 10 hesitate long before they would
reject members OF Congress thus elected under The
laws OF the sovereign States! And yet this simple de
claration IS the hu.bearthc raw head and bloody
honestly means OF which Senator'S would irghIen us
from proptniy.
THIS sentiment oF the Senator has engaged al
ready IN discussion OF several days, in which the Sc
natofs from Kentucky and Sou,h Carolina (aiessrs.
Ctlttendeu and Pres,on) have greatly distinguished
themselves n Their attempts 10 ialSe storm. They
have treated the question though the principles
arowed by the Senator from New York involved the
destruction cf the Government itself But the atDos-
hcre has again become clear and Tranquil; the noun
tain has been labor, aud tie ridiculous mouse has
sr1pt out; aud mus tnIs new caieeE - our stuoh
has passed away.
But in tie third place, even If The second section Of
this bill were constitute nal 1t would IN my OPINION,
nnder exs,,ur circumstances, Be highly neXPedle Mt TO
ADOPT IT. shall! discuss THIS iranch at the subject as
though your bill itself had cl"drd the States into con
oressiona DISTRICTS had provided ur IT'S e1ecu-
tion .tLou, any mand',c 10 the Stale Legislatures.
Consid red in ,hs point Of y, iaad s-l! thus con-
slider il ieicalier,l although would be constitutional,
vet Il would be- al yoGr power without the
existence Of any Of tioSe evils Tor which the fra
iners Of the Constitution intended that t!Is power
should afford 5eiutds. Yea may violate the spirit,
whilst you keep within the letter Of Tie Constitution;
and such is alphabetically he character OF the present
measure.
SIR, wha; is :he principle which alone sustain
tins mighty Union: 1t IS THIS; tlat hc General CO.
yernment shall exercise doubtful or dangerous
powers especially wien they Interfere With the dones-
nc concerrS 81 tile Stats without absolute necessity.
80 long a. this Government s!a conioc se 20 those
subjects which tc!cns 10 j. properly, shall enjoy
pcace and armoav. bat the mo,aent II departs from
This wise and prudent course, II wili cone MO collision
with Sat, and thus produce Consequences which
mag enGaarrr rs own existence. Point Oh. 10 met IN
our las. hstnrp, any period when the peace and har
az tnsl placed
and Will sho~, ven that the has always been
the exerc,.e Of some doubtful and unnecessary power
over Tie States, The part oil Congress. Tins has
ieen our history from ,iip very origin.
Now S,f. the rule Of Horace, applicable TO epic
poetry Is pecuillriy appropriate Tie present coca.
..yic i}re int.,,.t p,si nodas etat.ee diraus."
ct not rod be invoked To iGterp"se unless the dl
,i,lty 10 D.. overcome hc worthy 81 q gcd. The cx-
irene Eedc,re ot the Constitution ought not 10 be
converted .u:o daily bread. Such, however, ia the
measure proposed hy !!:e second section at tins bill
The power OF interfering wjti the sovereignty OF tie
States and cepry,ng l!ra Of the r'sh 10 regulate the
election of ;ac,r "wn Representatives 10 Congress, was
only gwen b.usHd IN eXt-cne emergencies, none OF
which now exists, Dls ever existed siace the fecefa!
Government cam" iuio icing. Aud although the
Constitution may conf! upon Congress this power
.ncb Genera! terms that liz. validity o. action
could no: be- questioned IN court OF ,nslice; yet We
M Senator'S voting upon the present occasion. ought
"a be Influenced by !c wc!i knan tact, that ths hi!,
al The Constitution and the intention rt It's franz
need not specially refer 10 HE Federas and the other
commentators the Constitution, WINCH have been
cited for the purpose Ok proving I'm. ths power over
STATE cie cions was gieen Tor tie purpose ot enabling
the Federal Government IL Fprpcaic itself, and was
intended Ia be exercised emily upon t,e sieci refusal
or inability Of Tie States 10 provide for the election oil
Representatives 10 CONGRESS. 1t is everywhere called
an eventual ultiatc pn~rr, 10 he eScrttd only fof
self prescrva'iona power never to be called INTO &C.
ttnie rre 10 t.
extraordinary abaSe 81 Inc part al. the States should
render il necessary Tbs IS the language Of the fra
mers OF The Constitution themselves, and IS IL be
,und every where in the la11tcs q the Conventions
Of the respective States, wtch ratified the CoEsu
ton There Is uDbfol"n chain Of testimony 3?ca
this subject, strong - 10 force conv'clcn upon
every mad. So jealous we've t9se Stale Conventions
Of The existence Of tis power, and 60 dangerous did
they consider IT. that seven oat o. TIE o. u:'!ieen, III
The very act OF rats; my Tie Constitution, protested
against the ssrcs. Of s power by Congress, Unless
fox the purpose 81 se preservation. They expressed
The greatest alarm AID a?prs lens'on lest II mghi ae
abused and, tis account sought In abolish IL al
together by anne "dme, ~ cf the Constitution.
Now SIR, when STATE al this Union shall re-
Ease or me- ect 10 perform is constitutional: Guiy, in
providing for the election OF us own Representatives.; 20
Congress and TIL then. ought Congress 10 inter
pose II We should intcrpose loaner, we shall sIa!a!s
the plain and manifest intention OF the trainers of the
Constitution.
For more than half century, all the States hass in
this particular, performed their duty. They have Al
WAYS elected Their T. representatives., undo tbcir
own laws, without complain, from any quarter. Have
the larger states OF tie njoI abuse: their power:
'rhis is no, prciSEdp:l THESE States all .'isct by
districts: and o. ;aem has ever complained ,;ai
few of The smaller States fl their accommoia.
,on. or even 10 increase tier lnAuence, have
adopted the gene-a!i'cket system The whole present
nutnber of these States FIVE: and, altogether they
are entitled elect but twenty SIX OF the two hundred
and twenty-three Representatives. provided for by TIE
pfesen, bill. So far potca influence may be con
eerned no party viii probably sastain any injury, as,
N the aggregate, the result would be about the
# they elected by districts
Oh but, say Senator'S, we must be wise IN season,
1t is true we have had fifty years experience in favor
of the old system; bat New York, Pennsylvania aud
the other large States may hereafter adopt :he general
sicket system, and this would destroy the influence Of
the small States; and, therefore, we must take things *
lime ia nreYeRt such an Outrage