The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1842-05-25
=@RENIARKs OF MRS. II. BUTLER,

REMARKS OF MRS. II. BUTLER,
OF soUTH.cARoLNA,
In the, House of Representatives., s.May 3, ls42
on the ApportionmeM Bill
The question, +on the motion Of MIR. Ev
ere,t, having'beentaken and decided in The
affirmative, The House againresoved ilsel
into Committee Of the Whole on the State
of the Union (Mr. Allen, of Maine, in the
cbair.) and resumed the consideration o
the bill for the apportionment of Repre-
sentatives among the several States, ac
cording to the sixth census.
Mr.. Campbell, Of South Carolina, had
moved the following amendment:
..That in every case where State is
entitled to more than one Representative,
the number TO which each State shall be
entitled, ,Eundcr this apPortionment' shall
be elected by districts, composed of con
tisuous. territory, equal Number to the
numbsrsof Representatives. Which said
State may be entitled no one district
eRcling more than one Representatives y
Mr.. S. H. Butler rose and said:
Mr.. Chairman: had supposed, if any
question could arise in this House which
would not assume party complexion, IT
was the one now under consideration. l
did not think it possible that, by anyParly
maneuvring, this question could betor-
1ured into a partisan contest. When II
was frs, proposed by, my honorable col
l,,.,,o f.tr r.,n5bcu.N il secrsoA .c,--ra-sa. I.
wi,b such pcneral fav or from gentlemen oi
all sides. that believed it would receive
!" general acquiesccnce: The constitutional
right and power Of Congress to pass TINS
amendment are so clear and explicit that
could not anticipate any difference oil
on;nion would arise on this subject But,
sir. 10 nv astonishment, l find this whole
subject has become party question, ana
the rover Of Congress to enact the aInehu'
ment seriously contested and disputed
To INV mind. these constitutional obJcc'
tions have about as much weight as
point Of order once heard raised by
gentleman from Virginia. The House
was about to divide, and the ayes and
noes were demanded by some member
towhich the member from Virginia raised
the constitutional question, that ayes ano
noes were unknown in the Constitution
yeas and nays being the words therein
used. There was about as much merit II
his constitutional objection, as there ex
lists in those which gentlemen have urgeo
against this amendment. Truly, MIR. Chair
man. in the words of the immortal Samue
Slick, Of Slicksviile, "we are great ma
ton, a great people, and 1 have nj
doubt some of our constitutional eXpound
ers would argue very learnedly to con
vince us that four and four did not make
,zeight. You cannot tie them down TO TIT
plain, common import of the English Ian
guage. No, sir they can give as many
interpretations to short English sentence
6 as there were languages at the confusion
of the tower Of Babel. Wonderful peo
ple! And, sir, this debate has enveiopet
ms in such blaze of distractions, that
had almost forgotten what my mothe
tongue had taught me.
The rule of conduct which l have pre-
scribed to myself, in my humble history o
legislation, is, first, to inquire if a propos
ed measure is constitutional; and, next, il
ii expedient!. :, Now, sir, wish 10 direc
attention to- sthe first branch Of these in
ouiries: / take the Constitution for my
guide, and. under section fourth, l flint
the following clause:
"The times. places. and manner ofhold
ing elections for Senators and Represent
atiyes, shall be prescribed in each State
by the Legislature thereofssbut the Con
gress may at any time, Sbyslaw, make o.
salter such regulations" &c.
Now, sir, whatsplain, unsoPhistlcatet
man, reading this .clauses would for mo
ment doubt thepower of Congress 10 con
troll. the whole subject whenever, in II
discretion, it shalsee fit to do so2 sCoult
languag be- more direct, full, and exPli
cit? Itscannot, by any sophistry, betor
tured into any meaning other than I-hay'
given it, If words are capable Of def
y Mite interpretation, it seems to me they
are here used and employed BY the fran
<SIts IN m eslonno al