Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-08-16
DOMESTIC.
THIS DISTRICT CLAUSE OF TIE ArpORTloNMENT ACT
REMARKS OF Ma. hartley,

RtcHMo>p COUNTY. Ono,
In The Senate Of Ohjo on The 27M ut, upon the IRE
GmLie and Resolutions yeiarc TO TIC act Of Compress,
for the appor'ionmsat # REPRESENTATIVES defirerfd
achae in Comnie ef nc HIoie and scritea out from
notes tGkea al tic t5ac
MIR hartley said that he had not intended when
he came TO Columbus, 10 participate IN any discussion
during this part OF the session, coEcclvng that lhat
dispatch ald pronr,ness with wh ah The peculiar bu-
sness that has branah, the Legislature together, al
this season Of the year. ought I" be disposed oil, forbid
the delay Of debate But "hie the select committee
IS engaged in preparing the bill Ter our acton IN hxng
the congressional districts Of the State, time and oppor
tunity are afforded f.. some little attention to the reso-
m,ions under considerations And he conceived that
the unauthorized assumption OF power On the part OF
Congress- in debating to the State Legislatures Their
mode Of action IN prescrihnn TIE manner Of electng
members 10 the House Of Representatives in Congress,
was matter deserving grave consideration, and upon
which the people % tie States and especially the mem
hers OF the General Assembly, could not, II true TO
themselves, remain silent
Mr. T. thongh tina; toe encrpachmen:s OF the &C.
neral Government upon the powers and rights of the
States could not be viganlly guarded against and
resisted The urea: interests, the rights oil personal
liberty personal security and private property Of our
citizens are peculiarly and immediately dependent
upon the independence, the safety, and the purity OF
our State institutions. The General Government
seems to be Increasing, and growing in Importance,
and in power. aud influence while the State sovereign
lies are dwndling into mere tributaries and dependen.
From reading, (perials too hastily and mpefectly)
Tie Journals and debates Of the Convention which
framed and adopted III" Constitution Of the United
States he had received Tie IMPRESSION, aud was
firmly convinced OF its correctness, that the Co
vern,ncnt of Tie United States had become ma
chine Of controlling power and influence over the
sovereignty and Institutions Of the States, never anti
cpated nor intended by those who formed IT. AleAan-
der Hamilton and the class of politicians which acted
With him. conlended Tor constituting tie General Go
yernment an independent Government Of the people,
possessing great power and energy while the opposing
politicians the Convention, contendcd that the Gene
raj Government ought TO be nothing more than Con
federation among the several State sovereigntes for
their "common defence and general welfare. And
he MIR. BARLEY verify lelicved that II Alexander
Hamilton were now living, he would realize even
more than his most ardent desires, III regard to the
strength energy aud powers Of the General Govern
ment When the Constitution Of the United States
was under discussion, among other objections made
10 H. lis adoption was resisted upon the gsound that
the Offices under would he filed by the most IA
Tented and influential men Of The country, who, 10
render permanent Gnd extensive their own stand
inr and Influence, wcu!i by construction and other.
wise, augment the powers of the General Govern
ment, the ultimate extinction OF the sovereignty OF
the States 70 ,.is objection. Mr. Madison replied,
tha, the officers Of The State Government would fur
nsh the greatest field for the competition OF the talented
and distinguished of the country, while the officers
of the General Govc5nun would he matters Of but Ii.
mi,ed influence and Importance What has proved he
tho result The General Governmcn nj TO be the
great source of influence, of honor oil emounent and Of
patronage while the State Governments are matters CT
but limited mportarce-n.ee stepping stones for the
elevation Of the s;inGUshed men OF the county Look
nj the fearful powers which welded by the Gene
raj Government Besides regulating the commerce o!
our immense country, both nerral and external, and
fixing tie value of the currency, besides possessing an
allcontrong and overriding Judiciary besides WELD
ing all the revenues OF the country, that
which flows through the uawelcome channel Of direct
taxation imposed by the States besides welding the
extensive powers of Tie navy and the army he.
sides all these and numerous other controlling pow
ers and attributes of sovereignty, the Government
of the L. States, through TIE Legislative well az
The Executives Departments, Yields an all peryacing
patronage which pcnetra:cs alincst every ncighbor-
hood md cncrosses the talent and the energies other
distinguishes statesmen q cur country. Wien &C.
tually see TIE approaching footsteps the Unauthorized
encroachmen'S Of THIS gantc power upon the feeble
rights of the Statesit i;;c, hsh tune, that the pee
pie should take the alarm Il IS fact, ILLUSTRATED by
Tie history Of all Governments, that yield
ed BY the people is never regained, except by evou
hon Let The States ,aci,'y acGuicsce in the usnrpa
ton now exercised The part Of Congress, and it will
he precedent, only for the further exercise of
the power here assumed but for further steps towards
arbitrary power.
/, appears that Congress has assumed the authority
in the second section of the act appor.onng the re-
presentation, among the several States, according 10
The sixth census 10 prescribe the moce OF acuon Tor
The State Legislatures in distrc;irg their respective
States II is provided that each State shall be laid Of
into single districts, composed of contiguous terri
tory and no district To elect more than one repre-
sentative. States which have from choice, and from
lonysusage become attached 20 the general ticket sys
tenn are now without any reason beng ASSUMED, IN
mbited from lis longer And States, which for many
wears for tie sake Of convenience, aud TO avoid dividing
counties in making districts, where the population Isl