Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-05-07
SUBSTANCE or REMARKS
By MIR. GOGGiN, OF Va,
On the manner Of Representative Elections.

New Jersey. mir Halsted,l on last evening. II
WAS new TO him, and presented, NJ first "iew, some
difficulties lie had not seen the amendment IL
prnt-it not having been published in the morning
papers, and IN the confusion which prevailed IN the
Hall on yesterday 1t was almost impossible TO hear
| II, when read at the teble by the Clerk. lie had
on learning It's purpsrt and its object, been struck
with its novelty, say the least of Il, that viewing
in this light. he had but moment before coming
| to the House this morning, looked at MIR Madison's
exposition OF this clause OF the Constitution under
| which II was proposed TO exercise this power, aud
| OF taking from the States the privilege they had
now used, under the Constitution, for more than
hfty years, OF fixing the time place, ard manner OF
| holding their own elections for members OF Con-
gress. lie had risen. he said, mainly To call the at
tention OF the Committee to the views OF one IDLE
and so distngu pushed as MIR Madison. lie did not
propose TO debate the subject: he had pre-
pared with proper references; and, after sufficient
examination of the subject, TO enter length into
| dscusslon--he would leave that 10 others. MIR
| Madison, he said, having been a member Of the
| General Convention which adopted the Consttu-
ton, he might DC well supposed to be capable OF
Judging OF what the intention Of the trainers of that
instrument were, and what was their meaning and
the construction that should I've given particular
clauses. He was also a member Of the Virs mia
Convention that passed upon the ratification Of the
Constitution Of the u. States; and it was IN this
latter body that he gave the exposition to which MIR
q. had alluded. and which he would presently ask
, 10 be read by the Clerk.
\ MR. pOOOlN SAID tfat he had not expected this
proposition would meet with favor among those
who protested to be States rights men, as some did
on this floor. lie used not the words in derisior.
! Tic used them, not only as Nireinian, but an
american-as ono destous that all the rights OF the
General and State Governments should 10 prcscrv
ed ard guarded IN exercising ei.her express
w delegated, or those about which there was doubt
Ga most OF the important leading topics. he had
Ueed w'lhHg 80 follow tho views u Mr. Gadi-oa.
lie believed, he said. with him. that ths potetr 10
u - lao EaNna az t.nH
! elections was given To Con:ress-hut only To bl
exercised under particular circuuis' ancts. Gases
might arise, IN which the Legislatures Of the States
f1hEg 10 make the necessary regulations, that then
| Il might be proper fer Congress to inierposo to
| prere-t dissolution Of the Government-to such
| cases did the v iSdom of tac iiamerS of the Con-
situtor iock, AMI FOR sUch was i thoue ne .essary
q provide, toy inserting the clause which decia res
that THE TINE place, and manner Of holding e,oc-
l tons Tor Senate ard Representa- wee shell B..
pTcriisd BY tis Legislature ia each Stat, thereof
but Inc Congress may, At ary time, y law, make
| or alter such regulations, except IS 10 PAGES o.
| choosing Seniors" Cases might occur, lhorch
they never nod get, IN which IL would &c proper
10 call 10 md this clause CT the Constitution :
| The States shall at all tines and "Con
sress moy a. sUeh ftns,r-as the States railin, 10
90 their dutv, may become necessary 70 carcy o.
/ the operation Of the General Government Thc
States had 50 Ear Always acted IN the .n-t-sr-why
haJ not Congress Because no emergency had
arisen TO require It. Constess aud the States both
could not act 1T the same time If they did, the
States might, Icy the unanimous voice ut the I.,.is
! lature, establish ono system for themselves and
Congress, even against he poiest tor ertmpl~ OF
| the p members from Virginia, might establish
lno;hcr-ihe two Governments would thus be
brought IN conf Ct, eni tic question would arse
which rule, or regulation, law should be obeyed:
that which cur own people At home had estl bIished
or that which might I've forced upon Ms by the votes
OF The members Of Maine, New Hampshire. Mas
sichuseus, New York, aud al the Northern States
or all OF the Southern States, you please, against
the united voice vf the people OF Virginia
Mr. GOGGlN SAID he would bes leave TO ask
gentlemen ii they had considered that Congress
under the power now SOush, to be exercised OF
dsircting The whole Union might, hereafter insle ad
OF the district system, establish the general ticket
system whenever pleased,
Certainly. said Sercral rneusbersl
Ms q. said he thanked gentlemen for the nd mis-.
slon-it was then conceded that, although Virginia
cherishes her system OF districts and wi! adhere M
H-thls Congress might do y away-her whole svs.
tenn nigh: DC abrogatcd ty single vote m the mn.
joriy N his and the other House. He said such a
claim OF power or the exercise OF such A mower bv
this Government surprised HIM much. or would sur.
Pfse HIM II carried out; yet It was conceded by the
advocacy OF this resolution, which, however he had
no doub; had been introduced from patriotic con.
slderauons. He did not impugn or susnect The mo.
lives OF gentlemen Al all.
lie said that 10y the operation OF a system shicl
under THIS power might be established he and IN.
Trend and colleague near him mir Powely mieh
| be, as we. as all his other colleagues, ousted OF
their seats on this floor rs Representatives of n,r.
ucular dstricis-not by the Legislature of Virginia
tut by regulations adopted by Congress-not by
The votes OF our people al home said he but by the
votes OF those whom we have never seen-between
WHOM and them there IS sort of sympathy, and
who can know nothing Of their wants and wishes
Instead ofhavins members here from 81 districts
we may have (ifCongress should adopt the general
ticket sysiemi 81 members from q single district IN
the State-the districts might be DISTINGUISHED. and
who would be responsible to the people for such an
outragef Not the Legislature Of Virgins sitting in
/ Richmond, in which there IS member from all The
counties, TO give account at home but $50 mem.
bers oil Congress, sitting IN the city Of WASHINGTON
! nnestenths of whom may never have been even
within the limits OF the State Under the operation
Z Of such system my colleague, (Mr PoWelll said
/ Mr. G., though preferred as their Representative bv
u nlneteen-twenGieths OF the people Of Loudon Fan.
qu'er, and Fairfax might DC Supplanted, and under
the genera. ticket system, another or others mish,
be substituted, whom no man in his district ma .
have ever seen. BY the general ticket system, too
| II adopted and enforced by Congress- as Il is admit
| ted II might be, majority of one vote ir one hun.
bred thousand would be sufEcicn, TO send 2I mem.
bers TO Congress from Virginia, when 80 ggg inciu.
ding every man IN his friends district, nigh, prefer
81 other members, Of which his friend might bt
one.
/ MIR G.. said he entered his solemn protest against
! the exercise Of thls power. We had gone on IN
I der our present system Tor half century and no
/ hoped now II would not be disturbed. His Stat,
! claimed TO manage her own affairs, in her own
way. Mr. G.. SAID he would now ask the Cle,k "a
read the remarks Of Mr. Madison, TO which ne had
alluded, and which he at FIRST only designed. m
rIsns, to have read.
The Clerk then read the following:
| "Mr Monroe wished that the honorable ee,,l,
man, who had been IN the federal convention. would
give information respecting the clause conc,rDins
elections lie wished 10 know why Congress had
an ultimate control over the time, place, and man.
ner Of elections Of representatives, and the tnoe
and manner Of that q Senators, and also. WV
there was an Exception as to the place Of eIectnr
Senator'S
/ Mr. MADISON Mr. Chairman, The reason oC N,
exception was, that II Congress could FIX the place
Of choosing the Senators, u might compe the Stat.
Legislatures to elect them in a different place from
/ that of their usual seasons, which would produee
some inconvenience, and was not necessary for the
object Of regulating the elections But Il was ne
cessary togive the general government contfo.
over the time and manner Of choosing the Senators
I % prevent its own dissolution.
! With respect % he other point, 70 ,yos though,
] that the regulation Of time, place and nsruer III
| e'ecting the representatives,, should be uniform
I throughput the continent Some States mipbt re
gu1ie the elections ON The principles Of cquaIi,v
and others might regulate them otherwise. To-
diversity would be OBVIOUSLY unjust. Elections DR.,
regulated nov urcqunIly m some Sf7'c, partiru-
IarIy Sour. c1foInn, with rcsgCc' '. Dbsrlestoo
which 0. represented by hire TENDERS. ShruI,
the poole oi auy S'1'e. my means be depliv,.
oi ne fght OF tutf 90, D. Was IujgoJ proper TIM
% should be rtmsdied by he general poverom.r,
" was found impossible 20 fN he time place ln,