Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-06-07

be charged then specifically each.
As To the ''rnnnner OF carrying elections, he con
sidercd TIE arguments Of the Senator from Mississippi
fyrcibie but he (Mr. W. contended that par,icula
cases If grievance must occur before Congress cou'
,uie erc; and then only particularly, IN reference Il
the grievance and not generally, as 10 general primer
;es, and coEiiua. legislation only TO such principle
lie next referred to the technical meaning Of the wore
aii,r winch to change partially, or IN part, Whel
,se alter Il house, DO not erect new house. so
hen YOU alter law, YOU can only correctt IN ceraii
particular and then sou carry out the correction II
toll INTO details.
This Government, during fifty years of lis con
FINANCE had gone through periods Of war and peace
and depression and prosperity, without any propose
ton to alter the State systems IN elections, and make
Tins change. What extraordinary event had happened
or existed, tia, rendered II necessary now thar
al any time during the last half century, TO rake III
this siubrring powcrii the power existed al all, IL
the extent Implied Was 1t hot the true policy, tina
Congress should II altering al all carry through lis al
teracn; He believed It could not order the states 4
I perfect charge, but must itself perfect ii. Congress
lad the power il had not If the former, then i
mast complete or finish The alteration in It's details -
The decisive proof ot this is, that If State omitted Il
iuke any law 10 elect kcprest natiyes-as RHODE Is
land Did under the odd Conf deraon, and which led &c
ihis clause in the bill Congress must of course, Il
making regulation Ter her, make the districts and de
tails So, II she any existing State law OF
State system she ought and must alter the details anc
make The district Districts size wishes, and size
wishes The powcr extends 10 the whole, or does moi
exis At ali-a,d mus be exercised the whole, or
it will be neglected or disobrycd-as State ID
obliged to obey your mandates or finish your own
WORK and duty. Each Government mist be efficient
and perfect IN It's sphere. Thus, every revising bod Y
cam and should 10 further than the exgcncy re-
cures hut as far il goes, should finish its own &c.
c-ees Otherwise, the General Government is &c.
pendent on the States. well The latter being in
other respects, tributary 10 the General Government
How indicate and offensive for us, without any
extraordinary emergency, and no special de-
ia a., or maieasunce any State TO thrust in our
o.icious legislation; and this, under circumstances
where none-even the fathers who made the Consli.
tution-neither AFTER since, Tor fifty years,
have deemed il competent or wise thus TO oyershadow
State power, State policy, and State rights.
Congress could not interfere, unless IN great exgen.
cics and those exsencies as high TO justify altering
making regulations.
He could conceive but one reason for interference,
and that would be for the pre- servaton of the Govern
aeut or the representative principle. But such
case occurred now; for the Government is going
TRANQUILITY as ever in elections. and without any new
necessity for the exercise of any such power that
winch must be exercised if the clause in this bill be
adopted, even as proposed 10 be amended.
lie pointed out that the committees amendment
would not correct any extraordinary evil, effect
any obec, but hostile, in his opinion 10 the spirit
Of he Constitution, well as the wsest cxpedency.