Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-12-08
THE TRULY DEMOCRATIC system.

1t will be remembered that one of the laws en-
acted by the last Wing Congress required the
only equal just and democratic rulo--the rule Of
electing Members Of Congress by dstrcts--to be
observed throughout the Union. This was a just
law and under the Constitution of the United
States, il is The law rendered as obligatory upon
Congress, the States, and the people, as the Con-
sttuon ITSELF Dt il has been violated by some
of the States and it is upprehended that ere this
the new ocofoco Congress has deliberately sane
toned this violation nay that il has lranpled the
Constitution itself IN the dust, and set fearful ex-
ample for the vioIators of law in all future time.
We assert that a violation of this aw-dsobedi.
ence of it, until legally repealed is violation Of
the Constitution itself; and we do SO because the
act was Constitutional, aud invested with oil the
solemn sanctions which that instrument can
throw around it. "The fines, places, and man.
ner OF holding elections for Senators and represen.
taitUeS, shall be prescribed in each State by the
legislature thereof but The Congress may al any
time by law, make or alter such regulations, ex-
ceTas TO the place of cIoosing Senator'S" Thus
saith the Constitution and the recent law is by it
most clearly sanctioned. If the Constitution,
then, is any thing, the people must avenpe its
violation. If laws are TO be enforced, the rights
o: the people secured and order maintained the
people must mark those who stand out us volators
of law aud stained with the damning sin OF PERU
ry 10y Il disregard of their oath. We know not
aud cnre not whether this be, or be not made
party question ut the opening Of Congress 1t
need not be such, aud should not be SUCH with
the people. Indeed, some members Of both pur-
ties have been elected in defiance orths law ; and
whether admitted to seats, or rejected las they
should be,) will not make the slightest difference
in the relative positions Of parties in Congress.
The following article from correspondent of
the N. Y. Tribune, is well timed:
The course recommended to Congress by the
Albany Argus, and which Congress will probably
pursue, in relation TO those members who have
been elected in States by general ticket instead of
districts, as is required by the law Of the land, is
most ominOus OF evil TO our country.-Ihe law
requires that members should he elected by dis
tricls. The Argus advises Congress to treat tie
law with contempt and total disregard, and 10 adj
nit members who have been sent 10y States in
contempluous violation of the law.-Should this
he done, of what efficacy will laws he hereafter:
You may still for some time TO come, catch rob-
bers burglars aud murderers, and hang them or
send them 10 the States Prison hut even this will
not last long. When Government itself sets the
example of disregardin5 its own laws, the obliga-
ton Of law is dissolved and gone. AS well might
parent who gloled in his own proilgacy at
tempt to teach morality 10 his children, as Gov.
ernment which sets The example of violating its
own laws attempt to bind its citizens by their
promulgaiion. In either case the poorest under.
standing sees that it is nothing but u farce. The
5rutum futnen, the mere blind force of law, may
prevail for while, but its spirit, lis vitality its
moral obligation is destroyed. Laws will contin-
ue 10 be enforced SO long as The courts or tho Gov
eminent have power TO enforce them; but where
there is The slightest appearance ofaby 10 resist,
the courts and the Government viii be Obliged TO
succumb.
admit that the isolated, unfriended and abhor-
red fclon may still be condemned and punished.
This is done among Savages, who live without
any knowledge Of law. But II is not difficult TO
fpyesee cases, and ofno extraordinary kind or rare
occurrence, where The law will he found utterly
poweress. The Obvious ones of Slue's relus-
inc 10 obey law OF the Union or The DECISION of
its courts, or OF purity in Slate or large por-
rion of its citizens rebelIing against Stae law,
first present themselves. Next come cases OF
mobs and Lynchng, where combination OF IN
dviduuls undertake, 10 violation oil law, 10 exc
cute laws of their own making, according TO their
own fnsllion. Then large bodies of cHlZens or
communities who have joint interest III resisting
the enforcement Of law or of a ldginent OF
court. Next inobs, bent on the execution oisome
vindlcliye or furious PURPOSE Aud finally the
case OF n condemned cuprit who has large
number of friends or abeuors 10 protect aud shield
him.
It's not necessary to suppose further instances.
When ever the law shall have lost its power in
cases like these, anarchy will have arrived. The
state OF society IN this country will then be worse
than il was during the dark uge in Europe when
l.. fnI lr,ts, he
walls OF Iher castles. Those times had one re.
deeming feature. Modern liberty owes lis birth
10 the stern and unconquerable independence OF
those awless mobiles. They wienched The scep-
ire from the hands Of the greater ryranls than
themselves. But what fruit are we to expect from
the triumph Of the mob over free institutions like
ours?
confess lhpt cannot look upon The prospect
before US without dlsnay. 1t is not that | care
for these ncipient violations OF law standing alone
and independent Of their consequences. Ii matters
lutte whether the members illegally chosen from
New. Hampshire, Georgia, Mississippi and Mis-
souri,, are allowed 10 take their seats in Congre IS
or not They will not in the slightest degree al
Ter the complexion of the House nor affect lis
proceedings and measures. AS present ques
ton it is insignificant us Il precedent il is mos
portenous. Ages, II our Government should
last SO long, will tee HE consequences OF such d
measure. How long is II IN his country since
we had The hfst example sci us OF VOCATION ntu
contempt of law 10y Government b? believe The
first instance was when Georgia hung the Mis-
siouary after being prohibited by the Supreme
! Court of the United States The next was wher
! she refused obedience 10 citation OF that cour
issued in suit instituted against her by The Cher
okee nalon.-The next was when John q. Cal
! houn and The State OF South Caroliua, dehed th'
| Government and raised the standard of uulllica
lion. The President Andrew Jackson; y,oInIet
! the Constitution and laws Of Congress, 10y CON
polling the Secretary of the Treasury 10 with
draw The Government deposites from The Bank o
The United Sales-lo say nothing o many olhe
official acts OF jackson, by which the letter U
spirit of the Constitution was violated. These in
Stances may all be properly said 10 belong 10 tn
reign of Jacksonisln. They are at amy rate TO b
found IN the chronicles of his reign-and verify
was Rehoboam who Taught Israel 10 sin. Tie ex
ample of The Heayen-denounced ruler did nc