New-York daily tribune., 1843-02-01
spEECH OF HON. WILLIS HALL,

nm not snisrepreseniiae the quesiioo. The whole
controversy about the Distribution law tas 10 iss So
need 20 The single point wbesbsr Congress nase
give one fco OF the public land tbs Iihgt Goo nos
.s ptncy can /, make any difference whether the gift
be Individual :ovu, cfy o. ssd.e- cs l.e os-
e. Ine ae na has conferred equal powe 70
zye 10 an ,sen Congress has power 10 distribute equal
y among the ,. sass sroees i the lands The power is The
same The rghs dispose Of land nc1des the rish 70
dfsose az TIE proceeds Of tiIa land. II any be
nd 40 absurd asto eoniend that power is Consttn
fina when exercised the land but De SO when
sdicsIous b, standing ere reie aniie, absurdiiy
Nor will rest altogether upon The mantes; aosoroy OF m
objection for have discovered that 10 Con't tcc.a aW
no proposition Is too ab,urd 10 find adrocaies-puli ~
xgan the practice of the Goyernaent and addsce
sEe authority of every Administration from sa o. 9eel
son the present. SHOW that the proceeds OF t- foot
Lands have been distributed power, and
with The same preius:oa as :fe lands toerhse a" , n
Ohio, 10 be paid OCT Of The rreasary to the STATE of
Ohio. Aet passed ~ =:
FIVE per cent ef lands sold in Louisiana, 70 be paid In
IKE manner 70 that s.sis =; 1sl isi1
s9Tss PR Isss ssD Were 70 q signed % by MADISON
ssbres per cent ia like manIe 10 Indiana ACT oi.lSS
Three pss cent In ike Illinois. Act
Three per cent in like Missouri. Act o.. .laS
These laws were signed by honfoe
Three per cent 70 laaiana; &C, ,Si.:
Five per cent TO Michigan Act at...
This law was signed by Jackson.
4 leave
rsion o my deep regrei that the Governor should have
fLought his duty take SIDES against his own STATE ii
if bis E1cellency did entertain DOUBT iii could be no
Iaore the subject he would have been pardoced had
e allowed an s1sa;ase aay for me & state e wheh has
His E.eeiency also refers to the drleting law passed
ssIe into single congressio.a Dcs That the
j.egfsa.ure of this State has already acted upsn Tue
made M a Pe sen 10 eese
Ehy then, hes this subject been brougai beere u.s. Why
are dead reucins placed upon orr table Is u intended
70 repeat The lazy? !fthe majority are dissatisfied WITH the
election OF Representatives under H. aud wish to have
trial will go with them and very willingly ny
ever again. intended for effect elsewhere Is
not To countenance Virginia, other State who has
seen fit 70 disregard His Erceeacy assigns this law
one OF he which be adudges this Government
20 be tending toward consolidation ask any member
his foor wherein this law take power from the state Gov
ern,pent or confers j. upon the Federal Government
This s truly, precious instance OF the inrngenea: OF
State rights Why tho very feature complained OF arose
from delicate tenderness States 1t is admit
red that Congress has power make the district itse but
objected that it has right to direct the State
agents to make It's dsrcts Because sir WING Congress
had much respect for the states 10 Interfere unneces
CARLY with their internal arrangements But his Exccllen
cy While he vaunts his attachment State rights would
avc Congress- by force OF ars carry out the provisions o
is own I re lar anH s run ne%
all this 10 prevent any infringement upon slate sover'
eighties!
spirit Of the Constituoni
The times, places and of holding elections for
Senator's and Representatives shall be prescribed in each
State by the Legislature ia.reo but the Congress may
any time by law, make alter such regulations except
TO the places OF choosing Senators
(sfr Speaker DAVIS Does the gentleman from Albany
say he Governor the law 10 be unconstitutional
MIR. HALL i So understand him He the law to
be compulsory, and therefore unconstitutional His laa
yuage Is as follows:
However naimhed may be the power Of the National
Legislature to alter the existing regulations OF the States
upon any fair consru tion to maintain that the power
make alter includes the power TO upon The State
Legislatures and com e them TO make particular law
There is no compus,n aboutt Ifa State does choose
10 send Congress she cannot be compel
led do Or Ii she chooses To send having
che qualifications required by the laws Of The United States
,be oay consequence That they cannot be permitted 10
sake members of Congress This law differs
at all In principle from the apportonment law Tue law
allows irtysz Representatives 10 this State but 1t is the
business of this Legislature apporion them ithe State
elects send ory twenty-five, may do so and they
legally qualified members but If she sends forty
admitted. represents the number persons
prescribed by Congress so il now, since the district
members elected by general ticket none be admit
ressnting single district ii part should he elected by
siage districts and part by double districts those from sin
Ihe district aod in the appsrtionmentiaws Coagres simply
prescrhes the rule, asst is unquesonaby authorized do
The States carry n;o effect they please their
refusal their repeeentacni Congress by The
cens,iruoa the Judge the quafca,io. OF It's
directly upon the State LegLlatarei No
senies that the States choose TO comply this State has
done she may do 50 without violating the Constitution
And Virginia chooses refuse she may do so and lose
her representation.
hasy might be given where laws OF Congress
directly upon the Lrgisla OF lne States The Hli-
la laws Of the United States remarkable example
The Constitution authorizes Congress provide organ
:1ng the militia does provide for the election of
Members OF Congress. Under this power Congress passed
law in 1892 directing tha; he militia of the respective
baiteons and companies as tie Legislature Of each State
-aaaH direct" This law did ad could execute IL
self any than tue district law. II depended
crton uFn the action OF The State Legislatures. And the
Legislature of every Slate Submitted To this
oa1 ad
regulations established by Congress And Tie whole
, has, mere than fity been subject ,his i'm
would have discovered but for the light thrown
pos Constitutional rights by this luminous Message
Sir very remarkable that every OF those Jaws of
Congress which bave been unqualiedy denounced by
his Excelency is peculiarly advantageous this State II
e carry OF; the doctrines OF the message size viii justly
regarded as the most dsntercsied seacrcag Stale in
she Unca Why sir this OBNOXIOUS district law remedies
an evil which bas always been subject OF sore complaint
NswYork Uader the old system this grea, State with
her 50 ~ Representatives., has rarely had eopa weg
IN the national csunc With New-Jersey, Connecticut,
Georgia Alabama Under Ihe system which has always
prevailed here witch is essentially the district system each
parry has usually elected aeaSly equal number OF Mem
Sers, whose vses consequently great questions have
generally nearly Ieutrazed each Other while the small
States which have elected by general ticket have had The
advantage in such questions The OF their whole dele
ss,oE This district law depnves them OF that unjust ad
Ean,ege and restores NewYork TO the and influence
10 which Der population fairly entities her.
Sir, il Is democratic law produces The farest and
Representation OF people n brings representa-
roa booze more nearly TO them There are copflcne in
teres and opaions in The dereu, counties State
e u different Staiss and the theory OF democracy
requires sa, all far practicable should be represents
ea Lei The majority n This Ronse beware IheY sane
O ae des,rlnes o. ths Messsge lest their professions OF
democracy should he found 70 be an empty boast.
s, have done with the CONSTITUTIONAL opinions mn, fnr,h
Message They impcrlan, ply from the high
<sSeai soarcc Eo which they eanaie, and the grave
consequence 10 The Sts'e winch may resrl, from Them
The charge OF unecnu,ionay has become Tie ordinary
fAse ct ai;scSns an c5noxicus :, common
as hr charge ci wkcbcra n former DAYS and ike il too
s someitag mysterious and very bad, and lercsoys 10
ne Sse asd therefore
decided by prejudice ssion not by arrtaer,
reason Both common!y OF is6 aud no, OF
knowledge and both ccnlsr uPoa The dsoyeec air OF
superior wisdom ard greater sanc,ity.