Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-01-14

The Senate, by The Governor, the las! day Of its
! session:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
Mlledgeve, Dec 9th, lSl2.
i bill to lay off this State into eight Congressional
Districts and 10 provide for the election Of Represea-
ta,ses therein, has been pesca,cd for my revision =
II does mol appear upon the face o! he bill that il wa,
adopted in compliance with the provisions OF an act
Of Congress passed at the late session. assuming the
authority to control and the legislation OF the
States on this subject, nor would presume to say
that the Legislature was influenced by that consider.
aon or that the bill would not have been passed inde-
pendent of such constitutional requirement; but the
Executive is unwilling 10 give his assent TO an act
which ma be construed into acquescence I n
just encruachmen, upon the rights Of the States. Tn
authorized assumptions OF power, IN matters OF even
small import, should be met moderately but firmly, and
resisted the harbngers OF more dangerous usurpa
tons
Hy the Constitution of the u. S, power is conferred
on the Legislatures Of the States 10 prescribe the
times, places and manner Of holding elections for
Senators ard Representatives IN Congress II won!d
seem tha! they might have been regarded safe,
exclusive Repositories Of this power. But the trainers
uf the Constitution looked forward 10 he possibility
that spirit Of dsaicc:on towards the Federal Go.
vernment might grow up in some Of the States,
which might manifest Itself IL refusal 10 provide
Tor holding elections fer members OF Congress; and
DESTROYS o. preventing the catastrophe that would
ensue upon such refusal they conferred on Congress
The power 10 make alter regulations in regard 10
The elections. II is manifest from the history of the
proceedings of the Convention, and the contemcora.
neous exposition Of the Constitution, that it was IN
ended that Congress should exercise power the
subject Only in the event the States failed refused
10 make practicable regulations. The whole provision
constructed and adopted with the single intent
TO insure representation OF all the States in Con-
gress, and thus guard against Of the most obyi.
Gus expediens for dsso!yng the Government The
act Of Congress requiring the States 10 be distc,ed
is of the opposite tendency, and calculated 10 accom-
plisi the fatal result which was so fearfully appre
henJed. THIS act cannot be enforced but by exclnd
ing from the halls Of Legislation, members consu
tonay elected according 10 established legal regu
ations complete and unallered in form and substance
cannot, by sanction of The act under considerations
add to tie emharrassments of the Representatives Of
the people of Georgia, whom believe 10 have been
legally and consi,ulionaly chosen, provided at
tempt be made TO close the doors Of Congress against
their admission.
'rhe act under considerations ndring from, the off
cai certificates endorsed, first passed by the Sc
nate and lastly h. the House, and presents the singular
regularity 81 having been read twice iii The House 10
which it las; acted upon before IT reported r.
The House in which It was first passed The const
tutioa declares thai every bill should be read three
psrate days in each House before 1t shall! become law
tie ordinary course OF lecisaticn 5il! is pass
through all the forms Of legislation House before
1t s read in the other.
II is possible that this objection might be
by explanation from both Of the Houses Of the
General Assembly; but as the other reasons herein as
signed require tia; should withhold my assent,
turn it to the Senate, where suppose, from the fact
thai il first passed there, that it originated do this
with the less reluctance another session of The &C.
neral Assembly viii intervene before another Congres-
sona clec,ian.
CHARLES j. MCDONALD.