Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1844-03-08
lNr YER II.

+
ton shall be hv districts while the particular re
syulatioas OF defining the districts. and tho mode
Of conducting the election. and making Inc re-
turns, IL left TO the States. 1t the States choose
10 e'ec. their Representatives IN conformity with
the general regulation. thus prescribed BY the
Constitution. and tho of Congress Gin Psr
su1nce thereof,' their Representative may CLAIM
TO be admitted on this floor But it they refuse
TO elect in conformity 10 these regulations, those
claiming 10 be their Representatives have nc
more RICH, 10 be admitted members Of this DO
dy, han would the same number OF persons cleo
/ ted IN Canada Texas. Should there be . con
,nued refusal on the part OF the States to conform
10 the regulations prescribed, Congress might ID
driven 10 The necessity OF exercising more fully
I The power which il possesses Of regulating "tha
time. place and manner" Of the elections. 10 or
der To secure a representation from the Statos
and ensure the continuance OF the Government.
II seems me. Mr.. Speaker. that any attempt
TO argue the cons,itutionahiy OF This act OF Con-
gress IS work Of supererogaton. Tho powei
IS conferred by the Constitution in ouch explicit
terms that to argue the right Of Congress TO sxsr
ctse it is like entering into an argument to prove
that and two make four.
Reference has been made, during the course Of
the debate, to the protest. signed by q number o
the members of this House. 1t tho commsoce'
ment Of the session, protesting against tho sgh'
OF those gentlemen who claim TO DO tho Repre-
sentaiives Of New Hampshire, Geosgs, Missis
sippi, and Missouri, participate in the delesra
! lions of this House. The gentlemen who signed
this protest charged with having prsludged the
case which they were to try and determine. Al
though my name is not attached to that protect
vet fully approve of every sentiment co0sei0s
IF had been hero at tho time il was presented
should most cheerfully have signed II. ! BE-
Iieve tina, those who claim to be members from
the four States referred 10 are here not only win
out tilo TO seats upon this floor, but without CO.
Tor of title They present to tho House no GER
tifica. Of election by districts, IN conformity win
the law, aud consequently are not oven Prsmo
fdcie members.
Had this law been enacted by any other than
the las, Congress. il would not have been the sub
iect Of much abuse and vituperation % have
been expended upon it. An extraordinary effort
has been made to PREJUDICE the public mind against
tho action Of that Congress. 1t has been de-
nominated, in derision, tho "Coon Congress-
and the most unmeasured abuse has been heapsd
upon measures. How tar those who, 10 az
compllsh party purposes have pursued this course.
will be successful in their object, time will deter
mine. do not wish to appear before the coun-
try the special defender or euogis' OF tho 9Th
Congress. lis action has become a part OF tho
history Of the country; and when the excitement
produced by party collisions shall hive subsidized.
and the people shall look upon tho history Of tho
pas, with impartial and unprejudiced eye, they
will Justly appreciate the many saIutary reforms
which we're effected by its Legislation, and the
valuable additions which were made TO our laws
by its labors.
lie, Mr.. Speaker, unfortunate for the country
that party spirit has attained the alarming ascen'
dency which we have witnessed for some years
past II we have reason to fear for the perma-
nency Of our Government aud the perPeiuity Of
our institutions, from any cause, It IS from THIS.
The danger of party degenera,ing into faction
is immnen, and alarming. The history OF the
past appeals to us, in solemn and warning tones.
IL. . ats
which mos, Of the Republics which have hersto-
fore have split. And can We expect TO pursue
The same course. and yet avoid the results which
have heretofore uniformly sprong from ~ Gao
expec, TO nourish the viper IN our bosom.
and no, feel his fangs' Let US not lull ourssivss
INTO a false security by any such anticPations.-
Human nature is 10 all ages Of tho world the
same; and the Same causes which brought de-
structlon upon the Republics OF the Old World
must work out the same bitter fruits with Us, II
not counteracted, Notwithstanding all our oossted
intelligence aud patriotism. The hideous spirit
of faction has indeed already, TO q most alarm
ing extent, been developed IN this county
The rigid discipline Of party has already, to n
extraordinary degree, destroyed evey thing like
independence OF opinion Like the IRON bed OF
Procrustes, i. admits Of no latitude and no vsrs-
lion from The party standard. The expansive or
contracting power is applied, until the opinions
of its votares are brought to range With tho
party lines Opinions of the most dangerous
character and the most anti-republican tendency
are advanced by party leaders, and being sncos4
porated iuto the party creed, receive the eoro.aI
support Of all the party adheeents. fssT, s.s,
ha, the history of this country will furnish sdo''
tional evidence OF the truth of tho remark. thss
. tho sprit Of party is stronger than the sp'F" o.
liberty II sweeps over the country win the re-
sistless power of The tornado, prost'a'ing ts ~
sti,u,ions and sacrificing lie best interest,". me
vo;ca of na,rio,ism az compared With its powsv~
e,fn, tones. is but as the gentle whispers OF the
evenine breeze to the hoarse thundess OF the re-
s;s,less wbirlwind The laws and Constitutes
becoms es powsress 10 arrest it's career. ~ the
mere parchment, upon which they ere written.
Have not reason to believe that this sp,sis
has given birth TO the violent oppositioo which
has been made 10 the apportionment at Of The