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

rers are now provided for IN Tho several Saie
laws regulating their elections F"r II IS aPPa-
rent. that II any Of these details we're omit
ted, the elections could not be Conducted without
The aid of The State laws, aud consequently the
act of Congress would DE nulilty Uader tbs
system, should then have, IN every election
p5ecinct, sets of election otiicers-one set to
conduct the election Of members OF Congress,
and another conduct he election Of ; ate and
county officers The trainers Of our Constttu,
.iop in comforting upon Congress this power,
certainly con,e ed that IN lis exercise.
Congress should be compelled to carry out all
the minute details of an election system
From whence do the States derive their right
10 be represented upon this tiooti 1t Is certain.
Iy not n b inherent right, which they possess IN
depcnden, e the Constitution The Federal
GoyernT,e ut stseif Is but creature OF tae Con
s,tutIon, aud all the right, which tho States
have to be represented IN Congress they terive
from TIA, Instrument; and they can only claim
10 be represented here when they elect their
Representatives in conformity with terms which
IL prescrbes. The Constitution. IN the second
section Of the first article. provides, that "the
House of REPRESENTATIVES shall DO composed OF
members chosen every second year, oy me
people of the several States" but itreqnires the
States to prescribe 1.-The time, place, and manner
Of the lectons. unless the same shall be pre-
scrlbed by Congress. 10 which a paramount au'
,hori,v ID given. Those peculiar advocates q
the doctrine Of State rights, who manifest so
much larm at the idea Of aoy command from the
Federal government to the States. ind IN this
part of me Constitution o direct and explicit com
mand 10 the States TO II axe these regulations
Have the States any right TO complain OF ihisY
Surely not. They voluntary entered into the
federal compact adopted the Constitution tor
their government, and pledged themselves TO
weld obedience to its reQnisitions
In the sixth article of the Constitution we tiod
the following clause: "lhs Constitution, end the
laws of the United States which shall be made
in pursuance thereof and all treaties made or
vhica shall be made under the authority OF the
United States, shall he The supreme law OF the
land. anv thing IN the Constitution or laws OF any
State the contrary notwithstanding Inc
States, then, in adopting the Federal ConstItu'
ton not only pledged themselves TO obey It's IN
functions or commands Of any act which Congress
,nioht pass .lu nursaance thereof which by The
CoTs,iiutTon are declared - ou .-the supreme
law OF the land.
The Constitution prescrihes the term for which
Senators and Representatives in Congress shali
he elected. 1t declares, also, that the State
Legislatures shall prescribe the "ume. place and
manner'' Of their election. Those who denounce
III. appar,:onment net of last Congress express
prea, horror at tho idea Of a sovereign State
being commanded by the Federal Government
to legIsate i'll particular manner; vet 'hey
recognize the validity and bindtng authority OF
this comtnau nd ia the Constitution, requiring the
since the orgapization Of the Government. the
States h we acted 10 conformity with tbs COM
nnana. Ia not tho act OF Congress, passed III
"pursuaacc'' Of the Constitution, OF equal valIdi-
~ and equally obligatory upon the States with
the CONSTITUTION itself? |, would seem beyond
doubt that such ls The case.
Congress has not, as has been assumed. at
tempted 10 impose any command upon he States.
No penalty has been threatened or attempted 10
he ,nnosed No eff,rt is mado to interfere with
their SOVEREIGNTY Let them enjoy their sover-
eiunty to lis fullest extent. But when ihey ask
To share The administration OF the federai toV-
eminent, 10 become part OF that Government
,hronoh their REPRESENTATIVES, in the Federal Con
gress ,hev mus, send their Representatives upon
he terms and IN the manner prescribed oy ihi'
Government Congress, in tho exercise of its
Constitutional power, has merely prescribed
rule ia rega I'd to the manner In winch RePresen-
,atiyes shall be elected. The Constitution has
prescribed some general rules, and the obligation
OF the States TO conform to these rules 10 elect
ing their Representatives has never been qnes-
toned. Il has also given TO Congress The power
to prescribe rules and regulations IN regard TO
the manner 10 alter the regulations OF the
States Are not the States, then, bound 10 con
foyc, tn ,he regulations prescribed by Congress
UPON this subject? If they do not CONFORM to
them. thew have no right 10 claim to DO represon-
ted upon this floor
CONGRESS has declared that the Representatives
of tho several States snail DC eiee'eo oy oisftct5
New Hampshire. Georgia, hisssstPpf' aho t'iis-
.o,,, have Sc, The enactment, of Congress at de-
f,,ca ana in direct violation OF the law, have
elected their Representatives py general "che''
These Representatives, cahuo', "i'hou' "u'''
fca.ion u The Law OF the iahG' pe ao''''''eH DIS
Members of th!s i.ody.
: The po$i,o advanced BY toe tnaJo,ty OF me
Coa11niatee 90 Eec'ons,ihat the act oil Congress-
,<us.,;rfnc he Representatives TO be elected by
4ss,;c,a. lis nulity, because it does define
3ka &istricls and prescribe all the regulations ne-
es1pasy seseomplete the election coaio oh'' nave
hoou conceived IN the desperate ehof' 10 huh"s
an act OF Congress. IN me absence oi any rea-
sonabe or plausible pretext 10 10 50. iua' Coh'
gress has the power uhoer me Ooos"'u'ou "
district the States ana regulate III every 80
L. .txa-nnarf Il tha einclInns. not de-