Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-02-17
rwENrY-ElGHTn CoNGREss--First Session
.Nonday, Ftb IL. lS4l
IN SL'S

MIR. FAIRFIELD presented resolutions passed b.
the Legislature oi Nj line in favor Of an Immediate SCI
tlemen oil the claims oil citizens for French spcla-
tons
| Mr.. +. made some brief remarks; in which he con-
planned of the tardy action Of Government in th's
matter.
| A message received from the President Of tie
United States transmitting letter from the Governor Of
Iowa containing the proceedings OF the Legislature
thereof asking The admittunce of Iowa into the n,cn
independent Stale. II was referred TO the Jut-
dietary Committee.
report was received from Capt Stockton, relative
TO the Steamer Princeton.
| Mr. FOSTER presented resolutions of the Tennessee
Legislature, asking Congress 10 have printed the deci-
sons of the Supreme Court, for general circulation.
Mr. ALLEN gave notice that tomorrow he would call
up Gen. Jacksons fine bill
The Senate then resumed the consideration of the
Tariff Resolutions.
Mr.. HUNTINGTON, having the floor, replied al
great length to the remarks Of Mr. Woodbury.
The Senate adjourned without taking the question
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
| Prayer by the Rev. Mr.. fusion.
| The Clerk then read the Journal Of SATURDAY, after
| which,
The SPEAK Err then announced the first business in
REPORT OF TIE COMMITTEE on ELECTIONS
MIR. FRENCH sad that what he had To say upon
this sub would be ola conversational character
than that OF speech, because II Impossible tor
so feeble in health himself to speak so as 10 under
-tood this Hail. which the worst for hearing that
he ever saw. However, he would pass or
'~o topics involved III TINS disc The question
first H. whether the States ought 10 be represented By
general ticket or by districts, and he free adj
mt that The district system the true Jeferson,an
mode Of eecng Representatives; but in the beginning
Of the session. lie had voted against the spreading Of the
protest ot the minority upon the Journal, because il
preJndged The question, outside OF the courthouse
which made its Authors and those who signed H. unfit
judges this matter, and because they had expressed
n before be bod its
dcIa action He denied the action of the second
section OF the apPortionment acl: because want.
ed the necessary machinery to put it into operations
| therefore the gentlemen from the States Of MIS-
sissippi, Missouri, Georgia and New Hampshire
were cons,Itutlonally elected, because Congress
mad not IN The imprisonment law, FURNISHED that
chnery and because the States did choose 10 obey
the second secton (Which would have left States
without representation, ii they had not used their own
machinery to carry on their eIec,ons,) i, no
why they should be entitled representation
this door. 10 make the second SECTION Of the ap.
potionment act law tits necessary, thai it should be
| possessed OF the machinery necessary 10 put It INTO
operations; without this machinery is no law and az
such il is VOID and imperative II Congress exercises
the power gwen 10 it by the Constitution It must al
ter the system which in force in the States the
time This law does not alter the State system but IT
is destruction Of the State laws WHICH is not IN al
sra.ion with The powers vested by the Constitution to
Congress, because machinery had been supplrd to
10 the people Their represenaton, should the
Sltte Legislatures refuse 10 comply lie then went in
To l,ng and able constitutional argument against The
validity Of the second section of the apporlion act
lie conceived that the law defective and in fact
It law all, because it could itself
Tor the want of machinery. Then il only rule,
not rule Of action, and as such il not binding
upon the States.
/ MIR. VlNTON then took the floor aud commended
that the apportionmen law was constitutional and as
such it was binding upon the States and said that
| the report OF the ma orlty admitted that Congress-
could alter part without touching the other State
regulations.
/ MIR. DOUGLASS said that the report admitted Con.
gress could alter part of States regulation pro-
vded The necessary means provided TO carry IL
into operation; but, in admitting that Congress might
alter branch OF State system the committee did
not admit that under The power to alter could district
| Il State.
rtere n message received from the President of
| the u. S
Mr.. VINTON said the genteman's explanation is
what he bad stated and that the second section Of the
act did not district the States but left il TO the States
themselves only altered The system so as 10 require
The States TO district which of them bad com
Piled WITH therefore those gentlemen claiming seats on
this floor from those States, not constlutionay
elected. lie said that at the adoption Of the Constr.
tution of the States objected to this power, be-
cause they said il was dangerous one, which fully ad
mits the constituiionality Of The law.
| MIR BLACK of Georgia said the question was one
of expulsion, and not Of privilege asserted, be-
cause The question should be decided the affma-
tive il would exptl twenty one members from this
floor; and as such he should il. lie 4 Repre-
from the State OF Georgia, not of part Of
the people, but of the whole people and he sur
prised Mt the sentiments Of his colleague, {Mr Ste
phens) who had said that the people of Georgia were
in favor of the district system, and if il had been
for the remarks which fell from his honorable colleague
he should have contenled himself with giving silent
vote lie would ask his colleague if the Wing State
Convention had not nominated their ticket Under the
general ticket system, and were defeated although
| they had acknowledged the constitutionay Of that
law hey had succeeded, however in one two in
stances, special elections in electing two three
| Representatives
| M. STEPHENS said that the sentiment he had e1,
pressed on this subject the other day. he expressed IN
that Convention, and they were circulated throughout
the State
Mr. BLACK said his other honorable colleague (NIr.
ChappelD was also in that Convention, who known
to be opposed TO the constitutinnalty of that law
Mr. STEPHENS said MIR. Chappell was in that Con
ven,ion, and he believed that he was opposed TO the
cons,utonal,ty of the law of Congress, but II was no!
generally known in the convention However, he
would form his colleague that the vote the special
election to which he alluded was much greater by
veral thousand than at any former election.
Mr. BLACK said he would pass to the subject,
and sad that the Legislature of Georgia had
distric,ed the State, but it had eye TO the Twenty
NINTH and not - the present Congress.
! Mr. STEPHENS asked his colleague if he had seen
that law2 If he had not he would inform him that 1t
aIso had an eye this Congress
| Mr. BLACK said he had the law, and il vas
true that there was provisional clause looking 10 this
Congress- in case her members were expelled from their
seats on this floor. lie said this OF expul
son and he zhould look upon it, because there were
no persons here conesting their seats lie then refer
red 10 various attempts at expulsion which had taken
place since the formation OF the Government (allud
ing to the case Of Matthew Lyon Mr.. Adams and Mr..
Giddngs,} 10 illustration Of his argument. lie then
passed on to constitutional view of The subject, and
denied the power Of ibis Government TO pass such
law In tho course Of his remarks, he alluded TO The
number Of fights which had taken place Ca Ibis floor,
(being altogether the Wing side OF The House, and
none Of those who engaged in Iaem were even
censurcd, much less expelled; but this proposition to
expel the members of four sovereign States who nave
no, been guilty of breach of the privileges OF this
House, power nowhere TO be found in The Constltu
ton and if carried OUT would be dissolution OF our
glorious Union
Mr.. DICKINSON next took the floor in favor Of the
law, and, in the course OF his remarks, he alluded TO
the remarks OF his colleague, (Mr. v Brown who
had said that the Wing party had carried the election
of 1910 BY fraud bp. his coeage cannot say he dare
not saw that tho election the State OF Tennessee was