The Arkansas banner., 1844-03-20

The great and essential rights here retained to the people. Congress has no right to in- terrIpt, or in any way to interfere with. These are lbe important rights of lreemen, and Congress can never impair ther, with out innicling a wound upon the ates.* In T1he third section of the same article. the time, place, and constituent body. or manref, of eiectRg senators. are marked cut and reserved
 o the States. The time Is six years; the place, in the States; the manner of eleeting, by the legislatures thereof.
 The fourth section of the same article is in these words: ..Fhe times, places, and manner of holdiag elections for senators and representative. shall he prese 'ibed in each S;ate by the legisla ure thereof; but he Con- gress may al any time. by law, make or alter such regulati, n-.n New, what is the pla Il and obvious meal i4gtf inc te ms used!-- As to time and place of holding the cleo ions. there seems to be no difference of opinion. But the manner of hofding the election ah there lies the rub. 4 cemmon-sense con- struction would say 1t meant quile a differ ent thing from the manner of elect;rg. The question will not arise. who votes: but how do you vcte:-rito roce, or by ballot' Dees the shelf hold the e.eedon, or the ma. shal2 and who declares tie majority: Because, Ii vou say the manner of holdipg meanss any thing more than prescribing the rules ofcen- ducting the regulations by which those who possess the elective franchise shall exercise an acknowlet ge right, Corgre:s then has the power to prescribe t ? p';l fcatol ofa vo- ter; and tl is clearly conflicts W i.h the plain provision of tie second section. Congress c mot presctihesa certain re idence ina 5 ate as qualification to a voter, any more than il can say certain residence in a ate is a neeessa Y qualification of member. But, in distIieling the Sates. Cengres must ay Y la citizens .Eal. and Nhat shalI not vote. And Ii you can make one disqualification you can another, till you destroy lhe value of the elective franchise altogether S~, the en a. gie words (''nlanner of heiding clcctiaRs'4 are susceptible of most dange .ous construe- ton. Like the words .sto establish post of fees and post roads:n efforts were once made, and fear the day will again return, when this phrase was construed to confer on Con gross the power to construct and make high ways in every direction in this country :; and the scramble began Wilh a view 10 lay violent hands on the treasury of the United S;ates, and to scatter it's contents to the feur winds of heaven. But this was arrested bv the frmness and virtue of President JacksGn; and the phrase, as now understood. Is harm less. The claim for power in this govern- ment has con mencea in a new rlace. An expression which las heen long sleeping is suddenly vaFed Up when there is no call to ams; when there is TO mischief to be rem | Ied; and unGer 1t, aemeet tremendous pew CT i sought 10 be exercise'-a pc w which if carried out. as il has been begun. vii ke lraught with every evil that can belal goy- rment.
 If Congress can rightfnlly claim the au= thoei'y to district the States. admitting each district to elect hut a sngle member, Con- gsezs can also require that the people of the s ates shall elect by general ticket; for the clause under the @eonstrHction claimed, is b-oad enough to cover the whole subject matter; and there is TO limi'a'ion to the power hut the discretion Of Congress-. Some of the s a'es nav he required 10 elect by dis trlcts; others may be constrained to elect bv general ticket. Some districts mav he allow ed to elect orlV one representative. while others may be favored with the privilege oi selecting four. six, or ten. representatives, With such an engine in the hands of cor rnpt Congress. lavirg lie cont. ol of ihe Tx ecutive, will rot ask what could be done !; hut rather will ask what could not he done; Power could be re-nefnated in the hands of the same corrupt individuals who would have the daring to play out the game hol'lv.- The voice of the people could be suppress ell; flients could he rrcvGed fer; and this House. instead of reflectipg public opinion. would le under the 6eninion of corrupt faction Even now. the weaker rartv in ev- cry State of this Union bite lv comrlain of the injustice ard unfairness shown them in the dlv ion of the Sae into congressional districts; and how easy ard ratu al would il be, having once famil a~ized the common mind to inc exercise of the power now claim cd, to appeal to their friends here 10 come 10 their relief, and afford them that advantage which they lad vainly enGeavored to obtain from the majority at heme Would there I e no mischief in this? Would not the conee-a quences be surh as 10 alarm every lover of his country. and to destroy all confidence in the government iteelf? You nav say the evil would correct iself and 6ereat and ovee- throw would be the certain fate of that rar- tv who would thus wantonlv interfere with the domestic arrangements of ihe Sta es.- Such fate would they most richly deserve. But 1t is the first step which always costs.- ion have unnecessarily taken. or attempted to take, that first step; and whole party are vigorously contending now, even to the dis lrarchisement of four States of this Union, to maintain dat first step. Reject tie present members, eXpel them from their seats. and you will be bound to take one step ia ther, and thai is, to di tcict the States; and if you disrict these four aies, you will soon te called upon to district all the s a.es; and should you stop short in the career. you will effect adismembe ment of this Union, hecause YOU will be called upon to enforce your laws with the strong arm of lede al power.
 'sslset 4a-s4 fss,sp CT of such magnitude could have been insert cd into the cons titut!on without exciting the