Kanawha Valley star. [volume] (Charleston, Va. [W. Va.]) 1856-1861, 1858-06-01


single year beyond
But nj order TO approximate as nearly
as possible to the true meaning of the
WORD republican, al used 10, the Consti-
tuition of:the United States, letns turn to
the constitutionFof the respective States
existing At the timeHof the adoption of Tie
Federal Constitution. and soe what they
were fur The very.men who framed that
instrument participated, to greater Of
less extent, in the formation of the State
sconstitutipns; and We may very well sup
pose thai they knew what they meant
when they used the term " republican. :
Referring then, to the constitution ofmy
own State as II was 1T the time Of the for
nation Of the Federal Constitution, | find
that a large portion of the citizens Of Vir-
ginian were not allowed to vote for any
office Whatsoever. This was indeed, sir.
an odious feature yet it viii not do to
say that this constitutionIwas anti-repub-
Kcan for it would be to stultify many of
the fathers ofsthe Republic who partici.
pateds in the formation Of theiconstitution
Of Virginia. and also in the formation Of
the Federal Constitution, which contains
the guarantee Of republican form Of
governmeptto the different States.
Il, Now, Sir, ifthe consultation Of Virgin
ia all thai time. was republican, and surely
no one will deny il, you cannot say that
another constitution would be, nti-repub-
lican merely because il, ailowed members
Of tie Legislature toIbe elected for life
Certainly this latter feature ina constit,i-
ton, permitting nevertheless, a universe.
.ty of suffrage, would not be less republic
can than a constitution with members of
the Legislature elected for shorter term,
but leaving one half Of her citizens totally
disfianchised and unrepresented. III could
mention other cases stronger even than
that of Virginia but / will merely cali
attention to Rhode Island. Why, sir,
tthonghshe had for constitution only an
old royal charter, the trainers Of the Fed
.eral Constitution and the fathers Of the
Republic considered it, republican form
of government. No one will have the
hardihood to deny this. for il would Be to
assert that the whole origin and political
history Of the Government was 4 living
lie. Sir, need not auimadvert upon the
odious features Of the Rhode Island gov
ernment !; they are well known. A mi
nority governed, and the maiorityhad no
Representation. il the government. And
9ifsWss slF, ~ THIS was, he yertheless, q re-
publican form Of government, which
none DENY, can it Be urged. with i shad-
oE IF -nlans;h;l;tr thata oanst;,,,,;on 3
-. -. =
ny ~, o.lnPy osga a's' y elacts
the members o. It's Legislature for life /?
But, sir, can afford 10 waive this argu-
ment conclusive Of the issue, as think
tito be. Yes. sir, I#lndertake to assert,
and TO snbstantiate the position, that
there IS not to By found in The constitu-
tion of Minnesota anything upon which
plausible argument can be based To show
that the epresentatiyesinher Legislature
are elected for life. /.
Is The only ground upon which such All
assertion could for moment rests is the
absence Of a specific clause intended to
70 r,,late tle san1n sRntgl Il are 3 Il ~ :
$500, ;,f,l,a ~: 80. WI
n, WIt'cii cover
me po1lnt pF lar and logical deducatlon.
/ williread FIRST from section 23d. article q:
See 90 Pie Legislature shall nroy i;flss III
law for an enumeration of the inhabitants Of
this State til the year SB5, and every tenth
year thereafter at their frst session after
each enumeration So made, ind also attheir
first scs ion after each enumeration made by
the authority Of The United States the ,egiis
Z n nj / n 4 4 I y ~. =