The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1858-05-20

SIMPLY 10 point out the moue VI tne eNction
of the members of this House, and not the
class Of voters. The House was TO be elect
ed by the people. by the popular vote, by
the masses while the Senate was to be
elected by the State Legislatures. That is
all that is meant in that clause. The con.
stitution is in these words:
"The House of Representatives shall be
composed OF members chosen every second
year BY the people of the several states,
There the gentleman stopped. What fol-
lows!
-'.and the electors in each state shall have
the qualifications requisite for electors Of the
most numerous branch OF the state Legsla-
ture."
There, coupled with what the gentleman
read, is the right which | say that the people
insisted upon beyond all others-the reserv.
ed right that the General Government should
never interfere with suffrage in the States
not even for members Of this House. In
mediately after the words he read sir, with
out semi colon separating them, is the ex-
press declaration that the States shall fix
the qualification Who shall say to each
State in this particular, thus far may they
90, and no further. Who shall say to the
sovcreignties where they shall stop! The
States, over this subject, have never parted
with any Of their sovereignty. 1t is their
right, therefore, to fix the qualifications OF
voters unrestrictedy and absolutely. II
they say an alien may vote, il is their right
TO do 80.
The other clause Of the constitution to
which referred, showing what was meaut
in the FIRST part of the one read by the gen
tleman, is in these words
"The senate of the United States shall be
composed Of two Senators from each state,
chosen by the Legislature thereof
The first clause the gentleman read the
other day refers simply. as it clearly appears,
to the manner of the election, the mode OF
the election the constituency of those elect
cd-to distinguish them from the constituen-
cy of the Senators. The one was to be the
people, coniradistingushed from the Legis
latures Of the States; this was one of the
points Of difficulty in forming the Federal
Constitution. 1t was finally determined
that the House should represent the people
and the Senate should represent the States
will refer briefly to the same authority
on that point. read from Gates Minutes
of the Debates in the Federal convention
the fourth resolve:
THAT the members of the first branch Of the
national Legislature ought to be elected by the
people Of the several States was opposed and,
strange TO tell, by Massachusetts, and Counecti
cut who supposed they ought to be chosen by
the Legislatures aud Virginia supported the
resolve, alleging that this ought 20 be the dem.
ocratc branch OF government, and, as such.
inn hiaf al in tLn
Again, Mr.. Pinckney moved;
THAT the members of the first branch. Chat
Is, this bouse,) he appointed in such manner
As the several States Legislatures shall direct.
Mr. Madison said:
- oppose the motion"
Mr.. Mason said
~ am for preserving inviolably the demo
cratic branch of the Government. True, we
have found Inconvenience from pure democ'
racies hut il we mean to preserve peace and
| real freedom, they must necessarily become a
component part of a national Government
Change this necessary principle and II the Gov
ernment proceeds TO taxation, the states will
oppose your power.
The idea that prevailed at the formation
OF our Constitution was, that representation
and taxation should 60 together. 1t was
mainly upon that ground that the men OF
! that day went to the war with the mother
country it was because the colonies were
taxed and not allowed representation and
/ if you trace the history OF this Government
l down, YOU will find this great American
! idea running throughout that taxation and
/ representation should go together, VINO
( ever pays taxes should vote that Is the
/ idea.
/ Great confusion seems to exist IN the
! minds of gentlemen from the ASSOCIATION OF
I the words citizen aid suffrage. Some seem
/ to think that right Of citizenship and right
Of suffrage necessarily go together that
one is dependent upon the other. There
never was a greater mistake Suffrage, or
the right to vote. is the creature OF law
! There are citzen- in every State of tins
/ Union, doubt not, who are not entitled TO
vote. So. in several Of the States there
are persons who by law are entitled to vote,
though they he not citizens. II there be
! citizens who cannet vote, why may there
not be individuals, who are not citizens,
( who may nevertheless DC allowed TO vote, il
the sovereign will Of the State shall 80 dc
tcrmine.
In all the States nearly there are other
qualifications for voting, even with the ma
tiye born, besides citizs nship. Residence
for a certain length Of time. Virginia, for
instance, requires Of all citizens of other
States, native boru citizens Of Maryland or
North Carolina, certain term o! residence.
They shall not vote in Virginia unless they
have been there twelve months. 10 Ala
barna, think, the provision Is the same.
Why, sir, 10 my own State, where we
have universal safragc, a. 1t u called no
man can vote unless he has pad his taxes.
There are thousands Of citinens IN Georgia
and suppose in every other State who are
entitled 70 the right Of suffrage under our
Constitution and laws. C!,iDen-hIp and
suffrage by 10 means 70 together M all ca
ses. My time will not allow me 10 enlarge
on that IDEA will only refer briefly again
B Va vk., u.a said IN the Federal Convention