The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-05-20


see the despOtic arm of the Federal Govern
ment interpose to remedy the evil: for be-
lieye that the evils which would grow out of
such a doctrine of interposition would be in
fnitely worse than those sought to he rem.
edied.
1t will not do, sir, simply to say that
feature OF State constitution, permitting
Representatives in the Legislature to serve
for life, Is 0dlouS, and therefore sufficient rel
son for Congress TO reject il. ] repeat, sir,
that however oliogs such feature would
be, land i. would be Us odious to me as to
any man living still that is matter for
the people vi the incipient State TO decide
for themselves. Ii they want such a constr
tuition, il is their business, and not yours or
mine, as members OF a Federal Congress. Ii
the people OF State want such constltu-
ton, We cannot impose one upon them
against their will. When they choose to
change it they can do so. You must then
show that such u constitution is anti-repub
lican, or however Objectionable it may 9th
crwise be, the Federal Government cannot
interfere. Is, then, such Il constitution anti
republican?
How, then, shall We ascertain the true
meaning OF the term republican, as used
in that clause of the Federal Constitution
which says that the United States shall
guaranty to every State in this Union u IT.
publican form OF government
First, let us examine the term itself. Is
there anything in its general Specification
which would imply that it was Incompatible
with the idea OF members OF the Legislature
being elected for liieg Clearly not for if
so, where will you draw the line! Would
it be anti.republican to have them made
eligible for five years! No one will con
tend for that. Then would it be anti-republi-
can to have them eligible for ten years II
not SO Tor ten, then for twenty years, or
forty, or for life! Where will the honora-
BILE gentleman draw the line, saying that it
is republican to elect them for that number
years, but anti.republican TO elect Tor u
single year beyond.
But in order to approximate US nearly as
possible TO the true meaning Of the word re-
publican, as used in the constitution Of the
United States, let Us turn to the constitu.
tions of the respective States existing at the
time OF the adoption Of the Federal Consti-
tuition, and see what they were for the ye.y
men who framed that instrument particl-
pated to u greater or less extent, in the form
alton of the State constitutions aud we
may very well suppose that they knew what
they meant when they used the term "repub-
lican." Referring then to the constitution
of my own State as it was at the time Of
the formation Of the Federal Constitution, |
find that large portion OF the people OF
Virginia were not allowed to vote for any
Office whatsoever. This was indeed, sir, an
odious feature; yet il will not do to say that
this constitution was anti-repubcan, for 1t
would b. to stultiiy many OF the fathers of
the Republic who participated in the form
alton Of the constitution Of Virginia, and
also in the form alton of the federal constitu-
tion, which contains the guarantee OF re-
publican form Of government To the different
States
Now, sir, il the constitution Of Virginia
at that time was republican, and surely no
one will deny it, you cannot say that another
constitution would be anti republican merely
because it allowed members of the l.egisa-
ture to be elected for life Certainly this
latter feature in constitution, permitting,
nevertheless, universally of suffrage, would
not be less republican than constitution
with members Of the Legislature elected for
a shorter term but leaving one half of her
citizens totally DISTINGUISHED and unrcpre-
sentci | could mention other cases strong
or even than that OF Virginia but ] will
merely call attention to Rhode Island. Why,
sir, though she had for a constitution only an
old royal charter, the trainers OF the Federal
Constitution and the fathers Of the Repub-
lie considered it a republican form of gov
ernment. No one will have the hardllood
to deny this, for it would be to assert that
the whole origin and political history OF the
government was living lie. Sir, need
not animadvert upon the odious features OF
the RhOde Island government; they aye
well known. \ minority governed, and the
majority had no representation IN the govern
/ ment. And now. sir, il this was, ueverthe-
/ less, a republican form Of government, which
none deny. can it be urged, with shadow
I Of plaasib!lity, that constitution u not re
/ publican, simply because IT elects the mem
/ bers Of the Legislature Tor life? Bat, sir,
/ can afford 10 waive this Argument onclu-
/ siye Of the issue, as think it to be. Yes,
{ sir, | undertake 10 assert, and 10 subsian'
I tate the position, that the representatives
/ in the legislature under the Minnesota con
stitn,ion are no, elected for life ! will
prove il by a reicroince to til. constitution
itself read from the twenty fourth section
Of the fourth article:
THE senators .hall also be hosen by single
d districts Of convenient Contiguous territory, at
the same tine thA, the members OF the House
! Of Representatives are required 10 be chosen,
ani in the same mariner and no representative
district .hal be divide! IN the formation of a
senate district. The -euste districts shall be
numbered ia regular series, aud the SENATORS
chosen by the districts designated BY ODD mum.
bers shall 90 out Of Office al the expiration 81
the first year. and the Senator'S chosen by The
districts designated by even numbers hail 20
on, ot Office a. tue expiration Of TIE second
wear: ana ther, alter the Senators shail DO
chosen for the term Of iSo yeAF., except thers
{ shall be an eniire new election Of a. The -ena.
tor, a, the election next succeeding each new
appor,icnInent provide for IA ths article.