The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-02-17
Republican Form Of Government-How

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Senator DAVIS, of Kentucky, in his
speech on the pending supplemental recon
struction bill, made strong point on the
constitutional provision guaranteeing a
republican form of government to each
State. He denied that the obligation of
this guarantee rested with Congress. 1t
was imposed upon the Federal Govern
ment, of which Congress was but one of
the departments. He argued with earn
estness and force to show that Congress
had no right to dictate constitutions to the
States since it was not the Government.
Mr.. DAVIS on this point occupied firm
ground. There is nothing in the Constitu-
ton to justify the right assumed by the
present Congress to criticise State consti-
tutions, and reject those which it may
deem not republican. Nor does the Con-
stitution confer any authority upon Con-
gress to make it a condition of admitting
newly formed State into the Union that
its constitution shall give to its people uni
versal suffrage, and that they never shall
have the right to modify it This mon
strous and tyrannical condition is now pro-
posed to be applied to Colorado, which is
asking admission.
The representatives of the States framed
the Constitution. Can it be supposed by
any sane man that they intended to sub
NIT their constituencies to the caprice or
tyranny of the Congress to review their
State constitutions, and at any moment re-
fuse admission to congressman elected by
States whose constitutions they might de-
eide not to be Republican,
Take Virginia. Her Constitution was
Republican yet it contained conservative
checks to protect the Commonwealth and
preserve the consistency and dignity of
the Government. Could Congress have
ruled out Virginia on the ground that her
Constitution was not consistent with Re-
publicanism The men that made the Fede-
raj Consultation made the Constitution OF
Virginia-NAY, THEY ESTABLISHED THE IN
DEPENDENCE OF THIS COUNTRY. Is it
possible that in putting the clause qua
ranteeing republican government to
the States into the Federal Constitution
they dreamed of submitting the glorious
Constitution of Virginia to be ignomini-
ously picked to pieces and condemned by
Congress-even such Congress as that
which was known in those days, much less
one such as that which now afflicts this
country, and which is almost entirely
devoid of craftsmanship and integrity {?
Suppose Congress in those days had
dared to object to the Constitution Of Vir-
ginia. It would have dissolved the Union
at once.
The authority to do this is usurped by
Congress in order to perfect the tyranny
entered upon for the perpetuation of Radi-
cal authority. The States were intended
to be sovereign over their own internal af-
fairs, and the Federal Government, among
other obligations imposed on it in compen-
sation to the States who conferred upon it
existence and power, was required to pro-
tect any Of the States in case it was at
tempted to overthrow their government or
subvert it in any manner against the au-
thority Of the people through their consti-
tutionally. organized government.
A proposition so plain, no body of men
with spark Of principle or honor would
attempt to violate. Yet, however cogent
the argument might be-however strong
the appeal against their usurpation-the
answer would be probably nothing more
than the cha, hah !" with which, in the
grossnoss and vulgarity of their besotted
power, they have treated every appeal
to their sense Of justice, every indignant
protest against their outrages. Nothing
short of hurting them from power can put
an end to- their violations of Constitution
and Law, and their expressions of the pso-
pie. rs
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