The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1869-04-23

power to fix the qualifications OF cleo
tors within her own broad borders,
pray tell me what power she does pos
sess
The fundamental principle of our
Government is, that governments s'de-
rive Just powers from the consent of the
governed" J" or in other words, that all
governmental authority is inherent o.
riginally in the people themselves. In
framing their governments they dele
egate certain powers to those govern
ments and give them certain gener-
al or limited Jurisdiction over certain
governmental questions. The powers
of the government are limited by the
instrument by which those powers
have been delegated. Hence neither
the State or Federal Government are
absolute over all questions. The pow
ers of each have been delegated by the
people-the sovereign source Of all POI
litical power and in the written Con-
stitutions is expressly declared what
powers are delegated, while the omnip-
otent voice of the people, like the voice
of the people. like the voice Of the Al
mighty addressed to the sea, has said,
"Thus far mayest thou go and no far
ther; and here shall thy proud waves
be staid."
We, Mr.. Speaker, the immediate
representatives of the people of Penn
sylvania, have no power over this sub
ject. Our own State constitution de-
fines the qualifications of voters in this
Commonwealth, and this Legislature
has no power, either directly or indi-
reetIy, to change its provisions on the
subject so as to be binding upon our
own people, much less have we tn G
power to bind the people of other
States by any unauthorized action of
ours. Toamend our State Constitution
requires that two osuccessiveL legislatures
propose the amendment, and then that
A majority of the qualified voters of
the State ratify the amendment at the
next general election. We have taken
an oath to support that Constitution,
and yet majority of this House, with
that oath still fresh upon their lips, are
ready to violate it, by voting to allow
an unauthorized power to strike from
it the most important provision it con-
tains. This question of suffrage is a
question which even the States as
States in their governmental capacity
have no jurisdiction over. 1t is fixed
and regulated by the Constitutions OF
the several States, and no power save
the power that made them the pe0-
ple-can alter, change or amend. Why,
Dir. Speaker, this act of usurpation on
the part of the General Government
and the State Legislatures, to fix the
qualifications of voters in the several
States, is assuming authority over sub
ieets that even the crowned heads OF
Europe fear to exercise. 1t Is but a
short time since hequestion Of extend
ing the elective franchise to persons
not before exercising l. i9 England was
agitated there, and the Queen, fearing
to exercise power over her subjects
that radicalism is assuming to-day in
this Government, prorogeud PaFlia-
ment and sent the question to the peo-
pie for their decision. Should thepeo-
pie of the several States of this Gov
ernment have less power in chang
ing fundamental principle of the or
ganie law than the subjects of England?
Should Congress and the State Legisla-
lures of the American Republic as
sumo authority that the monarchies Of
Europe fear to assert? And yet it is
being done, done now, aud party
claiming to be republican in principle
is the party committing this outrage
and usurpation-
But, Mr.. Speaker, power is always
aggressive and grasping, and its hist0-
ry in our government is not aH excep-
ton to the general rule. We have
been making, for the past ten years,
rapid strides towards Capitalization,
and every step in that direction has
removed US so mnch farther rom the
republican freedom of our ancestors,
and SO much nearer to the despotism
of European monarchies. The iiber-
ties of the masses of the people are be-
coming less secure just as they allow
the grasping power of the Federal Gov
ernment to wrest from them and lodge
within itself, powers that have hereto
fore been exercised only by them
How long at the rate We are now pro-
gres5ing towards centralized despot-
ism, will it be until the same power
that now seeks to mutiiate our State
Constitution, will blot it out entirely
How long, sir, until the authority
that now seeks to say who shall vote
within our Commonwealth, will say
also who snail fill the gubernatorial
chair, if we are left one? How long
sir, until our State Government is blot
ted out, and the people who are now
sovereign will be subjects? | venture
the prediction, Mr.. Speaker, that
neither you or / will go down to the
grave with age before these things
come to pass, unless check is put to
these usurpations of powers not delega-
ted to the General Government!
This so called amendment" has
been proposed by Congress. 1t may be
ratified by the requisite number Of
States, and it may then be enforced
upon the several States, by he power
of the General Government. What
then Is it legally valid as an amend
ment? No. Is it sanctioned by tht
nen1,le2 Have they given their con