The Opelousas courier. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1852-1910, 1871-04-15
The Bayonet Elect lon Bill.
"A Scorchins Excori .ation Of a
GsurIsins Congress- A Sneech
tSoa DeAaSered In fhe United
sa'es sennfe.l by G. Chauncy

mot Delivered In The Rru;sa.
States Senate.) by T.. S,bau.c
Burr.
On the subject Of the buyon4t clect;,, 1,n
Ar burr, OF New Jersey, spokeas tojI,ws.
MR.. PREsTDETT:-I will not t,snlt tha ;,+o,li
Eeuce OF this honorable body liy attr,nnt;rr =
point out the unconstitutional and .ttrnn;7
features of this BILL because every Sanatnr
that It ls bill to control State eiectinns h,- t
use III Federal bayonets Twill Eold no Senate
so stupid rs to imagine that the bill has reaII,
| any other purpose. There is hot, even in ,L.
cloud that hangs over this cha atlber ipointinr +,
the negroes i'll the gallery) an intellect So nhtns,
as not to know that the sole pu r. ose Of this bl
Is to 49,
STRIP THE STATES OF FREE ELECTIONS,
and prolong the reign of the n. q ro marty hv III.
power Oh the bayonet. Stript off all disgllises
ma or AL false pretenses, this is the heart Of the
olu. senators know it ; and shall not, there
tore, waste time in trying to enlighten tbei,
Judgment. But there is one cunning excuse fol
tne passage OF this act to which l will yery
nr1eny call attention, and that is the clause in
tne constitution which allows Congress to alter
State regulations for the elections of members
OF Congress. The section reads as follows:-
'sThe times. places, and nj amer of holding
elections Tor Senators and Representative shall
ne prescribed In each State liy the Legislature
thereof: but congress may ut any time by la w
make or alter such regulations, except as to the
place Of choosing Senator'S"
Now, Mr.. President, what does this saw WHY.
only that Congress may 'alter such regula-
tons. What regulations! The regula tions i!
as to ''the times. places and manner Of holdico
elections for Senators and Representatiyes !"
There surely is 70 warrant for such a bill IA
this, now under consideration, which puts the
CONTROL OF Federal BAYoNEts,
and UiyaS fha foH rs
the power to arrest without warrant
On this section Chief Justice Story saws: Gas
tlic ability of the General government to carry
on its own operations depends upon these cleo
'lons being duly had it is p ain that ought not
TO he left to the State govern ment exclusive vev to
decide whether such electiel ls should be had or
cot. Chief Justice Storys idea was, that this
section was simply intended to secure the cleo
ton OF members Of Congress in cases where the
state might, from any cause, fail to order such
elections. And We know that such was the OBJ
tct OF the section, because it was SO stated by
The farmers of the Constitution. This Section
was subject of debate when the question of
he Constitution was before the several States
and many who were in favor of all the rest of the
constitution were, at first, greatly opposed to
his section, on the ground that it might some
lay prove AN excuse for
CORRUPT Or REVOLUTIONARY CONGRESS
o interfere in State elections. This objection
allied for an explanation from the farmers of the
Constitution as 70 the preclse Opjeeg OF this
ion. To this explanation, then, We must go for
correct understanding of the provision. This
; the rule in law for the Interpretation of all
documents, viz: to ascert tain the intention of
heir farmers, Or of those who agreed to be |
'ound by them. So when q doubt arises as to |
he meaning of any particular c!anse in the Con |
we have only to find out the meaning
ttaehed to it by the farmers of the Constitution
nd by the States when they adopted it. To |
atisfy those patriots who were opppsed to this |
al. a,ff torc
hamilton devoted the whole of the ffty-eight |
nd fitty-nnth numbers of the The Federal;st to |
IL explanation OF it's purpprt. Will any Senator
/ this chamber deny that this contemporaneous
uthority settles the quest stion' Hamilton says:
HAMlLToN's OPINION.
Nothing can be more evident than that an |
x usive power of regulating elections tpr the
Government, in the hands of the State
legislatures, would leave the existence ct the
ulon entirely at their mercy. They could. ut
ny moment, annihilate it by neglecting to pro-
lde for the choice of persons to administer it's
fairs"
Here we see where ChiefJus Story OBJ
sined his explanation of this clause of the Con-
tuition he quoted nearly the exact words Of
amilton, without credit. Hamilton's explanar
| only to make sure the election of members
Congress, in cases where the States might fail
do 80. That it gave MO color for the passage
such bill this Federal bayonet election
W, is proved by the following words Of HaRai-
Suppose an article IDS been introduced into
lie Constitution, empow werfng the United States
regulate the elections for the particular States
ould any man have heeitated to condemn it,
9TH as an nnwarrantable transposition Of
'wer, and as a premeditat engine for the de-
ruetion Of the State Governmentr II
There, Senators, is the verdict Of Alexander
amilton upon your bill. That is the voice of
70 of
THE GREATEsr or TIE FATHERS,
Judgment, In advance, upon your
easnres. He an4ieipates your treason, be de-
q tho sss3e sasee .ss
ferring 10 the election clause, Hamilton says [
'sBut it Ii alleged that Is might be employed .
such . manner ~ toIpruznote tho election of .
me favorite class Of mem 10 the EXCLUSION Of
aers. Of all shinaeriesl Sappoaitions this {
sns % me TO bs tho inost chimeeical On the &
0 hand, NO rational e4lcu1aki1n 0f probabilities
mid lend N 10 imagine that the disposition,
lich . conduct 90 extraordinary would imply,
nd ever lind ika way inta tho National Coun-
; and on. ME other. IL may be conolusled with
'tainty .that II 20 improper spirit sheEld ever t
In adnnittanee into them, ii would display it. =
t in q form altogether different, and more
sietges The imProbsei1ity g ths attsnpt may
i, thAt n should nsksr be done vitheakeAnS Y
IN Immediate revolt or the great body 81 the
,ple, headed snd directed 81 State govern-
uts. ThAt 20 fnnaanfantal . priyihge, In Il
g tcountry g situated and enlightened, should
Ipsople, bythe 4hberats policy of The Gov :, =
nnenS, wisheut oocAsi0aing p0pulatsxsyol 4
= n haasegethsr in6 neeivsble and incfssaihJss d
. we zee II was H4miItonis opinion that this
OF ActiOn on thsI part OF Congress Nanld, =.
0ughs ia, cause IAN immediate revolt Of ff&e y
oIs body Of people, headed BY the Stats
eruunents,n II,
hs Il j Igsasrstion 81 Eiss su.a rars men who = =