, 1874-12-02

careful attention.
:--.e.sz.s.-r-........-**.-.-.-. -z.-..-**.-.-.-.
ENCE-ouALIFICATr0H FOR LEGIg-
LATDR8.
4 recent plGu for Constitution of tho
French Republic included proposition rc-
stricting eligibility to tho Assembly to those
persons actually residing within tho district
in which tho vote III taken. II tho nuthor OF
this constitutional project hatl carefully coa-
percd the rostlta Of tho English nn1 Alneri-
can sy.tcnas, which nre precisely the reverse
ono Of the o.llcr, ho would not have reco,rl-
1ncnilcd so llurtful = restriction. Under tho
English law, citizen n1ay DO olocted to Par
Lament from my borough within tho King
dom without rcgeul to hin residence. For
instance, llo nlny live III London and bo re-
turned from Manchester. Tho scmo cantli-
dates, when beaten in ono district, aro frc-
qucntly tnkon up md elected by some other
constituency. Tho most obvious advantage
Of this System il Tint statesman Of great
service to tho nation may not be lost to tho
nation by some temporary unpopuaarity lie
may hive earned i'll the 1ocnlity wllcro llo
lives because Of Ills grenter devotion to tho
general good. This same principle ought TO
bo extended i'll America to Congress, to the
State Legislatures, and to tho City Councils.
Contrary to tho general belief, thoro is notll-
ing in tho Constitution nor the laws Of Tie
United States requiring TINT Congressional
candidate shall reside in tho district from
which he is chosen. It Is only necessary that
lo shall 10 n resident Of the State from which
ho is returned. Sec. g, Art. l, Of tho Con-
stitution of tho United States says: "No
person shell bo o Representative who shall not
have attnincd to the ago OF 25 years, and boen
soycu yenrs citizen Of tho United States,
and who al.all not, when elected, bo m in
llabitant Of tllat Stato in which he shall be
chosen" Congress las decided TINT no State
hns tho right to add any qualification Or dis
qualification for members Of Congress to tlloso
provided III tho Constitution. As M illustra-
ton Of thin, wo 1,lny mention TINT tho former
Constitution Of Illinois provided TINT no Sill
pre1no Judge should bo eligible to any Office
under tho Stnte or tic United States during
his tmnl Of office or within ono year
thereafter Julgo Tru1nbrlI who Ind been
OIL tho Supreme Bench Of this State, was
elected to the United Stntes Senate before tile
prescribed limit had expirul; but it WIS held
that the Stntc Of Illinois could not determine
any qualifications for United Statos Senator
not prescribed by tllo Constitution of the
United States, ns.l Tru,nbl.ll was seatcd. So
with regard to tho qualification; it
is only necessary TINT Congressman shall
reside within tho State from which he isollos-
Gil, md not within -auy particular Congress
Fo,t
stances where members Of Congress have
been chosen by districts within which tl.oy
did not reside. When Mr.. farwou was first
elected to Congress-, tho district lo repro
sontel compiisoa only Cook Comfy; and ]lo
resided in Tlnke Forest, Lalzo County. Gen.
Butler Inns been elected twice or three
tmea from tho Essex DISTRICT whom
not living within its limits; Mt tho death
Of james Brooks, Of Nav York, Mr.. s. S.
Cox was elected to till the vacancy, though
A1r. Cox did not reside within tho district.
But these cases ore exceptional. Tho caucus
system hns established a custom, having tho
]racticnl force Of law, which requires every
Congressional candidate to rosido within the
district in which ho runs. It would be Il ma
tionnl-blessing if the Constitution should bo
30 amended tint any particular constituency
should have tho privilege OF SOLICITING Con-
gressional candidate from any part Of the
United States. III this way wo might always
avail ourselves Of tho very best material Tor
craftsmanship. IF tllore woro dozen mon
in Chicago who would soryc tho nation hotter
than dozen mon picked out from MS many
districts throughout tho Northwest tho
people should hayo tho privilege of cleeting
them to Congress. No mnn Of pronounced
ability and tried integrity could then bo dis
barred from, Congress- becauao ho mny hGyo
offended tho "bosscs" aud tho "bun,,nors"
which mako up tho CAUCUS in tho district
whore Ao happens to live. hut with tho
poor prospect Of securing such MI amend
ment until tho political ab,,aes become worso
than ll,ey nro now, VIC should at least avail
ourselves Of tho privilege tho Constitution
allows us, mud aeluct our Congressman from
any part Of tho State without reference to tho
locality in Which they reside.
Tho application of this absurd residence.
qualification to stato aud Municipal Logis!a.
turea is productive Of moro vicious res,1lts
than it is with roforonco to Congress-. Take
it III the State Of Illinois. Our Constitution
rcuuiros that q momber Of tho State Logisla~
turo shall have resided in tho district from
which ho is ohoson for two yoara next precod-
ing tho time Of lis election. Tho geograph.
ionl boundaries Of these districts aro purely
arbitrary, unless, inaood, they 10 mapped