, 1876-12-18
SHALL COSGKESS COUNT THE
tNTE7

10 The Editor nj The Tribune.
WEBSTER GROVE, Mo-, Dec. 1i.-That people
may see how men change position when prlncl-
pies do not, 1t would bo well II some writer
would prepare an nrtie1o for popular perusal
giving history Of tho State Rights resolutions
Of lids, showing the part performed by 1honas
Jefferson In securing t1leif adoption by The Leg
,s!atl1res Of Virginia and Kentucky, the clEcum-
stances connected with his election to the Fresi-
dctcy, md his subsequent action. Us President,
In relation to tho principles involved in thoso
resolutions. THIS would ntGord striking
illustration at tho fact that public men
changc position In regard tn the leading
questions Of their day, but that the underlying
principles Of those questions do not cllangc.
1y tracing such changes, those who desire to
follow correct principles can always sec their
way clear through soplIfs.ry, nn'f bcwildcrlag
arguments, ana statements Of ru1.tesAtng pas-
ttsans. Jefferson passed fron, thu adroratc Of
the Sovereignty Of tits State TO tho defender Of
thy soycreignty OF tic natseu. Sotwltlstand-
ing this the two .opposin's; principles Worried IL
the minds Of men until # required an appeal to
arms to defeat the ono and assert the other by
Lccis,on from which there Is 10 nppcal,-thc cts.
forced will of tho pcnptc. That result made
this people sovereign natt0h.
We now eotne to tho question OF the trls's-
mission Of the Executive power Of tho nation.
| Many have expressed surprise that tie Const!-
LHtIQN lEhl1lCFS UlA uQL ncLlC 6o IH1lottAHt u
question beyond, tho contingency of q doubt.
| 10 my mind It Is no more strange that they
! should leave Thu. question Us they huyc, than
] that there should hara bceu a difference ot
| State soverelgnty,-ln fact, the two 9ues..
| tio,ls lare but one solution. The will of
the people, lawfully expressed, ts tho sovcr-
elgn power of tho nnt!9n, Congress ~
! The representative and exponent Of that
! power. Through this body, thu Executive
otlicrrs OF the Government are responsible to
the peoplo for their nets. Il has leen decided,
alane is soycregn, anil tint through their Con;
grcss the pcoulc hare the right to inspect and
reylrw tho acts Of statc. OF the people Of
state when tosS aets reate r. ts rg,s anu
the appointment OF United States officers.
This prlnclplc Is broaler than the seal uf any
| Stale. 10 it every fair-nlintlcd man tan give
lis hearty asscnt. Taking this fixed principle
clear. Those who assert tlsat Congress cannot
70 behind ths broal seal IT q State
TO ascertain whether the votes certified
genuine certificates legally obtained, only reas.
scrt Stato soyereignty. Those who assert that
Congress- hns the power to Inspect the vote VI
each State to this flrthercst details OF the clrc-
tiur, s.and firmly on tho principle tl,at tho M,
tioiaal Congress Is sovereign. who + bold
enough to sny that this question Of " Who shall
te our next President" " having hccn submitted
to sucs, a test, anA ths result sMHoansed, N.Y. thsy
will upt abide by tho dec!tnht Who.Meyer Con-
greas announces President will 10 Ftesiuuni,
ind With this announcement tho difficulty Viii
! end.
Tint the people should stanl h7 their Con.
grcBs anl maintain Its sovereign power there
cAn hc no reasonable doubt. EyoEy attompt tu
piacc tto inspection and counting Of tho Elect
nral vote elsewhere will provo as abortlyc o.
tho representative of the sovereign power Of tlo
people. Its power rauuot be delegated to sa'
other body, for tho reason that 1t sasnnot tfans.
fes the .Jofce under It's coutrot. Tho Ffts!tlgnt
strtlctions from Congress. The surEemc Court
cannot decide political question:, ior tas fcat
sou that 1t cannot enforce lta decisions asainse
q Congress. Congress - thy onIy oody I tnas
cau decide such questions aud Ut tue sashe ti1ae
Lit tbs ,aeu upon tho stage shift position as
thoy will, Truth md Justice stand o.o, ntnoyeu, !,
guarding the, shrine Of American noe,ty, a.y,aI aG
fcalty, Testing this question by their nleaa
ute, none can fall 10 see that any attempt t9
have shu Electoral vote inspected ad COUNTESS
iu iofnt session. II M attempt t., pass the trans-
mission Of power from the hanls Of tho 1asny
to tho hands Of The few, IL step from repts
sentative goveEnsneat.-a step so'"4rds a aic1a
10 enforce this solution at tha aueetton, a
: men should speak freely ind ut once; TO cauh'
the!r representatives to know that III their opin
ion, he who ulide5stands the la's meaning an' "
telIlgcnce. l1o who larcs to use them with
frco will, has courage, than which mona create
can be fouud. liz who uses his intelligence an'
for tho saoa Of w WIKI krEvse.s Dsspo \
IN EARLY TIMES.
' Record tnesta e:5f oftas sys ys!a;: 4e0'"''d e's
In 17so John Langdon, President OF the 8er
~. l,4cir, al m CAfttHc&lE& t1