The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-06-18

state who are qualified by state constitutions
and state laws to uote fer members of the
legislature. If there be none of these, there
can be none for members of the federal
house, and it logically follows that the exis.
tence of state legislature is vital to the ex-
istence of that branch of the federal govern
ment, for in their absence you have no cri-
terion, no qualification under the constitu-
ton itself. Do we presume to exercise that
power here? Do we assert that we can grasp
that power and regulate by a federal statute
the qualification of voters? If we do, we
make consolidated government out of
democratic republic. The members of the
senate of the United States are chosen by the
legislatures of the states Article /, section
8, provides:
The senate of the United States shall be
composed of two senators from each state,
chosen By the legislature thereof.
If there is no legislature there are no
senators. If there are no state electors
qualified bv state constitutions or state laws
there are no state Legislatures. Thus it all
depends finally on state qualifications of cleo
tors, Thus we have both the federal house
of representatives and the federal senate de-
pendent upon the qualifications of electors
by the states; qualifications created by state
constitutions and state laws. The states
themselves in their constitutions fix the
qualifications of voters. They are thus an
element, an indispensable element, in the
constitution and perpetuity of the federal
government
Thus we find the electors of the state fill
the house of representatives, and the states
through their legislatures fill the senate of
the United States, all power proceeding orig
inally from the electors of the states, quali'
fled by state constitutions and state laws.
These form the very basis of the organza-
ton of this body and of the federal house of
representatives. Without them the govern
ment of the United States utterly and "bso-
lutely falls. Under the constitution of the
United States we must return for ultimate
power to the qualification of electors in the
states, with qualifications regulated and
controlled by the states, or else these bodies
cease to exist.
The constitution, in article ., section l,
clause 2, provides:
Each state shall appoint in such manner as
the legislature thereof may direct number
Of electors equal to the whole number of
senators and representatives to which the
state may be entitled in the Congress.
These electors choose the President aud
Vice President of the United States 1t
there be no state legislatures there can be
no presidential electors. The electors of the
state legislatures are created and qualified
by and under state constitutions and state
laws. The voters or electors in the states
are the same men who choose the members
of the state legislatures, and if you have no
state legislatures, then inevitably the power
to create electors of the President of the
United States must fail. Thus you have the
senate and the house and the executive
ing down for want of the state governments.
But this is not all. The judiciary depart
ment of this government stands upon the eX-
istence of the executive and the senate. II
the senate fail through the want of voters
to create members of the state Legislatures,
and if the executive authority fails for the
want of the power to create and qualify vu-
ters, then we have neither executive nor sem
ate to create judges of the United States.
Thus we have every branch of the federal
government, house, senate, the executive
and judiciary depai tments, standing upon
the state governments, and all resting final
ly upon the people of the states, qualified
as voters and state constitutions and state
laws. We now see that the state gov
ernments are vital to the existence Of ey-
cry branch of the federal government, and
that the voters of the states are essential tC
the vitality of every branch of the federal
with by federal power. The supreme court
of the United States has expressly decided
that suffrage under state control, and so fal
as 1t can be settled it is judicially sett ed.
The clear teaching of every part of oul
system forbids us to interfere or seek to med
die with the power of the state upon thi
most vital of all ber.rights, as we see that
the people of the states, qualified by the ta'o
of the states, are the voters of the fedora
government, we cannot and dare not ente r
tain the thought suggested by those who SUI
fer in Rhode Island. Their remedy lies il
another field.
There is, therefore, nothing in these pro
visions of the constitution and laws o
Rhode Island which, in the opinion of you
committee, are in conflict with the constitu
tiOn of the United States for the regulation
of its rule of suffrage is subject for eac
state to determine for itself; but your com
mittee do not deem it waste of time I
point out the great discrepancy that exist
t among the several states as to the exercis
of suffrage by foreign born citizens, nor I
call attention to the fact that Rhode ISLAM
is the only state in the Union in which ms
q tives and foreign born citizens stand upo
t different grounds as to the state qualities
: tons for tie right of suffrage.
The laws of the United States require r.
. qure residence of five years within tt
u country before a foreigner can be natural
: zed. This makes him citizen of the Tn
: ted States; bit he may be voter for men
bers of Congress, or for electors for Pres
Z dent, or for the members of a State legis
II ture who elect a United States senator, aft
e he had resided six months in the country
he lives in Kansas, Nebraska. Colorado,
e Georgia, or within twelve months residen
d in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Indian
d Minnesota, Missouri, Oregon, Texas al
l. Wisconsin.
4 A naturalized foreigner can vote
California after residence of six month
/ Connecticut, after residence of one year
re he be able to read any article of the cons
le tuition or any section of the statutes of /
0? state; Delaware, after one years residenI