The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-02-18
HAMILTON vs.. LErrrHsoN.

The opinion recently expressed in
Congress that the present Republican
ms i0Iity are determined, 80 far as they
can effect 10. to abolish the JeiferSonian
svtiem Of government and establish the
Hsmiltonian system in its stead, has
been cOrrob0raied by the action, day
or two ago. of Senator Hoar, Of Massa-
chusctts. That gentleman introduced
q resolution ia the Senate to ths effect
that all the Congressional districts in
the various States shall remain as they
arc at present until after the report Of
the census Of 1880 is officially an
nouncsd, thereby plainly showing the
intention Of tho present Republican
Congress to ignore, if possible, the
rights Of the States, and control State
legislation.
The immediate object Of the Massa
chusstts Senator in presenting this res
olutios vas to endesvor to Illustrate the
purpose Of The Legislature Of Ohio to rec
tify ths dissrsceful Republican gerry
nsnder Of that State. by means of which
the Democrats, although lsgitimately en-
titled to fourteen of the twenty-one
members, are dcfrauded Of nine, and
which. it is estimated. makes il require
twice as many Democrats az Republi-
cans to elect a representative. The
Democratic Legislature Of Ohio propose
no longer to submit TO such injustice
but intend to redistrict the State so ~
TO make more equitable division be-
tween the two parties.
The resolution of Mr., Hoar can only
be justified on the theory. which is en-
tirsly untensble and will not stand The
test Of the United States Supreme
Court. that members OF Congress
are Federal officers subject to the con-
troll Of tbs Federal Legislature. There
is nothing in the Constitution to justify
any such assumption. The only right
which the States have delegated to the
Federal Government on that sub.
isct is the right to decide
upon the days when Congres
sionsl elections may be held. I'M
all other particulars, the States have
retained to themselves the direction of
the election Of their Congressional rep
rssentatives, and members chosen by
the States to represent them in Congress
are as completely State officers as are
their Governors. Representatives are
sent to Congress especially 10 guard the
local interests of their States and re.
Fpective districts, and though they
draw their salaries from tho Federal
Treasury, the people Of the States are
taxed to raise the money required to
pay those salaries.
Noone in Congress is better acquainted
with these facts than the Massachusetts,
Senator, and it is not improbable that he
hopes, in case he succeeds in getting Ina
resolution through, that the elections
will be held under it and be ended
before its constitutionality can be
passed on by the Supreme Court. If
such legislation is to prevail, however
it must eventually be fatal to the
Republic, for it will mean the abolition
Of State lines, the abrogation of State
rights, and the final concentration Of
power in the hands Of the President
and Congress. This is the Hamlltonian
or Federal system, and should it be.
come established, the Republic will ex-
ist only in name, and but step further
will be needed for founding OF En-
pire upon its ruins.