The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-03-29

Discussing the Lodge bill, which has been
introduced in the House, providing for the
regulation Of Congressionallelections by the
Federal Government, Judge Crisp, Of Geer-
gia. recently said
Neither the Constitution Of the United
states nor any law Of Congress conitrs the
right OF suffrage Whoever under Tue Not-
Stitutlon and laws of any state rs entitled to
vote Tor q REPRESENTATIVE 10 the most numef-
Gus branch of the state Legislature is nnaei
The Constitution OF the United states entlllci
60 vote for representative IN congress ! i ie
state prescribcs the qualifications 81 electors
and the Federal Constitution conieis upon
them the right 81 sending representatives io
Congress For more than century eacn
state has regulated FOR itself the places ana
manner Of elections of members OF Congress.
This plan has been entirely satisfactory. !
am not aware of any complaint anywhere
That the election laws OF the various states
are in any sense unieir or unjust
The truth Of these statements OF Mr.
Criep must at once strike the most careless
thinker. The theory upon which the Lodge
bill Is founded. and upon which Congress
proposes 10 control the election of Represen-
tati,es, is that members Of Congress are
Federal officers BY what course ofreason-
ing they arrive at any such conclusion, It Is
hard 10 understand; certainly there is moth
ing justiiying it 20 De found in the United
States Constitution. That instrument
clearly and Enthusiastically recognizes
representatives 70 the Federal Legis-
lature as state officers, and nothing more.
Whenever vacancies occur in the
representation from any state it is not
Congress, but the executive authority o. the
state, which is authorized TO issue writs OF
election to I'M such vacancies And further,
inregard TO the election of congressman, the
Constitution says: "Ihe times. places and
manner OF holding elections for senators
and Representatives shall be prescribed IN
each State by the Legislature thereof; but
the Congress may al any time, by law
make or alter such regulations, except as
90 the place Of choosing senator's" This,
a. plainly as il can be expressed by the
English language, decidedly places the cleo
tion Of Representatives in the hands Of
the States. and the people Of
the different states only delegated 20
Congress power 20 alter the regulations pre-
scribed by the States when, for any reason,
and TO avoid trouble. such change might be
deemed absolutely necessary. There is
nothing, however, in even that clause, which
hints at permitting Congress TO attempt 70
control the will Of the people Of the States
IN making choice Of their representatives
by the means OF armed Federal soldicry.
The bare idea Of such bold usurpation Of
authority would have filed the trainers Of
the constitution with CONSERVATION.
The recognition Of members Of Congress
as merely State officers by the Fathers Of the
Republic, Is therefore, apparent; but fur
ther than this, the very spirit Of the iorma-
ton OF ,he Congress itself proves the fact
beyond reasonable dispute. The obiec,
Of electing representatives OF the States.
within the states, and by the people Of the 4
different States, was to enable each State % 1
have some one al The Federal Congress TO
look after, guard aud protect lis local in
tercsts. Not only this, but when Congress
sIOnal Districts were formed IN the States,
II was done with The purpose Of enabling
each State 70 have a representative Ia the
Congress 10 guard not only il local inter
sis a. whole, but 10 specially guard such