The convention ordains that members of the house
of representatives shall be chosen by electors who have the
qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous
branch of the State legislature, but the State determines these
qualifications, and who do or do not possess them; that the
senators shall be chosen by the State legislatures, and that the
electors of President and Vice-President shall be appointed in
such manner as the respective State legislatures may direct. The
whole question of citizenship, what shall or shall not be the
qualifications of electors, who shall or shall not be freemen, is
reserved to the, States, as coming under the head of personal or
private rights and franchises. In practice, the exact line of
demarcation may not always have been strictly observed either by
the General government or by the State governments; but a
careful study of the constitution cannot fail to show that the
division of powers is the division or distinction between the
public and general relations and interests, rights and duties of
the people, and their private and particular relations and
interests, rights and duties. As these two classes of relations
and interests, rights and duties, though distinguishable, are
really inseparable in nature, it follows that the two governments
are essential to the existence of a complete government, or to
the existence of a real government in its plenitude and
integrity.
Pages:
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251