WEBSTER of the origin of this government, and of the foundation on which it stands. I hold it to be a popular government, erected by the peopl-e; those who administer it responsible to the people ; and itself capable of being amended and modi- fied, just as the people may choose it should be. It is as popular, just as truly emanating from* the people, as the State governments. It is created for one purpose; the State governments for another. It has its own powers; they have theirs. There is no more authority with them to arrest the operation of a law of Congress, than with Congress to arrest the operation of their laws. We are here to administer a Constitution emanating immediately from the people, and trusted by them to our administration. It is not the creature of the State governments. It is of no moment to the argument, that certain acts of the State Legislatures are necessary to fill our seats in this body. That is not one of their origi- nal State powers, a part of the sovereignty of the State. It is a duty* which the people, by the Constitution itself, have imposed on the State Legislatures, and which they might have left to be performed elsewhere, if they had seen fit. So they have left the choice of president with electors; but all this does not affect the proposition that this whole government, presi- dent. Senate, and House of Representatives, is a popular government. It leaves it still all its popular character. The governor of a State 59
