Mr. STOCKTON. I wish to ask how the Senator draws a distinction between the “ legislature ” alluded to in the clause of the constitution which says, “The Senate of the U.S shall be composed of 2 Senators from each State, chosen by the Legislature thereof, ” and the “Legislature” alluded to in the next clause, which says, “The times, places, and manner of holdin elections for Sens&Reps shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof.” It has already been decided by practice and custom that the word " Legislature” in the 1st clause means the joint meeting, or else Senators so chosen are not chosen by the Legislature. They are to be chosen by the Legislature, and accordin to this argument they are not chosen by the legislature in any State where they are c osen in joint meeting. I know it was ver much doubted for a long time, and I thin Chancellor Kents opinion was rather against it, but it has by custom become fixed that the word “ Legislature” in that clause is sufficiently complied with by a joint meeting electing. Near y every Senator on this floor holds his seat by that construction. Now, I say, if it is a Legislature for the purpose of choosing, it is a Legislature for preseriing. One other word. Has the Senator observed that. there is no law required by the Constitution itself? The word used is “regulation:" “The times, places, and manner of holding elections for Sens&Reps shall be prescribed in eachState by the Legislature thereof: but, the Congressmay at. any time by law make or alter ] nuchrezulations." It is, not a law, it is a rule of the body and the body, it has been decided, is the oint meeting; and it is the “regulation, ” the rule of that body, that the Constitution of the U.S. requires. Now, although it may have been wrong to settle originall that the joint meeting was the Legislature, t int being fixed, I insist, if it is a Legislature for the purpose of electing, it is a Legislature also for the purpose of making rules and regulations prescrib in how the Senator shall be elected.