Alexander Hamilton, a former Delegate, from New York, to the Constitutional Convention, using the penname “Publius,” publishes “Federalist #59,” arguing that Congress must control federal elections, lest the States dissolve the Union by refusing to elect Senators.  In paragraphs and four, five and six he writes,

       … EVERY GOVERNMENT OUGHT TO CONTAIN IN ITSELF THE MEANS OF ITS OWN PRESERVATION. … 

       … Nothing can be more evident, than that an exclusive power of regulating elections for the national government, in the hands of the State legislatures, would leave the existence of the Union entirely at their mercy.  They could at any moment annihilate it, by neglecting to provide for the choice of persons to administer its affairs. …

       … [T]he danger … might flow from an exclusive power in the State legislatures to regulate the federal elections.  It may be alleged, that by declining the appointment of Senators, they might at any time give a fatal blow to the Union; and from this it may be inferred, that as its existence would be thus rendered dependent upon them in so essential a point, there can be no objection to intrusting [sic] them with it in the particular case under consideration.  The interest of each State, it may be added, to maintain its representation in the national councils, would be a complete security against an abuse of the trust. [emphasis in the original]

       [restored 12/7/2024]