The weekly Placer herald., 1853-11-26
From the Times & Transcript.
The Senatorial Question.

we have given elsewhere, the question of
the election Of United States Senator
by the approaching Legislature, to sue
ceed DR.. Gwin, whose term expires in
March, 1855, has heen made the subject
Of considerable newspaper discussion -
Wit0out being advised that there exists
any well founded reason that such an ef-
fort will he made, either by members Of
the Legis atnre or aSpirants for the office,
we yet feel that the question has assumed
a sufficiently tangible form, 10 ca ! from
us All expression of opinion. In doing
this we wish it distinctly understood that
we are not actuated by any desire to- fru|
trate the aims Of any man who may look
to the attainment Of 40 high POSITION,
but ARE governed sole by considerations
of duty to the Democratic party, us well
as to the State.
The trainers OF our National Constitu-
tion in the distr button of the powers of
the Federal Government, constituted the
Senate the grand conServator Of the re
served rights Of the several States. In
addition to the treaty making and other
90 ordinate powers. the Senate exercises
independent legis s'ative functions equal to
the House of Representatives. Earh
ton to two Senators, places the anna Ter
States upon an equal footing in this branch
of national legislation. Rhode l. and,
for instance, with territory not exceed
ing one of the larger counties of New
York, Yields II political power in the
Senate Of the United States, as ronrroll-
ing as that of the Empire State, backed
by her three millions of inhabitants, and
L 4 ....I
to one-seventh Of the entire representation
Of the Union.
The State Of California, with her two
Senators, possesses through their vote in
the Senate, an Influence potent to the ratio
of one to thirty, while the peop e of Cali
fornln, represented bv their two delegates,
away an Influence in the ratio uf only
too to too hundred and thirty four
Such being the case, the 'elerton of a
United States Senator becomes by far the
most important duty devo we'd by the peo-
pc upon the Legislature. If the election
of de egates to represent the people of
California upon the floor of Congress, he
of sufficient Importance 10 en- ist The feel
ings and arouse the action Of every voter
in the State TO Il spirited and energetic
CANVASS, Of how much more Importance
must the people estimate the election of
United States Senator?-an office of
higher dignity, of far more extended po-
litical Influence, and conSec uenily of much
greater public usefulness.
Again, the term of six years for which
n Senator is eIpcted--the commanding
position which he occupies in the councils
of the nation--the high duties which he
may be called on to perfom not anticipated
at the time of his election, but W hich may
at any time come up and prove to be of
the most vital importance to the interests
of the State which he rrpresentS---aIl com
bine to render such election, at all times
and under ordinary circumstances, one Of
the greatest moment, and demanding of
the people the exercise of the soundest
discretion and the most dispassionate judg
ment In our own State, this is p' cu|iar-.
Iy the case. Since our first organization,
there has been no State, at any time,
which has had, from new and peculiar
causes, so many vast and varied, interests
at stake, National and State, all AT the
same time demanding such prompt and
efficient, liberal and enlightened aid of
national egiSlatOn, as the Stnte of Cali
fornia now requires. The question then
recurs, even admitting the CONSTITUTIONS
right, is il wise, proper or ludiciOu~, that
the next California Legislature shall 90
into a convention and elect Il successor of
Senator Gwin, when another Legislature,
fresh from the people in 1854, will have
been in session over two months before
the occurrence of the regu ar senatorial
vacancy, and ten months before The regu-
lar meeting of the ensuing Congress-
Have not the people under these cirrun-
stances the right TO be con>u ted and the
privilege of expressing their opinion on
so important a subject? Wilthe ensuing
Legislature usurp Il power which belongs
to their successors, when by so doing they
will not only he violating "A fundamental
principle of representative democracy,
but at the same time be offering direct
insult tn the people Of the State? wi
they by 80 doing, raise an issue before
the Democracy at the ensuing eprtion
which must result in divisions, distracted
councils, bitterness of feeling and alpna-
tions of party sympathes? Will they do
this in the face of all usage aud all prece-
dents in the other States, hen there can
not he assigned the slightest argument for
its necessity? We leave it to sensible
men to answer these questions for them
selves.
But have the present Legislature the
power to make the G ecton? to usurp II
privilege that belong. to succeeding