Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1857-10-23
rrom ihn Yrrtuia, sen,insl.

Gov. Wise.
Our Democratic contemporaries OF the
State Of Virgins, have been for some
non,hs engaged in discussions more or
less heated. concerning the mex, election
for U. 9. Senator from Virginia. The
term Of the present Senator. Mr.. Hunter.
will expire with the third of March. 1889.
&C which time also the last sesaion Of the
present Congress will terminate. The
next session Of the Virginia legislature
will commence on the 6rst Monday in De-
Sember next. The session. being bienni.
al, another legislature will not assemble
until the frst Of December. 1859. AT this
time, viz Che 6rst Of December, 1889,
ths next Congress will also assemble, and
Gr. Hsater. It he be reelected. or his
successor, ifano.her gentleman be chosen,
Will then and not till then enter upon the
dutiss Of the Senatorial term of six
Jsars.
The discussions to which We have re-
fegrod see1n all to assume that under the
1Keunstshces above detailed, the legis>
tAture which will assemble in Decem-
Der next. will proceed to elect U. S.
Senator; nay some Of our contem-
poreries 60 even 10 the extreme Of
desiring to see the election take place
within Two weeks after the assemblage OF
She legislature. We respectfully suggest
that the question whether or not The cleo
ton should be thus held. is one at least
worthy OF great consideration. We are
decidedly Of the opinion that it would be
premature and injudicious. as well as un-
usual and we offer in support Of our
opinion few reasons:
TIL 1oI;.r ~ U;ru;oio bos al ar haar
to defer filing her representative trust as
long as possible. The members Of a
new Congress are not elected until the
term OF the old Congress has fully expir-
ed. Congress dies with the third OF March
members to the new House Of Repre-
sentalives are not elected until the 4th
Thursday in May-nearly three months
AAter. The trainers Of our laws were not
deferred BY the nominal inter-regnum
which thus intervenes. from pursuing the
policy Of delay. And they were right.
If The old representative throw himself
upon the people for reelection. they
should have his whole course before them
before pronouncing judgment. If new
candidate for the trust appear, he should
not be chosen too long beforehand. Who
knows what he may be when the time Of
his entering on his duty shall arrive ?
Our sister State of Maryland has not even
yet elected her Congressman. though the
term Of her late representatives expired in
March. Georgia has but jus. elected
hers
This policy. as We have said. comes
down as a legacy from our fathers. il
sanctioned by our we'll considered judg-
znent. aud embodied in our laws. Why
should We depart from it in the case Of q
Senator ? Nay. should We not especial
ay apply il TO the SenatorShip, in view Of
the long term of service. and the great
Importance Of the Office The usage oil
our legislature has been in conformity
with the policy Of postponing an election
to the hast day. Elections of Senators
we're formerly always postponed till with
IN q few weeks Of the expiration OF Sena
tofisl terms. The late election Of Sena
tor Mason il an exception to ihe genera
rule, but it was acknowledged to be al
exception, and made SO for q reason
II vas claimed that il would give add
Iional emphasis to Virginia's sanction o
theFugitiye Slave Law, Of which Mr.
Marion was the author and which was .
Ahat time violently assAiled.
Shall an exception for an extraordina
u reason be made . rule for ordi
nary occasions? We have not seen
claimed that any unusual public consider
alton calls for the proposed or rather tb
assumed early election. Why should tn
legislature Of 1857. elect q Senator who's
term Of service will not commence unit
December, 1859? Why not leave tina
duty to the legislature which will com
mence at that time Let tho Legislature
Of 1859 elect Senator in the first days o
its session. and the seat OF Virginia in th'
Senate will be vacant only for day o
two. Will not that be much better thar
to elect him two years beforehand, will
two years 1t service Of the present incum
bent. unGeveloped and unknown? Th.
latter would be showing a confidence il
Mr.. Hunter il re elected, which is incon
aistent with the representative response
bikty which the people should ever exact
II another gentleman be chosen, it would
show the same degree Of confidence il
him. and at the same time render inglo.
rious the remaining portion of Mr.. Hun
ter's term. It does seem to US that il
Gould be in accordance with policy al
wise as it is time honored, to remit the
election to the Legislature which will
meet in Dec, 1859. If the session of the
legislature were annual, no body would
dream of an election now. The sessions
being biennial this question is presented
Shall We elect Senator two years in ad.
vance. on shall the seat be vacant Que OF
two days at the beginning of the term.
when nothing is ever done. and half or a
third Of the senator's is always absent
Itcoes seem to US that there can be NO
dnuht of The correct ansHer