Kanawha Valley star. [volume] (Charleston, Va. [W. Va.]) 1856-1861, 1858-11-02

turned to dis constituents WIN "a
appeal for tlieir snppdrt, nothing was
more natural than that he should e.
tempt 4 justification Of HE course.
Nav. if III sthe excitement Of can
xass III which qnaTteE vas neither
asked nor given, lie WIS betrayed IN.
is d reflection upon his ad YersArles,
surely tie ihdiscretion i not with
out apology. On the other hand At
WIS 4 poihtiof honor with the I'd 20
Gates ef Tie Lecempton Constitution
ID repel his attacks and 10 protest
against the error Of his doctrine ~
Tie adherents Of the Administrator
too. were clearly unsuitable ID defend
ing Tie Executive policy and the
only matter Of debate IN, whether they
have not carried the WPr upon ]D 2
LAS to an extreme which il equally
Incompatible with sound principle
and inimical to the Interests q th le
party. TX
III respect of the latter point of !the
inquiry, we presume there are mol
two opinions among tiie Democracy.
The result 81, the recent elections il
tile North attests the folly Of the teud
between Judge DoUGLA s and the Ad.
ministration. The uncertainty of the
issue III New Y ork and Illinois war
rants and apprehension that the nm.
fortunate controversy is Estiil pfeg-
naIlt with disaster to The Demo cracy.
The apologists ofthe Administration,
however. may contend that Mi, IDoUG-
Las shall bear an eqnal proportion q
blame for the continuance of the
schism. ~.
1t Is possible that MI, BHcHANAE
had the appreciation Of the party uI
to this point ID his controversy with
Judge DouGLAs. But, when he fe.
solved to employed the immense ma
chiDery Of the Executive patronage
to crush q solitary individual, he ven
tnred upon an experiment which
could not fail to shock the, scusibili-
ties Of the public and to excite the
popular sympathies in behalf Of his
adversary. in contemplating the tn
equality Of the contest, tile merits ot
the canse were forgotten; and tlle
generous impulse of the people were
propitiated BY tile heroic exertion y
a gallant spirit struggling againal
overwhelming odds.
But this may be thought mere
matter Of expcdiency, which affectl
only the interests Of the AdlninistraI
ton. In another and more imporI
tant aspect the indiscrction Of tht
President WILDE admitted TO involve
ii dangerous nsurpation IA the rights
Eof the State.
The election of Senatoris the high
est exercises Of State sovereignty il
Iits relation to the Federal Govern
Ement. Il is an exertion of powel
which attests its independence as .
political community !; andif il be co
creed OF corrupted in its action. it:
integrity IS attacked ID its most vita
The function Of Senator j.
pf the highest responsibility. In re
spect to the State he is the fepresen
tative Of its sovereignty, and the es.
Pecial guardian Of its rights and IN
terests. Tn respect TO the Fedora
Government he stands Oh az eqpa
elevation with the Executive. If tbs
President may veto bis legislation
|on the other hand he may veto the
Presidents treaties and appoint
menls. In theory, if not ~ fact, be
III the Impartial adviser Of the Exc.
Gutive ID its relations with foreign ma
lions, and the Jealous opponent Of III
Hncroachments on the prergoatives D
The States. iii contemplation Of Tho
Constitution be is invested with ihs
awful responsibility and file majestic
dignity of.his Roman prototype.
with this conception of the Sena
torial function and character, we may
appreciate the enorlnity of the usurp
tfpn involved ID an attempt Of. sths
Federal Executive 70, dictate the Sc
lection of Senator. III tie effort bt
successful, the State Is impaired ii
tile essential point Of it's seyereigbtl
4 "A n ...1 &c III, a s.41Aaw ~ III