The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1859-08-17
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THE u. s. BENfT'9nSts.E.

( shall do well to adhere to it. We canno
if we choose, elect Senator's to Congress
by a direct vote Of the people, and wha
the Constitution fprbids Us 10 do Direct.
ought not to be done indirectly.
We regard the demanding Of pledges
from candidates for the State Legislature
that they will vote for any previously
named person as United States Senator
as being an Indirect election Of such Sen
ator by the people and as, Therefore, VIC
latiye Of the spiritof the Constitution. I
members are thus compelled to go with
Atied hands to the Legislature and carry
outsuch pledges imposed upon them by
eirconstituents, their voting for Sena
tors becomes an empty Formally, differ
ling widelyfrom that free and deliberate
choice which the Constitution prescribes
A pledge demanded of candidates fol
the Legislature hat they will vote for nc
one as u. S. Senator unless he resides il
y certain section of Che State seems to be
equally departure from the spirit Of the
Constitution and from the design of those
who made it. It was intended that Sen
ators from the several States, should each
represent the State as q whole in that
branch of the Federal Government in
which the equality Of the States is more
distinctly recognised than in any other
Senators ave properly the representatives
Of the governments of the States from
which they are sent and while they are
amenable to the popular will their first
responsibility is TO the Legislatures
which give them authority. The two
Senator'S from any State cannot divide
their responsibility nor refer to geogFaph-
ical sections Of the State for an approval
of their conduct. One who would SO to
the United States Senate with the dispo-
sition to favor ore section Of the State to
the neglect Of other sections would be IN
-ftfor the office Both Senators of q State
are representatives of the whole State,
the guardians of its Constitutional rights,
the promoters of its welfare, the uphold
ers of its honor and the conseryators OF
its sovereignty. While, in the other
branch Of Congress, representatives are
sent from subdivisions Of the State and
are directly responsible to their immedi-
ate constituents whose rights aud inter
ests they are chosen to project and pro
mote, the Senators, who are agents for.
alIits sections and Congressional Districts
alike, cannot cireamscribe tllth, response
bilities to the State within sectional boun-
daries.
Hence we have no feasQn to care
whether the Senators Of louisiana both
reside in tic Southwestern corner Of Cal
casien or the Northeastern corner Of Gar
roll !. whether their homes are separated
by a single plantation or by the length or
breadth Of tie entire State, We neednotl
demand one 7 IS. Senator for North Lou
isana and oneifor South Louisiana, BUT
two Senator'S for all Louisiana who shall
be Senators for East, West North and
South, and for all sections alike.
But in any case it is for the members 81
the Legislature to choose Senator's and
we do not approve Of making their pre-
ferences al element Of the canvass inI
which they are elected We donot wish
to witness 2 spectacle Ike that presented
last year ii Illinois where the choice Of a
Senator was the sole issue and whereval
scat ifl#that high, honorable Legislative
body was made the sole SUBJECTED parti-l
ian debate, to the exclusion ofall local
questions.
As Democrats we have Alright to exs
pect that,opr candidates for the Legisla-
.pre will, when elected, carry out Demo
ratio principles, and that, when coming
% choose Z. S, Senator they will take
such measures as will secure the election
faDemocrat. TODD this they must unite
lpon O nominee, and. this union can only(
Sc effected by onroldand well established
,ustom Of settling upon the candidate in
preliminary or caucus meeting. Wei.
therefore, think that every Democrat
,lected to the Legislature is under a tacit
,ledge to cooperate with the majority Of
Democrats I'M order to secure the election
# Democrat as Senator A member Of
he Legislature elected by JUS as q Demo-
rat and elected for the purpose Of carry
ng out Democratic doctrine would be ull-
worthy of our votes and our confidence iflI3
&c should refuse to cooperate with the