The union Democrat., 1871-12-30

Last week, the Sacramento Uaion in an
article prompted by Senator Summers pro-
position to amend the Constitution, SO as to
prevent the reelection of s President of the
United States. took occasion to refer to the
rapid growth of Al aristocracy of wealth in
the country, and implying the danger to be
unprecedented from it, in connection with
Senate that has ''lost CASTE and sunk be-
low the level of the lower House Of Congress,
as follows:
IF there were any constitutional garantee
against third or fourth term. the danger
would be less to be feared. But there is not.
We have nothing against it but the force of
Washington's example in declaring second
reelection. For nearly eighty years that has
been accepted and oheyed as the law Of all
parties and rule Of the Government: and if
at any time prior 10 the late rebellion Pres
idens should have offered himself for third
term, the presumption would have inevitably
worked his defeat. Not even jackson was
strong enough TO have succeeded had his am
hilton or party discipline moved him to it.
Since 1862, by means too varied TO enumer-
ate here. there has grown up in this republic
an aristocracy of wealth, backed by political
influences, and deriving its chief powers from
corrupt legislation and from the corruption of
parties. which wise men begin TO regard as
the enemy of the people--an enemy that fall
tiers at nothing-whose motto is audaeitv.
and whose tactics do not scruple at the def
ance of written constitutions, to say nothing
of those unwritten traditions of the Govern
ment which are almost as sacred. Besides
| this Incorporated aristocracy there has grown
up, since the war, under the impulse given it
| bv the enormous necessary revenues and ex-
| pend;tures of the Government. an official ar
istocracy, hardly any more in sympathy with
the people and the original spirit of our To-
situations than soulless corporations, With
whom they are in an alliance Of interest ac-
cording TO the measure Of their corruptious.
AS long as this was cheap government,
with annual expenditures below those of a
third-rate European Power. and never in
time of peace much exceeding $50, 200, 900 q
year, there was not much danger to be ap-
pretended from this official aristocracy, nor
| from the power which appoints and controls
it. As long rs the Senate stood above suspi-
cion the Presidency could not be regarded as
an Office dangerous to liberty. But since the
war has raised the necessary revenues and
expenditures to from $3.50, 5000 to $780,
| 10000 year, and in proportion multiplied
Offices, official influence and the opportunities
| for plumber and for corruption; since the
Senate itself has measurably lost caste, many
of its members being suspected of having
itching palms and natural affection for ap-
plicants for subordinate positions of like
character, the country is growing distrustful
of the constitutional power both of the Sena-
! torial and the Presidential office. We believe
it to be the existing sentiment Of the vast ma
iority of the people of the United States that
the Senators should not be elected as they are
by the Legislatures, but by the popular vote,
which is less easily influenced by corruption
and official patronage than the Legislatures.
Nothing in the latest Senatorial election in
this State suggests these remarks: but we
may say. without much aid from the imagina-
ton, that Of the present Senate elected by
Legislatures probably one-half the members
are unfit for the position they occupy, by rea-
son of mental incapacity or moral obliquity
and that o number of them obtained their
places by means which the laws of well reg
ulated republic should punish as felony.
These are hard words, but they must be said
sooner or later, and the sooner tho appalling
truth is understood the better for the country.
1t is not in the history or character of the
Union to denounce such creatures as the Tam
many ring" robbers, and at the same time
conceal from scrutiny by apology or silence
the faults of Senator'S who have grown from
extreme poverty to great wealth in five or six
years upon a salary hardly enough to main
tain their families respectfully. If the peo-.
pie themselves could make choice of their
Senators we might at least hope the Senate
would be lifted up to level with the House
of Representatives in trustworthiness, intel
lect and public confdence-a position it has
not occupied for some years.