Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-12-30
SENATORIAL INSTRUCTIONS.
Are Members OF the Legislature Bound
Thereby? - The Senator from the
Seventh District Thinks Not.

chattanooga Iinlee, Dec. -.
We publish below communication
expressing views upon this point which
are worthy of attention. The initials
appended thereto will disclose to many
of our readers the identity of our corr
respondent:
CHATTANOOGA, Dec. %, 1S74.-To
the Editor of the Times: The e.ection
of a United States Senator is for the
present the theme Of paramount inter
est in or State politics. As touching
the merits, claims or qualifications of
the several asplrants l have nothing to
say. l wish to offer a few reflections
upon question connected indeed with
this Senatorial canvass, but general,
not personal, in its character. Your
readers have seen that several Of the
counties have instructed their repre-
sentatives, or given popular expression
to their respective preferences, while
some Of the aspirants have canvassed
the State, or portions thereof, address
ing popular assemblies In order to in
huence the action of the Legislature.
In all this there is, l think, deep
danger, which d. es not alarm only be-
cause 1t is latent.
Our National Congress Is composed
Of two branches, the House of Repre-
sentatives and the Senate. The mem
bers Of the former are elected directly
by the people, the number to which
each State is entitled being in proper
ton to its population; while the mem
bers of the Senate are chosen by the
State Legislatures without reference to
population, the smallest State having
as many as the largest. This distinc-
ton is established by the Federal Con-
stitution, and it is significant that it
the very first provision Of that instru-
ment. The reason of the distinction
is to be found In the complex character
of our Government. In one sense "the
United States" consists of all the peO-
pie of the several States and the terri
tories, in their aggregate capacity, but
in another sense 1t consists of separate
States, united for certain purposes ex-
pressed In written Constitution, re-
tanning some of the attributes Of SOW
ereignty and reserving to themselves
"the power not delegated 10 the United
States by the Constitution, nor prohib-
ted By it to the States"
The Senate is the branch Of the Ma
tional Congress which was intended
more particularly to represent the
States as parties to the Federal CON-
pact, each State having an equal repre-
sentation IN that body. For this reason
the selection Of its members was not |
given directly to the people, but was
confded to the Legislatures of the re-
spectiye States. To take it from the |
Legislatures and commit it to the peo-
pie, whether directly or indirectly, is a |
peryersion of the theory upon which |
the trainers of the Constitution formed |
the Government; and all attempts in |
that direction are specially dangerous
at this time, when even those rights |
and reserved powers of the States
which, beforethe war, were nevereal.ed
in question by the EXTREMIST Wings are
now imperllled In the universal tenden
cy towards consolidation.
The distinction referred to consti-
tutes a most salutary check upon the
tyranny Of maiorities. What consid-
Grafton, then, Is due to the suggestion
of a prominent politician in this State
that the Constitution should be so
amended as to refer the election Of
Senators directly to the people? When
this shall be consummated how long
will it be before another doctrine will
be preached, and viii perhaps prevail
that the States shall be represented
In the Senate, as well as in the House,
in proportion to population. Should
we not regard with Jealous distrust all
expedients of politicians which tend TO
assail, even though remotely, this most
vital of all the safeguards and con-
sentative checks contained In the Con-
stitution
The election of Senators is not COM
nitted to the people directly. Should
they assume it, indirectly, by instruct
ing their representatives? Or should
aspirants for this position endeavor by
popular appeals virtually to take the
election from the forum to which it
'ightfully belongs? Irepeat that here
n turks a secret and insidious danger.
Il. S. NJ