Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-02-10
THE ELECTIONS TO THE SENATE.

The results of the Senatorial Elections have
shown the fact that If Politics has its prizes it
also has its surprises. and further that the peo-
pie take a very real interest in the contests for
the elevated positions referred to. The public
realizes the Importance of having the Senator
ships filed by the best men in the Republic, and
the elections of the last few weeks have been
watched with an interest only second to that
shown in Presidential contests This has not
been confined to the States Immediately con-
cerned, bnt has been felt in remote sections.
The Michigan Election was almost much dis
cussed here as at home, while the Pennsylvania
contest was felt along the whole Atlantic coast.
The choice of Senator to succeed Mr. Sumner
was probably the central point of interest, and
attracted degree OF attention falling only short
Of that attaching to a general election. The rea-
son Of this interest is not difficult to understand.
The Senators although accredited from particular
States, and having the concerns of those States
especially under their protection, are yet re-
garded in another sense as delegates of the
whole people. They are held in, at once,
wider and closer way than the
Representative whose main duty is to attend to
his "Deestrict." The Representative has often
opportunities of proving himself statesman,
but he could make a satisfactory official without
in the least indulging that ambitious proclivity-
by simply attending faithfully to those duties
for the fulfllment of which he is sent to Con-
gress. The position of the Senator to his State
is, on the contrary more general. 1t involves
principles well as details, and the relation
ship of the States-which the Representative is
little called on to consider-renders the office
national in its character. The term of office
gives it further dignity. 1t frequently happens
that a Senator is reelected such reelection
following, perhaps, oftener than not. when he is
the proper for the place. Not seldom is a
third term reached,-making eighteen years
holding OF a post Of peculiar privilege and pow-
or. The senator has in his own province al
most as much authority as the President, with
none of the executive responsibility. This ex-
plains the assertion sometimes made by politi-
clans, that they would rather 20 to the Senate
than to the White House. The senator has A
very .good chance of holding office. Twelve
years, and prospect of eighteen, while the
President-by the unwritten law at least, which
seems to be l-powerul-cannot hold over
eight years. The prizes Of particular notice
which have fallen during .he present season
have been those IN Massachusetts,, Michigan,
Wisconsin and Tennessee. The election of
Dawes to Mr.. Summers place was an event, and
other events were the defeat of Chandler and
Carpenter and the election of Vice President
Johnson to the body he once so bitterly defed.
There was something highly exciting aud enter
tanning to all persons who watch the movement
of public affairs i'll these occurrances. The pro-
longed contest in Rhode Island, ending in the
election of Gen. Burnside, was also most inter
esting. The positions are worth struggling for,
and the hope lis that the fortunate incumbents
may prove worthy of the high trusts to which
they have been called.