New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-01-22


REFUSE TO ATTEND.
TO ths EDITOR OF The Tribune.
SIR: The Constitution provides that the
terms OF third OF tho OF tine United states
Senate shall expire every two years In 1866 Congress
pre- orDcd the manner OF choosing United States soma
tors by the passage of the following:
That the Legislature OF each State which shall be
chosen next preceding the expiration OF the tune Tor
winch any Senator elected represent sand State
In Congress, SHALL on the second Tuesday after the
meeting aud organization thereof proceed 10 elect
Senator m Congress- IN the place Of such Senator 80
going ont Of office, In the following manner: Esch
House shall openly by rsa zee foI" OF eacn member
said and the name OF the person voted for who
IN each House shall be entered 90 the journal OF each
House by the CLERK or secretary thereof; but n either
hNds ST that TACT sa be entered on the ioirna
A. ~ o'clock meridian OF the day following that on
which proceedings are required 10 take place as aOre
said the members OF the Two Houses shall convene ia
jon assembly and tho journal Oi each House shall then
DE read aud II the same person shall have received
majority OF all the votes In each House sueh person
shall declared duly elected Senator to represent said
state in the Congress Of the United States but II the
person shall not have received majority OF all
the votes in each House or II either House snail have
failed take proceedings as required ny THIS ACT the
Joint assembly shall then proceed to choose by rca
vote OF each member present person for the pur,
Inc votes tho said joint assembly majority Of all
tho members OF each House being present and voting,
shall DO declared duly elected and In case person
shall receive such minority on the frat day the Joint
assembly stall meet az IL o'clock meridian OF eaeh sue,
n
t4ko ut least vote until Senator shall be elected
This act was passed 10 prevent the revolutionary
action of factions in Legislative Assemblies, and To
defeat organized ring the tricks OF schemeis and the
corruption which had grown up in connection with the
election Of United States Senators In short, the pas
sage OF this law designed 10 secure an honest
election of Senator. The Senate OF the United States
Experience has shown that this lar ID detective
especially fixing early day after the organization
OF a legislature for the election of Senator. THIS
provision gives the sitting member OF tho Senate Or his
party be In majority In the Legislature large advan-
tage over all competitors In 5atos where the caucus
- stem il maintained and the candidate for whom tho
members Of the party required to vote Ia nominated
by secret ballot IN secret caucus by bare majority
Of those who attend the caucus have witnessed
two elections under this law One Of these was In Massa
causetts to MI the place OF Charles Sumner. where
the letter and the spirit OF the Constitution and the
law Of Congress strictly observed and Gov Wash
burn worthy and honorable man was elected. need
not add that If the rule OF the had obtained Mt
that time, Gov. WasEburn could not have been nOm
mated legislative caucus Of his own party, but that
Mr. Dawes would have been nominated aud elected
Tie other election in Ohio three years ago, when
Mr. Sherman was reelected At that election, the spirit
II not the letter. Of the Constitution and the law OF Con
gress and the law OF the ruled
and dictated whom the Legislative Assembly should elect
Senator. A majority OF tho Legislative Assembly OF
OHIO we're at that time honestly opposed to the re
election of Mr. Sherman and he coud not have been
il the Legislative Assembly had voted they
dd In Massachusetts, at the time Gov. Wasbburn
elected.
And yet. with all tho unparalleled want OF
ability found that legislative Assembly. Mr.. sherman
could not have been elected but for the fact that tho
law OF Congress compelled them to ballot for Senator
before tue msmbers-a large majority OF whom were
new and inexperienced mcn-had ftime TO be
come acquainted with and confer with enc another.
In few days in nearly onetbrd OF the States OF the
Union this farce. called election OF United States
Senators, is to be repeated in the party nominating
caucuses Agains: system so corrupt and corruptng
wish to Tue TRIBUNE and all independent journals
pro test.
It is difficult conceive OF grns,er ontrIge on the
representative IDEA in government than hc legislative
caucus system matter how honestly conducted.
Where tins system recOgniz Il and the mandate OF the
caucus obeyc IL will often happen that one rote more
ttan ore fOrt and J.Onaiy less Hdn one JCUh OF
a Legislative Assembly will have power dictate, not
only a MAJORITY but to three fourths OF the body OF
which they members. At least one fourth, n not
numb OF the present members or the Senate
OF the United States have been publicly charged. by re-
pnIhle and Responsible journals with ha'lng secured
theh places BY bribery and large eXpendltures>O OF
money. 81 universally Is this charge credited that
money must DO used TO control legislative caucu-es'
that very few men, except those who have fortunes
which they are willing TO use in this corrupt way. or
those who are the attorneys OF rings
corporations, are to-day candidates for the
United states Senate in more than half the
States In which elections are to be held this Winter
IT system so corrupting and demon Ilizing as tha
legislative permanently 1ngraftet
into our State and National politics, the foundation Is
laid for the utter overthrow OF responsible representa-
hardly be Conceived representative goes to the
State Capitol and claims that party usage demands that
OF the secret ballot corrupt members may take brides
with impunty and betray their constituents. without
caucus has been secured no matter by what means and
the members emerge into the light OF day they report
are required by the necessity FOR party and
party unity TO vote IN the LEGISLATIVE Assembly for he
nominee OF the caucus, although II may be not only
against the wishes OF their constituents but also against
their individual Judgments.
These objections TO secret caucus ana the hecret pal
lot 1t is claimed by some can be obylatcl ny hQ& an
open caucus and nominating the party candidate Tor
memberse elect by the party TO the Legislature. 10 this
answer that any system Is antrepuDilean ana anu
stuted body OF men TO determine either by secret o.
public ballot how representative OF the people shsIl
vote his official capacity in legislative body III
proposition were pendingl any state LegsaLVe Assem-
bly, affecting the interests OF constituency IN the s AZ
State and Legislative party caucus were 10 meet ana
either by n secret yo Ss1 sey a had
it hardly probable that any constituency would he SO
or with the necessity OF blind obedience to
its dctation, as TO tolerate the betrayal Of
their interest by the vote OF their members and yet
ins is often done in the election OF United States
Senator. As rule. no vote which any member OF
Legislative Assembly is apt to give 20 important 10
the people his state, or the nation, the vote which
no to cast for United States Senator. and yet III the
case of local ana unnportant law he would not hesl
tate disregard and disobey all caucus dictaion,
white IN tine more important duty OF eecting U1ed
States he Will consent without protest TO sur
render his judgment and manhood, aud the wishes Of
HIS constituents and obey the decree OF party caucus
even though the candidate nominated has socurcd Las
nom nation by bribery and fraud.
II faithful aud manly representative would not
hesitate disOboy the diciaOn VI party caucus, In
matter OF local Interest why should lo hesitate ia vot
ing for United States Senator Senator OF She
United States holds hisOice for six years. and dur
ing his term have power to make peace or war. and
IA event no holds power for good for evil which
IL Is not TO oyerestnate. The advocates OF the
caucus ystem for the nomination OF candidates TO DO
voted for at popular eeetons-as also by legislative
BODIES, claim that IL Is tue only system by which
party he held Ogether-that however corrupt and
denOrazing the system may be- acceptable plan has