The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-08
THE UNITED STATES SENATE.

falsely described as the american House
of Lords" implying that it is a superflu-
Gus and unnecessary part Of our political
system, and political cranks and agricult-
urai anarchists annually make ignorant
demands for its abolition. These dema-
gogues either misapprehend the relations
of the Senate to our government, or de-
liberately ignore the facts. The Senate Of
the United States represents the states in
their corporate capacity as distinguished
from the nation, the great body of the
people, whose powers are expressed in the
House of Representatives
In the convention of 1857 which adopted
the federal constitution, the large states
wanted proportional representation in
both houses of congress, while the small
states contended for territorial" repre-
sentation and state equality in the Senate.
After struggle which lasted more than
month, during which the small states
threatened to confederate and seek pro-
lection from foreign power, what was
known as 1.-The Connecticut proposal" pre-
vailed and the smaller states were
equalized with the larger in the
upper house of congress. When this
constitutional settlement was made
New York, with population of $40, 40,
Joined with the small state party in favor
of territorial Senate, and against vir-
ginia, Pennsylvania and South Carolina.
New York was not then the Empire state,
for the largest state in 1870 was Virginia.
with population of 47,61O, and one
senator to 73,S05 people. The smallest
state was Delaware, with a population of
59096, and one senator to 29.548. In 1891
New York sends one senator to 1880, 967
inhabitants, and Nevada a senator to
22,16S. The total population was in 1870
$685., SS1, exclusive of outlying territories.
This gave one senator to every 1898 in
habitants. Our present population outside
of the territories is 81, III, 500, giving one
senator to every 7O2, o23 inhabitants.
The Senate might be eliminated by an
amendment to the constitution, but that
instrument, which permits changes in
other respects by the concurrence of three
fourths of the states, also provides that no
state without its consent shall be deprived
of its equal suffrage in the Senate. The
United States Senate is thus an indispen-
sable element in the adjustment Of power
between the greater and lesser state. Del
aware. Idaho. Montana, Nevada. North
Dakota ard Wyoming have but single
voice and vote each in the House of
Representatives. but in the Senate they
are not inferior to New York, Pennsyl-
vania. Ohio or Illinois. The situation re-
calls the reply made by a representative in
New England legislature when sneered
at as the member from the town of the
smallest territory and population in the
state. Measured up and down my town
measures as much as any town in the
country" So in the United States Senate,
the smallest measures as much as the
largest and most populous state.
The United States Senate, fortunately
for the country, is placed beyond the reach
Of popular passion, for it rests like the
president, the House of Representatives
upon the foundation of the con-
stitution. There is no similitude
between the United States Senate and the
English House of Lords, whose members
are hereditary peers, created by the Crown,
and representing nothing but precedent
and prerogative. A place In the United
States Senate is naturally sought after by
men of force and ambition, for in this BODY
where all the states have equal representa-
ton, the influence of a state depends pom
the character and ability rather than upon
the number of its representation.
The United States Senate under our
constitution has some peculiar powers.
When the president of the United States
Is tried the chief justice of the supreme
court presides over the Senate, as the vice
president could not be disinterested, al
though he might be impartial. The execu-
tive sessions of the Senate are usually held
with closed doors; all persons are excluded
except senators and the necessary clerks.
who are sworn to secrecy. There is
no other parliamentary body that
habitually holds secret sessions, the
reason being that the Senate is the
only legislative body that possesses
executive functions and shares with the
president the exercise Of executive pow
ers. The executive sessions of the Senate
are a continuation of the deliberations be-
gun by the president and his cabinet, or
by the diplomatic representatives of our
own and other governments, which are
confidential in their nature and IS q mat
ter OF sound public policy are not made
public until the transactions are con-
cluded. When nominations are con.
frmed or rejected ana treaties ratified, the
result is announced, but the votes,
speeches and proceedings in cabinet are
not disclosed. After a sufficient length
OF time the journals of the executive ses-
sion are printed, the publication at this
time coming down TO the year 1859.