The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-01


by the lights of experience and the admitted
exCencies of the present and OF the future.
II was said by an eminent Nlrglnian, now no
more, that our fOreiahels made consttu-
lion and lett il 90 posterliy to interpret lis
meaning: q truth abundantly demonstrated 10y
those differences of constitutional consiruc-
tiOn which eliminated with attempted seccs-
sion on the one hand aud successful coercion
on the other.
TTVI-rs or FAITH.
The organization. or rather organizations.
10 which have alluded. have ann ounced rs
cardinal tenets Of their faith, amendments Of
the Federal Constitution providing for the
elections of President and Nice-rrosident and
of Senators in Congress 10y direct vote of the
ucople lfmadetOcOnfOuntOth the original spirit
and intent of the Constitution, the hlstl0fthese
amendments has come down 10 us endorsed DY
some of the ablest and most distinguished
men of the country, and under the authority
~ their names may be claimed 20 be eminent
ly wise and proper. At the session of 1925
of the Senate of the United States "a commit
tee Of that body. of which Thomas n. Benton
was chairman and Nathaniel Macon, Martin
Van Buren,. Hugh l.. White, William Fendiay,
Mahlon DickerSou. John Holmes Robert Y.
Iayne and Richard NJ Johnson were men,
lers. unanimously reported an amendment
of the Constitution giving the election
Of the President and Nic.-presidout directly TO
the people of the States. divided INTO districts,
fIfn il~iflft giving one Abits lilt lNlllf'i "a
districts in q State 10 be equal 10 IFS number
of Senators and Representatives. This amend
ment asserted the principle of concurrent ma
iorties overthrow the general ticket system
and restored the original spirit and intent of
the Constitution. n1bly illustrated IN the
early history of the Republic by the fact that
Virginia gave two votes % John Adams and
Massachusetts, one or more TO Thomas Jeter
IN.
ELECTION or SENATOR'S.
The amendment proposed in regard TO the
election Of Senators IN DO wise conflicts with
the inhibition. that no state shall; without rs
consent DE deprived of equal suffrage IN the
Senate. but only gives 10 the people OF state
tho night to choose the representatives, of
their sovereignty instead of cOniidng It 10
their delegates in the Legislatures. The fact
that the action OF several of the Legislatures
has awakencdsuspcion and called outmmad-
version.
Takiug color from the circumstance that
millionaire after millionaire has been the re-
cirient az Senatorial honors seems 20 warrant
and justify the demand Of the farmers.
OTHER AMENDMENTS SUGGESTED.
Heartily approving these amendments. I
propose 70 add. for the careful consideration
Of tue Farmers Alliance Of Virginia. other
amendments. some of which would have been
unnecessary, had not rash innOvators marred
the beauty Of the system as II came from the
hands OF the trainers.
TheGrst amendment I would indicate would
be that OF representation IN the lower branch
of Congress and the apporuonment Of votes N
the Presidential election should be based upon
suffrage, and that suffrage and all elections
and the returns thereof should be under the
exclusive jurisdiction and control Of the
St0tes. 1t would be wise to insert IN this
amendment q provl-O that the election Tor
President aud for Representatives should be
held on the same daY ia all the states. TINS
amendment or something similar Is the only
means by which secuouallsm can be COM
pletely overihrOwn, and the States Of the
South permitted TO solve IN their own way
the race problem, unwisoly and unjustly thrust
upon them 10y arbitrary power
The history Of the country. divided into
two great political parties, has demonstrated
especially IN the later years OF the Republic,
that no greater menace turks IN our system
than the immense and increasing patronage Of
the Presidential office. II was said 10y Daniel
Webster. that OF all inventions dangerous 90
liberty. of all inventions calculated % subNert
free institutions and popular forms of
governments, Of oil inventions calculated
T. apply baudage 10 the ewes
OF men, an Inscriptions, heated and
undistinguishug sp.nt OF party Is the
most eftcctual" Ii is the patronage Of tle
Presidential Office which inienslhes party
spirit and party conflict, creates the mad
ness Of the many for the gain of the few
r0bs the people OF their legitimate power and
conuol. prostitutes the representative princi-
pie and makes the representatives of the
States and Of the people not the expo
ncnts Of the popular VIII, but the
slaves of party dictatlon. eX-
pressed by unconstitutional and irresponsible
caucuseS. II would he no difficult task for
the delegates of the States assembled IN sol
cmn convention 10 devise an amendment ~
ile supreme law which. while dcprivng the
executive of q dangerous and misuscd perOSn-
NNrflII 4f the f~f4Dl<n fine
civil service Of the country upon safe, COM
potent and non partisan basis
b An amendment prescribing q single term
fl the Chief Magistrate, and providing that
D. senator or Representative during The term
2 which he has been chosen shall be elgibl"
in the Presidency. or 10 any other Office uuder
Ae Government. would make the Congress
really and i'm truth delibcratlve body. Pub
lr questions would be decided upon their
merits. and their influence upon the mospenty
ot the country and the right of uncontrolled
liberty of thought and discussion on every
subject recognized and established "a the rule
az representation, and thus am ndwould he
put tO those miserable party exhibitions now
sl common III both branches OF Congress,
which disgrace the national councils and de
grade the national character.
That corruption. rank and foul invadc- the
eanctity Of the ballot-box, and brings il To
pas, that money u not the controlling. r. no
least AN influential factor in all elections,
National. state or municipal Il "a iact Wm'h
no truthful man can deny. and winch 10
patriot ought 10 palliate or cOndone.
National, state and county committees are
tho receiving and disbursing agents Of a cor
ruption mnd and doubtful States, districts or
counties are the inviting fields Of their most
potent and assiduous labors. An amendment
Of the Federal Constitution EMBEDDED IN that
instrument by the action OF the States, MAX
Ing bribery IN elections or any talnpcring
with the rights of the voters or the sanctity
of the ballOt-bOx felony a. foul rs treason,
accompanied by mutual compact and cove
nant among themselves, rcservlng the night
and acknowledging the obligation 10 main
tain and force this bulwark of State rights
and movement of popular sovereignty. by the
action If their own Legislature, should eradi-
cate now and forever this cancer Of the body
polite. which stimulated by the cataplasns
Of demagOgues and self-seekers. Is slOwly but
surely destroying tine vitality Of free govern
ment
provision Of the Constitution expanded IN
the opinion Of mauy eminent constitutional
lawyers By judicial construction beyond lis
legitimate meaning has caused numerous con
fiicts between State and National authority,
and brought State after State TO the iooist0ol
Of the Federal Judiciary. Ii is remarkable
TACT that this most important ana lar
reaching provision attracted III the gen |
eTal convention or IN the ratliying |