Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1892-02-25
ELECTION OF SENATORS.


Senator Palmer, of Illinois, Addresses the
Senate on His Resolution for Consti-
tutional Amendment Providing for the
Election of United States Senators by
Popular Vote.
WASHINGTON, Feb. Ex-senator Pal
mer, of Illinois. called up his resolution
in the senate submitting a constitution
al amendment providing for the cleo
ton of United States senators by pop
ular vote.
Taking his position in the central aisle, Sena-
tor Palmer in clear resonant tones addressed
the senate on the subject, members of both
sides OF the chamber giving earnest attention to
his remarks.
Mr.. Palmer said in calling the attention of
the senate and the country to the subject of an
alteration of the constitution of the United
States, which shall provide for the election of
senators in congress by a direct vote of the peo-
pie of the several states, that he only obeyed the
instructions given him in the most impressive
manner by the people of the state of Illinois.
The constitutional mode of electing senators
by the legislatures of the states longer
satisfactory to the American people. 1t was not
sufficient answer to the popular dissatisfaction
to say that it is the method provided by the
constitution. Tracing the history of the adop-
ton of the constitution, he pointed out that the
instrument we now so revered was not the frag-
meut prepared by the patriots and statesmen
who composed the convention of which Wash
ington was president, but the complete instru-
ment perfected by ten most important
amendments submitted to the states for
their approval by the first congress that as
sembled under its provisions. He regarded
the provisions in the constitution for
its own amendment by peaceable, orderly meth
DDS, was one of the happiest conceptions of pro-
found craftsmanship. and that it was placed in
the constitution justiies the belief that even
the necessity for new system of government
would not have been sufficient to secure the
ceptance of the constitution by the requisite
number of states if it had not been for the con-
fident expectation entertained by many that it
would thereafter be improved by essential
amendments.
1t is manifest that there prevailed in the con-
vention which framed the constitution the most
profound dstrust of popular elections 1t was
conceded, indeed, that election of one
branch. at least, of the proposed legislature by
the people Immediately was a clear principle o!
free government. Mr.. Gerry whose name is
connected in modern political life with
practice which is invariably denounced
by minorities, conceded that much. He
said lit necessary that the people
should appoint branch of the gov.
eminent, in order to inspire them
with confidence but he wished the ''other to
be so modified as to secure a just preference of
merit" Considerations like these largely in
fiuenced the convention to confide the election
Another of the objects intended to be accom-.
plished by confiding the election of senator's to
state legislatures that of protecting the
commercial and moneyed interests 1t was
gued in the convention that the commercial
and mOneyed interests would be more
cure IN the hands of the state legislatures
than of the people at large. The former have
more sense Of character and will be restrained
by that from injustice And then, to illus
trate their incapacity, it was added, 1.-The peo
-laty,,
against it, In Massachusetts, the county
conventions had declared a wish for de-
preciating paper that would sink itself. None
of the reasons which led the trainers of the
constitution to deprive the people of the direct
control of the executive department and of the
senate now exists.
Specific proof of the incapacity of the legis-
lature to exercise electoral functions and of the
capacity of the people to do so will be found on
examination of the revised and amended
situations Of the older states and of the
states modelled after them If the amendment
to the constitution which he proposed should be
adopted, the members Of the senate of the
United States would be chosen by the direct
vote of the free people of the several states,
and the senate would be, what it never has BEEN
the popular branch Of the congress of the United
States. In conclusion Mr.. Palmer said: 'In
1887 it was believed by many that the
security Of property would be endangered
by the direct participation of the people in the
election or SeuatOrS; now the rights ana the
liberties Of the people are threatened by the
overwhelming and all-pervading influence Of
property.
1t is not necessary that should assail or de-
nounce those who control the enormous ag-
gregates of either fixed or speculative prop
erty: it is enough to point to the
irresistible logic of existing condi-
lions, the property. or, to use more
expressive words, the wealth invested in COM
merce, in manufactures, in the railways the for
ests. the mines and in the myriad forms Of or
ganized activity demands legislation for it's pro-
lection or its benefit, and its political power,
whether employed in the congress of the United
States or in the state legislature, rarely fails of
success. Organized as it is, it is related that
it can direct its influence 10 the attainment Of
any desirable end.
Mr. President, the property to which 1 have
alluded has now nothing to fear from the ag-
gressive action of the people or from their di-
rect influence upon the government. All that
they can gain by the amendment to the
1 have proposed will be en-
larged powers of self defense. Senators here
after to be selected by the people by
their direct votes will be their true
and exact representatives, and will defend their
homes and their property from unequal and ex-
cessive burdens They will dignity the states,
for the people are the states. They will recog
nize their responsibility to the people who elect
them. and they will find their reward in the ap-
prevail of their fellow citizens, whom they have
served.