Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-07-26
Electinr united States Senators. &c.

We entirely concur in the opinion OF
General FRI LEE, published in the last
issue OF the DISPATCH, that while United
States senators may IN the near future be
chosen by the people. the most important
part of the proposed amendment 10 the
Constitution is the one which draws from
Congress the power to make or alter the
times. places, and manner" of electing
Senators and Representatives, thereby
confding the whole duty to the States eI-
clusively-that Is, excluding or forbidding
all action by Congress. Nevertheless, the
fact remains as we stated 1t, that the Com
mittee on the Election of President. Vice
President. and Representatives in Con-
yress recently reported for adoption by
Congress joint resolution IN which the
.wo subjects of the election of United
states senators by the people and the
regulation of the elections Of members of
he national House of Representatives
were so conioined that the one measure
could not be passed through Congress
nor be ratified by three fourths of the
State legislatures unless the other was also
in like manner passed upon by Congress
and the State legislatures. Now. we con-
tend that to submit such JOINT resolution
rs that TO the several State legislatures is
TO take an unnecessary risk of having
both the measures proposed IN it defeated.
II the question Of providing for the cleo
ton Of United States senators by the peo-
pie be submitted by itself II will, II is pro-
bable, be approved by the necessary
number Of States and become part of
the Federal Constitution. The people
seem to be ripe for action on this subject.
They have had occasion to ponder il.
having seen so many United States sena-
tors elected because of their wealth and
so many aspirants to that high place de-
feated of election because Of their com
psrative poverty. We here in Virginia
have had no millionaire United States
senators. And we might ask how we
could secure such senators as we now have
If we had to choose them from among
Virginia's millionsires.
But when it comes TO depriving Con-
gress of the power TO make and alter State
regulations concerning the election of
members of the national House of Repre-
sentatives. the Republican United States
Senate could not be relied upon to pass a
joint resolution proposing an amendment
having that for ITS object. Nor could our
Republican President be expected to APP
prove 1t, nor the necessary number OF the
State legislatures be counted upon to
ratify ii. In word. it would be a mistake
on the part of the Democrats in Congress
20 allow the Republicans in that body TO
hoodwink them IN the manner to which
we have referred. Is IL possible that the
same men who so strenuously advocated
the force bill could be depended upon to
pass such a Joint resolution as we
have described? Would the infamous
JOHNNY DAVENPORT. the author of the force
bill. counsel his subservient followers to
surrender to the several States the I'M
mense powers which no has found in the
Constitution? We do not for one mo-
ment believe that such JOINT resolution
as we are discussing would be passed by
the Senate, or approved by the President,
or ratified by three fourths of the State
legislatures. At any rate, it is not ne
cessary for the Democrats in Congress to
take any risk in the matter. Let there be
two Joint resolutions passed-one pro-
posing an amendment providing for the
election of United States senators by the
people, and the other proposing an amend
ment taking from Congress the
power to make and alter State
regulations concerning the election of
members of the national House
of Representatives. 1t will not change
the proposed amendments in any manner.
but merely leave each Of them 10 stand
upon its own merits. If the Republicans
in Congress are willing to pass both joint
resolutions. neither party will be harmed;
whilst if they are laughing In their sleeves
at the Democrats in that body, well-know-
ing that both amendments will be de-
feated it proposed and voted upon as one,
their purpose will be exposed.
We can think of no good reason why
two amendments so totally different III
their nature and their objects should be
submitted to the State Legislatures to-
gether.