The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1892-02-26
eLEcrIoM or SENATOR'S.

&4oofor Palmer. of ulIlnota. A04feo114 ne
senate On nis Resolution for Conset-
tutsennl Am~ndnent Providing Tor the
Eisrstoa % Cslted ssstss ssnstsrs ~
fepslnr Vote.
WASHINGTON. Feb. Ex-senator Pal
mer. Of Illinois called up his resolution
In the senate submitting constitutions
al amendment providing for the cleo
tion Of United States senators BY pop
ular vote
Taking his position in the central aisle. S<na-
tor Palmer IN clear resonant tones addressed
the senate on the subject. members % both
sides o. the chamber giving earnest attention 70
his remarks.
M Palmer. said in calling the attention u
the senate and the country 70 the subject n an
alteration Of the constitution Of the Cnisei
States which shall provide for the election ~
senators in cunxress by direct vote Of the peo-
pje Of the several states that he oniy ohrysi the
instructions given him In the most impressive
manner by the people Of ths state 81 Illinois
The constitutional mode Of elrctinx senator's
10y the legislatures OF the states no longer
satisfactory % tn. American people. Il was MO
= sufficient answer 20 the popular Dissatisfaction
60 say that II i tbs method provided by the
constitution. Tracing the history II the adop-
tion Of the constitution he pointed out that the
instrument we nov - reverei was not the FRAT
meut prepared by the patriots and statesman
who composed the convention Of which WASH
ington was president but the complete inSfrn'
ment as perfected by ten most important
amendments submitted TO the states Tor
their approval by the first congress that a.
scmblcd under ~ provisions He Regarded
the provisions In the constitution Tor
its own amendment by peaceable. orderly meth
DDS. was one o. the happiest conceptions 81 pro-
found craftsmanship. and that Il was placed IN
the constitution justihe- the BELIEF that even
the necessity for q new system Il governments
would not have been sum Gent to ~ecure the &C
cepiance OF the constitution by The requisite
number OF stltes If II had not bcen for the con
fident expectation entertained by many that u
would thereafter be improved by essential
amendments
I; Is manifest that there prevailed in the con-
venti0n which framed the constitution the most
profound dis'ruSt Of popular elections II was
conceded. indeed that an election u one
branch. nj least. Of the proposed legislature by
the people Immediately was a clear principle of
free government. Mr.. Gerry. whose name il
connected in modern political life VITA q
practice which j. invariably denounced
by minorities. conceded that much. He
said III was necessary that the people
should appoint one branch o. the gov
eminent IN order q inspire them
with confidence but be wished tho other 20
lie 20 modified AZ 10 secure just preference 81
merit Considerations like the~e largely in
f,uenced the convention To confide The election
OF senator's to tine legislatures ~ the states
Another q the objects intended 70 b. accom-
plishei By confidine the election ~ senator's %
state legislatures was that ~ projecting the
commercial and moncye1 inter- SIS Il Wa ar
-nsd in the convention that the commercial
and moneyed interests would f~s more se-
cure IN the hands 81 the state legislatures
than Of the people al large The former have
more sense Of character and vii fe restrained
~ that from injustice " And then a. Illus
trate their incapacify. il was added, ''fne Feo-
ple are for raner money when the legislatures
Are against it, In Massachusetts, the county
conventions had declared wish for de-
pr,eciating paper that would sink itself None
OF the reasons which ls-i the trainers ~ the
constitution 10 deprive the people ~ the dirrcf
control ~ the * cutive department AID of the
senate now exists.
specific proof Of the incapacisy u the ielri--
latufe to exercise ectorl functions. and 81 the
capacity - the people 70 DO % viii b. found on
examination III the revised and amended con
stitufions of the older states ami ~ the new
states mcdeied after them. II the amendment
20 the constitution which ne proposed should l,e
adopted. thu members * tbs senate Of the
United states would D.. chosen by the direct
vote ~ the free people 81 the several states
the popular bra 1ch ~ the congress ~ the United
states In conriu.io1 Nr. Palmer sud In
Isss II was believed ~ many that the
security Of property vouli he endangered
hy the direct participation u the people In the
election Of senator's now tbs rights and the
liberties Of the people are threatened by the
overwhelming AMI all reryading influence u
property.
II Il not necessary that should assail or de-
rounce those who control the enormous ag-
l,regates II either fixed Or speculative prop
erty. IL Is enough y point 70 the
Irresistible logic Of existing con.i-
tons the property. or. to use more
expressive words. the wealth invested in com
merce Ia manufactured in the railways, the for
ests. the MINIS and IN ths myriad forms 81 or
eanized activity demands legislation for it, pro-
lection or its benefit. and it, political power.
whether employed in fhe congress Of the Unit a
States or in the state Legislature. rarely fails u
success Organized a. Il Is. II is - relat u that
IL can direct its influence 10 the attainment Of
any desirable end.
Mr. President. the property 70 which ! have
alluded has now nothing % fear from the az
xressive acton Of the people or from their d.
rect influences upon the government All that
they can gain by tn amendment 70 ths
constitution I have proposed will be en-
larxed powers Of self defense Senator's here
after to BE- selected by the people BY
their direct votes viii b their true
and exact representatives. and will defend their
homes and their property from unequal and e.
cessive burdens They viii dignity the etates
| for the people are the states They viii r~cog'
nize their responsibility % the people Who elect
| them. and they viii nni their reward N the ap-
| prevail Of their fellow cisissns. whom they han