Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-03-16
For the SPECTATOR.
The Constitution. No. 2.


The pending proposition of the House of
Representatives should arrest the attention of
every citizen of the United States. 1t is an
attack on that venerated system of govern
ment which has challenged the admira-
ton of the world on account of the true
standard of government which it has erected
as home for the brave and land for the
free to which have been tiocking for many
years its admirers and votali les.
The Senate of the United States has been
the great conservative center. The permanent
feature giving stability and eGciting the con-
fidence of foreign nations with which the
American government is necessarily asso-
ciated in the great and wide family of peo-
Piles and language. To them is largely en-
trusted the good name of the American peo-
pie as we'll as the government. The history
of the world long since convinced the origi-
majors and founders of our system that a
body of longer tenure, more venerable for
years and experience, more learned in states
manship, in questions of foreign concern as
well as domestic politics, should be chosen by
the Legislatures of the States on account of
their peculiar attachments and well-grounded
| patriotism, loyalty to the country and the
rights of the people, carrying with them the
confidence and respect of the country, and of
| more stability than the House of Representa-
tives, which is selected with less care, and some
| times, by reason of local questions sectional
jealousies and party services, which some
| times give expression to the rancorous feel
/ -. -,
| ing violence and the overthrow of the organi-
cation of the body itself. Meanwhile, the
Senate, grave, digniied, respectful, orderly,
sets firmly on the basis of our constitution
the palladium of our iberties-like the i'm
movable rocks of Gibralter. breaking the
waves of passion at their feet, come from
what wind, tempest, tornado, or syclone of
popular upheaval it may. 1t was for just such
occasions, the workmen of the constitution
erected the Senate, with conservative powers
to stay the violence, until reasons compar-
ing balance rules the whole" There are
times in the affairs of people, which if taken
at their flood, will lead to anarchy, overthrow
and final ruin. The weak point in popular
governments has been a lack of suitable
checks and balances to preserve the autonomy
of the system. Too many tangents have been
left open. Ours is designed as a symmetrical
whole, with the indispensable balance-wheel
to secure to the machinery steady notion
The amendment proposes to take away this
feature and subject the Senate to the same ex-
cesses which have destroyed the fondest hopes
of man.
In the fifty-first Congress, it was proposed to
pass an election bill in subversion of the pre-
cedents of the country, if not in direct viola
ton of the constitution, by which the Federal
elections should be supervised and reported
by Federal officers in disregard of the laws of
the States and the returns of their officials
The tendency, discussion and passage of this
dreaded usurpation bill through the popular
branch-the House of Representatives
cited alarm and indignation, especially in the
Southern States The whole country was
aroused by the measure. Sectional rancor
and hatred urging its passage, the conserva-
tive feeling deprecating so radical and danger
GUS a measure. The country, especially the
South who knew full we'll its direful effects
upon their peace, happiness and safety,
looked with eager eyes to the Senate to see
whether it would fulfill the great design of its
founders, or whether it also would fall prey
to party rancor and sectional party clamor,
stirred by spiteful Misrepresentation of de-
feated ambitious politicians; but to the de-
light of the conservative people of the land,
and especially of the South, the conscript
fathers of the Senate, "Noblest Romans of
them all" stood manfully in the breach and
repealed the onslaught which was attempted
on the usages of the land and the laws of the
States The people breathed freely again
under the hope that the rights of minorities
and of the States would again be safe The
Senate was lauded and loved, because it had
saved the people of the States from the perils
of innovation and humiliation, But now,
and so soon, the Committee on Elections
come, SIN the course of one revolving moon
piddler, statesmen and buffoons,'' forgetful of
the terrible recent past, Report blow at the
Senate. God save the Commonwealth from
such craftsmanship.
ANXIOUS.