Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-07-14
Election of Senators by the Peopl,

Election OF Senators by the People.
The resolution which Mr.. TucKER. OF
Virginia, advocated in his speech of Tues
day last in the House of Representatives
was Joint resolution which had been re-
ported by himself some time previously,
proposing 80 to amend the Federal Consti-
tuition as to provide that United States
senators shall be elected by the people of
the several States instead of by the logis-
latures Mr. TUCKER reported this Joint
resolution from the Committee on the
Election of President and Vlce-President
and Representatives in Congress. 1t comes
before the House of Representatives well
endorsed.
The Federal Constitution now provides
- follows:
composed OF two senators from each State,
chosen by the legislatures thereof for six years,
end each senator shall hare one vote"
The joint resolution reported by Mr..
TucKkR from the committee above named
proposes to change that clause so that 1t
Will read as follows
Tho Senate Of the United States ehall be
composed OF two senators from each State,
elected 10y the people thereof for six years; and
each senator shall have one vote"
To this new clause IL il proposed to add
b clause providing that the qualifications
of voters for United States senators
shall be the same as those for members
Of the national House of Representatives..
But the most important change proposed
In Mr.. TUcKFH's joint resolution Is as fol-
lows: Instead of the provision that regula-
tions concerning the times, places. and
manner of holding elections for United
States senators may at any time be
made or altered by Congress. the proposed
amendment reads as follows;
"The times places, and manner OF holding
elections for senators shall b. as prescribed IN
each State by the Legislature thereof"
II the proposed amendment fails OF rati-
fcation the failure will be due. we think.
70 the addition of this last provision to a
resolution whose object was simply to take
the election OF United States sonatorsfrom
the legislatures of the several States and
entrust il To the people Mind, we like
this proposed change ourselves, but we
doubt whether IL would be acceptable to
the people of the North. There is fine
field for the display of demagogisIn in ITS
broad proposition 10 deprive Congress of
ell power whatever over the times. places,
and manner OF electing United States SEN
ators. The United States S'diiscs al Large
contain the law now IN force touching
the times. places. and manner OF electIng
United States senators. This law is COM
prehcnsive. II tells the members of the
several State legislatures how they shall
Ill vacancies Of every sort IN the United
States Senate, when they shall I'LL them,
and that IN filling them they shall vote
rira tOcs Ii also contains various
other provisions wh;ch cannot but
have tendency 10 dwarf the State legis-
lstures In the eyes of the members thereof.
OF course II will be objected that the
State legislatures may become refractory
and refuse or fail to elect any United States
senators. This rs q contingency SO remote
that we do not consider u worth much
consideration. but We are apprehonsive
that the northern people will see q trace Of
"rebellion" 10 IT. Anyhow. we renew our
suggestion OF last week. that the one
amendment proposed by MIR. TucxyR's CON-
mittee be divided into two. and let each
stand upon It's own merits twill require
but short time longer to ratify two
sinepdments than to rstify one. Besides.
the objections 10 the two are BY no means
the same. A State legislature might con.
sistsntly rssify an amendment TO provide
for electing United States senators by the
popular vote. and yet refuse 10 ratify an
amendment depnvins Congress OF all
power over tho times. places. and manner
Of eIecting them.