Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-08-30
WEDNESDAY. AUGUST 30, 1898.
Tho VIRGINIA Scnatorships.

The virginia ScbdtoiS"iP"'
Upon the death in May last of the
Hon. JOHN s. BARBOUR, Governor NC
KINNEY (as authorized to do by
law appointed Gen. EPPA HUNToN
10 fiji the vacant seat until the two
houses of our General Assembly could
meet and elect Mr.. BABBOUR's successor.
The General Assembly meets on the
first Wednesday in December next, and
will soon thereafter choose senator to
FIJI so much of Mr.. BARBoUB's term as
then remains unexpired. 1t will also
elect senator to serve for six years, be-
ginning ON March 4th, 1S95-the date
when Mr.. BARBoUR's term would have
expired had he lived till then. This
election of a full-term senator takes
place at the coming legislative session
for the reason that the two houses I'M
der the present provision Of our Constr
tuition meet biennally instead OF annual
" as formerly. They will meet Decem-
Der 6. 1893, and after that session has
expired will not have another regular
session until December, 1895; whereas
the full.term senator should take his
seat March 1, 1895.
The term of Senator JOHN W. DANIEL
does not expire until March 4th, 1897.
Many persons otherwise well-informed,
but little familiar with public affairs,
have taken ND the idea that our General
Assembly at its session beginning IN
December will elect successors OF Mr..
Barbour and Major DANIEL both
whereas DANIELS seat is not in question
at all.
For aught that we know to the con-
trary all the gentlemen who are an
nounced as candidates for the Senate
are candidates for the unexpired term
and Tor the new term both, except Gov
ernor MCKINNEY. AS we understand
his position, he is a candidate only for
the new full term of six years, begin
hing March 4th, 1895.
The candidates for these places are all
at work more OF less actively, according
to the various methods they may choose
to adopt to advance their prospects, and
it is plain that the senatorship
question" is going to be a leading fea-
ture of the canvass, inasmuch as each as
pirant will doubtless endeayor by all
honorable means to have sent to the
Senate and House of Delegates gentle
men favorable to his candidacy. Where
nominating conventions are held and
resolutions are passed, expressing the
preference OF the convention for par
ticular candidate, that action will almost
infallibly bind that nominee; but
where, for good reasons. no such ex-
preston of public opinion is made, the
nominee will be left free to exercise his
Judgment and discretion. In some
States, on some occasions, as in IL
linois when Douglas and Lincoln were the
candidates, senatorial seats have been
made @ pronounced issue, and all can
didates for the legislature have been
compelled to express themselves there
on. More recently, in Mississippi, there
was another such canvass.
1t may be that in some counties and
cities in this State this question may be
made an open issue when nominations
are made; in many others it will De
made "quiet ISSUE" In the one case
the candidate will be asked to speak out
as to his preferences; in tho other he will
be quoted as friendly to this, that or the
other man. In rare instances the can
didate will be nominated and elected
without any attempt being made to as
certain his preferences.
The Democratic party OF Virginia are
in no condition to make the senatorial
que stion State issue, though cities and
counties may-and many certainly will
do with it as they please. Each local
ity will know how to deal with the legis-
lative candidate seeking its support; but
it is well to rscollet that the senatorship
question is not the only great question
TO be dealt with by our legislators.
There are judges to be elected as we'll
as senators, and not only judges, but
many other, officers of high rank. We
believe. too, that it is pretty well agreed
on all hands that new Office shall be
created and filled--that OF State Libra
risn, to have charge of the Library when
it is removed from the Capitol to the
home now being erected for it in the
Capitol Square. near where Franklin
street is reached by Twelfth street.
Altogether there is this year psrticu-
lar occasion for each constituency to
send here ITS wisest and best men. We
expect TO see the finest membership in
the General Assembly that has been
seen there in a decade, but we cannot
honestly say that we expect to find the
majority of members coming here IN
committed on the senatorship question.