Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-09-28
TnURSDAY...........SEPT. %, 1898.
Spoke Missing in the Wheel.

Spoke Missing in the Wheel
TO deprive State arbitrarily Of her
representation IN the United States Sen
ate Is to prove that the States OF this
Union are not sovereign. and IS "a great
wrong. This wrong now stares The people
in the face day after day. and was
rallied To- the attention OF the Sen
ate this week by Mr.. Dubois.
The States OF Montana. Washing
ton. and Wyoming nrc denied re-
presentation In the United states Sen
,ta on the plea that their several Lcgisa-
cures. having failed to elect United states
,.nators when they had an opportunity
20 30 so. the Governors Of those States
aad no right 10 mn the vacancies. In
Norl. the United States Senate ovcrruled
,re contention OF that profound consu-
,u;ional lawyer. Ben. Ill., that the Con-
tututon provides that the Governor OF a
state may dIl any vacancy that may
happen 20 exist" The phrase IN the
Federal Constitution Is. III vacancies
happcn by resignation or otherwise
during the recess Of tho legislature OF
any Statc."ctc. The United States Sen
ate. yc SAY. has deprived three States Of
,hcir proper ami constitutional representa-
ZION iu that body upon thu ground that
, vacancy which the Legislature omitted
or neglected 10 I'm when IT had an op-
uortuultv "a dp go is not vacancy
,ccurring by death, resignation. or other
also during the recess OF the LEGISLATURE.
II IN. United States Senate had been
unanimously in favor Of the construction
which that body put upon the coustitu-
loual provision in question there would
have been both reason and propricty in
heir action. But to close the mouths
II three states by rcsorting TO construc-
ion which was maintained by a bare ma
lority Of the Senate is an unspeakable
wrong.
10 T. true the construction to which we
object S. the one which has generally.
II not always. prevailed In the Senate,
but IN the discussion of the question
by the able constitutional lawyers who
supported Ben. Hnrs construction
lbuLdant reasons were given for claiming
that it was the intention Of the trainers
of the Constitution that the Senate
should always BE- fun, and therefore that
Ire Senate itself ought not to inflict such
L wrong upon any state as would result
In stilling her voice. and refusing to
count her vote for or against measures
In which the state is as much interested
a. any other State
II the wrong perpetrated upon Mon
tana. Washington. and Wyoming had
been perpetrated upon New York, Penn
sylvania. and massachusetts such a
Clamor would have resulted as would
have opened the doors Of the Senate
20 the wronged States and buried once
for all the contention that the people Of
n State can rightfuly be denied repre-
scntation in the Senate because of the
failure or neglect OF her Legislature to
provide for her representation therein.
Dor the fact is. no doubt. that the Legis-
latures of the States Of Montana.
Washington. and Wyoming failed to
eloCt United States senators at the proper
time because they knew, or supposed
they knew, that the Governors of those
Stass would make temporary appoint
ments Of senators.
Whatever aspect the matter may have
presented heretofore We think It is clear
ly apparent now that the vacancies under
cons Liberation ought TO be filled by the
Governors OF the several States con-
corned
Consider the facts OF the case There
Is now pending In one or the other
branch OF Congress bill to abolish all
DISQUALIFICATION laws. Also. bill TO re-
peal the Sherman silver-law and change
the whole financial policy of the govern
ment Also. many schemes for changing
the entire protection features OF our
tartn. Also. a proposition to raise sixty
millions OF dollars by taxing sugar. And
yet Montana, Washington. and Wyoming
VIII not be allowed either to speak or TO
vote upon these matters. Their people
wiz be thus wronged upon construction
OF the Constitution which more than one
third OF the United States senators coa.
aider wrong construction.