Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-09-07
From Moffett's Greek.

THE RAINs-HAILsTORM -STIEMARIAH
STANDARDIZATION OF SEN AToRs BY
THE PEOPLE, sc.
Reported for the Staunton VINDIcAToR.]
MOFFETT' CREEK, Sep 3.-We had a
good rain Oh Friday last which was much
needed for fall pastures, late corn, and put
ting the ground in better order for plow-
ing. The rain was accompanied with some
hail, though not enough in this immediate
vicinity to do any serious damage to the
corn crop, OF gardens. l have been in
formed however, that within two miles of
this place hail stones as large as goose eggs
were picked up. [ have often heard of
these mythical hail stones, bat have never
seen any larger than partridge eggs. /
suppose however, that in some sections
hail of a phenolnenally large size does occa-
sionally fall, rs this fact has been attested
by credible witnesses. but in estimating
the size of the stones without having the
eggs to make the comparison one might
easily exaggerate without intending to do
So.
The members of Shemariah (Preshyte-
r1an) church, whose church edifce was
burned a few months since, contemplate
rebuilding in the near future. Very fiat
tering success has attended the efforts that
have been made to raise the necessary
funds for this purpose. and much credit is
due to those who have taken an active in
terest in the matter. A lawn party in aid
OF this object, was held last week, and l
learn that the sum of 1886 was realized,
after paying all expenses.
The many friends and admirers Of Rev
Balliett, pastor of the German Reformed
church at this place, and st. Johrs, will be
grieyetl to learn that he is at present very
i'll with typhoid fever at his home in Mid
dlebrook, and will unite with lis in cher
ishing the hope that his recovery may he a
speedy one.
Now that tariff excitement has some
what subsidized. and tariff talk been relega-
ted to the past, people are beginning to dis
cuss the proposed amendment to Sec. 3 of
Art. l, OF the Constitution of the U. S., by
which U. S. Senators shall be chosen di-
rectly by the popular vote, and | find that
the sentiment in favor of this change is by
no means a unanimous one. The most
potent argument advanced by those who
advocate the change. viz: that as result
of the established mode OF choosing the Z.
S. Senate, that body is only remotely, and
indirectly responsible to the people. may
| also be used as an argument against a
change The trainers of the Constitution
in establishing the Senate had in view a
desire to place check upon the popular
branch Of the Congress, q brake as it were
on the House of Representatives to prevent
that body from running the government
headlong to destruction; but If the Senate
is made elective directly by the people the
two Houses of Congress will virtually be
merged into one, the check in great
measure removed, and the brake become
imperative. The fear of offending con-
stituents, and thereby losing seat in Con-
gress, will operate as a powerful lever in
controlling the actions of Senators. The
disgraceful scenes that have of late years
been of such frequent occurrence in the
House of Representatives, will be repro
duced in the Senate, and the pen that re-
! cords the proposed radical change. may
also chronicle the demise of senatorial
dignity and courtesy" and write sIcha-
bod'' upon the lintels of our National Sen
ate chamber. l do not wish to lie under
stood as opposing q change when existing
evils may thereby be removed, but in con-
summating a change as radical as the one
proposed, think our motto should be
''festina lente." Some who read this arti-
Gle may dub me an old fogy, opposed to
progress, and not in touch with the adj
vanced ideas of the rising generation.
However my ideas and opinions are simply
those of an individual, to be taken for
what they are worth.