Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1894-01-22
PINE BLUFF, ARK, JAN. y, 1891.
TIE ELECTION OF SENIORS.

THE ELECTION OF SENATOR'S.
The Hot Springs Ne,es has come
ably and forcibly to the aid OF the
GRAPHIC in combating the modern
fallaey of electing y. S. Senators by
popular vote, advocated by some
over Jealous politicians anxious 10
take up any new fad which IS ealcu-
lated to serve as a means to promote
their ambitions to get into a profit
able and remunerative office.
We gladly welcome the Noes on the
side of the Constitution of the
United States. But few people can
measure the full meaning or con-
sequences of this modern heresy,
which, if successful, is calculated 10
overthrow the entire structure Of
our Government. That such a fallacy
could find much following betokens
an ignorance of the very nature and
structure of one of the branches of
the Federal Congress, or the
reasons which actuated our patri-
otto forefathers in the adoption of
our present Constitution. If there
is one provision of the Constitutional
Convention of 1887 which shows the
foresight and wisdom of the founders
of our existing Government, it is
that provision of the Constitution
which delegates the power to elect
Senators of the United States to the
Legislatures of the respective States.
II there is one feature of that CON
yention more distinguished for its
wisdom and patriotism than any
other, it is that feature which forces
the recognition of the sovereign
power of TIE States composing this
Federal Union in the fundamental
law of the land. Under that Con
.5titution every State, whether large
or small, stands the equal and peer
of every other State. While New
York may have thirty-four members
of the lower house of Congress and
Delaware only one, yet in the Sen
ate each stands the equal in power
and greatness OF the other It was
this wise provision which prevents
the greater states from dominating
the lesser in all affairs of govern
ment, and assures US that the
smaller will not be done an act OF
injustice by the larger. As Jeffer-
son declared that 'all men are born
free and equal, SO the Constitution
guarantees us that each State is
sovereign in its capacity and that
all states are equal in placing their
veto upon the acts of the most
numerous branch of tie Federal
Congress.
The Nees very appropriately and
with force recites what was said oil
that provision of the Constitution
by a number of the members of the
Constitutional Convention of 1887
which comes as words OF wisdom
and warning from the tomb of ages
in this hour when demagogy has
taken the place of craftsmanship
The Ncies recites from history as
follows:
In the Virginia convention Of 17sS
James Madison said: When Wt
come to the Senate. its members ARK
elected by the States in theil
equal and political capacity. Had
the Government been completely con
solidated, the Senate would have
been chosen by the people in theil
individual capacity in the same
manner as the members OF the Other
house
In the convention of New York
June l7Ss. Alexander Hamilton said
The ancient democracies, in Which
the people themselves deliherated
never possessed one ieauter OF good
government. Their very character
was tyranny, their figure deformity
1t becomes matter OF contingency
whether the people subjected them
selves tn one tyrant, or many.
The branches OF government arc
rendered distinct: the legislative
branch is divided into separate houses
and the operations Teach controlled
by various checks and balances. an6
above all by the vigilance and weight
OF the state governments.
Iriah Tracy said in the United
States Senate, in 1902, the House d
representatives is established upon