Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-12

xiseting q. 3. Senators By the People.
It IL a significant fact-a fact over
which Senator Hoar and other senators
will exult-that the North Carolina Demo-
cratic State Convention Of "wednesday
last, by a vote Of 90 TO u.s. declined to
provide for holding primary elections IN
the several counties Of that State to nomi-
nate candidates for United States scna-
tore 70 succeed Messrs. Ransom
and Jarvis. The people OF North
Carolina thus in effect declined to
take tho elections Of United States
senator's out Of the hands OF the
State legislatures. We DO not say that
this result necessarily foreshadows the
defeat Of the proposed amendment to
the Federal Constitution providing for
the election of United States senators
by the people: but though We favor the
amendment. we must admit that that re-
suit will be accepted as Indicating that
the people Of North Carolina at least are
not greatly concerned on the subject.
The process Of amending the Constitu-
ton is q slow one Two thirds OF both
houses Of Congress must vote for any
proposed new article Of amendment, ana
then three fourths Of the legislatures or
the several States must ratify 1t. Or, IL
the Constitution is to be amended by a
convention TO be held to propose amend
ments, these amendments must stu be
ratified by the legislatures OK tnree
fourths of the States. or by conventions
in three fourths thereof, as the one or
the other mode Of ratification may be
proposed by Congress.
II is worthy OF note that no provision
Is made for calling a national constitu-
tional convention TO frame new consul
tuition. This fact is another proof that
the fathers of the republic never intended
the United States TO be a nation" In ths
sense in which that word Is now en-
ployed In speaking Of this country and us
form OF government.
1t is also worthy Of note that In the
article of the Federal Constitution pro-
vlding the manner of proposing and rau-
tying amendments to the Federal Consl-
tuition 1t was stipulated as between the
several States that no amendment which
might be made prior to the year lso'
should affect that clause OF the Constr
tuition which allowed negroes to be I'M
ported into this country here to become
slaves. In other words, the trainers oil
the Constitution themselves provided In
the Federal Constitution for that insti'
tuition of slavery which the northern peo'
pie suddenly found out in 1861 to be In
tolerable.
The smaller States will be slow
to ratlfy any amendment to th'
Constitution which touches or Nigh
result In touching upon their rish
to have each as many United
States senator's as each Of the larger
States. The very paragraph which pro-
vides that no State shall without It's
consent be deprived of It's equal suffrage
In the Senate. is the paragraph which pro-
yides how amendments to the Constitu-
ton shall be made. And what Wouid pe
the consequence II an amendment were
ratified in manner and form as PROVIDED
In the Constitution baslng representation
in the Senate upon population as represen'
tation in the House of Representative,
is based? The institution OF slavery winch
was formally abolished by constitutional
amendment was supposed to be as tho
roughly protected by the Constitution It,
self as was the right Of the several States
to their equal suffrage In the Senate.