Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-02-26
Representation in the Senate.

The tact that the new States Of small
population which were lately admitted
into the Union are represented in the
United States Senate by what are called
silver senators has called forth from
many d mOnJmctalIst protest against
admitting into the Union any more States
having each but a small population. The
New England and Middle States are so
much afraid Of bimctallism that they
stand an the time in apprehension OF
fearful imaginary dangers which VIII
never come upon them. Yet let us say. by
the way. these New England and Middle
States Vii show next year that they have
the courage Of their convictions. and ike
the representatives from the same States
in the Chicago convention of 1872, Will
control The Democratic National Conyen-
ton O. 1850. However. this point is not
now under consideration.
The fathers Of the republic regarded
equal representation in the United states
senate as 50 important "a matter that
they made special provision In the Fede-
raj Constitution Tor having the small
0tAlio NlbLItu with IONti " ltAtllL
themselves against any cncroachments
upon their rights which the larger States
might De tempted TO make. The trainers
Of that Constitution as 1t stood when II
was submitted 10 the several States Tor
ratification HAD provided specifically Tor
the preservation Of that feature of the in
strumcnt which gives To the smallest
state in the Union the same strength IN
the United states Senate as that possess
Cd 10y the largest State. Article V. pro-
Vides as follows:
NO State without its consent shall be
deprived OF It's equal representation In
the Senate
ii is true. Of course. that this article
might be stricken out Of the Constitution
under the authority granted TO Congress
to frame and submit new amendments
to the Constitution. but as this would
amount 10 revolution. or at least would
be regarded as revolution by many per-
sons 1t may be assumed, we think, that
II will be a long time before Congress
Will propose an amendment to the Consti-
tuition depriving any State of its equal
representation III kHt bNSANNs tAp"t'NAs
whilst the war between the States was
going on, Congress violated a provision
Of the Federal Constitution just as Inn
portant and just as binding as the one
under consideration. Article w.. section .,
reads as follows:
New States may be admitted by the
Congress into this Union; but no new
State shall be formed or erected within
the jurisdiction of any other State
without the consent of the Legislatures
OF the States concerned as well as OF the
Congress
West Virginia was erected into a State
without the consent of the Legislature
OF the State. Henry \. Wise pronounced
that State the bastard product Of a poliii-
cal rape. The Legislature which erected
II into State was Il bogus legislature
which was propped up by the bayonets OF
the United States army. AT the very mo-
ment that the bogus Legislature was
going through the forms Of granting its
consent to the erection Of the bogus new
State, the real Legislature and the real
Governor Of Virginia were in Richmond
performing their duties unmoesied as
they continued 10 perform them up 10
1865. So here is a precedent for the worst
outrage which could be committed upon
State. We Will not say Sovereign" State
whilst speaking OF the unspeakable wrong
that was done TO Virginia In the erection
OF new State wholly within her bounds
and entirely without her consent.
Article V. Of the Federal Constitution
contains two other provisions which were
attended TO protect every State in ITS
equal suffrage in the Senate" or IL not
50 intended has operated and will con-
tinue 10 operate in that behalf. We quote:
THE Congress. whenever two thirds or
both houses shall deem IL necessary, shall
propose amendments 10 this Constitu-
ton. or. on the application OF the Legis-
istures OF two thirds OF the several States.
SHAH call convention for proposing
amendments, which. In either case, shall
be valid 10 all intents and purposes as
part OF this Constitution when ratified
by the Legislatures Of three fourths OF
the several States or by conventions in
three fourths thereof" &C.. S3c.
Here Is erected u barrier against the
deprivation OF any State OF its equal
suffrage in the Senate. II would be next
TO impossible 10 obtain the consent or
three fourths OF the several State legis-
latures. or the consent Of conventions In
three fourths OF the several States. TO
give away their strength In the United
States Senate. Look at the map and see
BOW numerous are the smaller