The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-07-17
Election of Senators.

Mr. Editor: - The reasons assigned by
Judge Powers, in his recent speech at Bur
lngton, for a change in the method Of
electing United States senators will hardly
stand examination. He says: There is
widespread belief, whether right or wrong
do not affirm, that in repeated instances
seats In the senate have been gained by the
lavish use OF money by successful aspir-
ants" Now, the same charge, and prob
ably with as much truth, Is made against
the members of the national house of repre-
sentatives, governors OF the states, and
many other officials, all of whom are elected
by the people. 1t, therefore, follows, &C
cording to the reasoning of Judge Powers,
that the people should be deprived OF the
right of choosing their agents. During the
century, the senate has certainly performed
its duties with as great ability and integrity
as the lower house. IL has in large meas
ure fulfilled the expectations OF the found
ers of the republic. James Madison, in the
"Federalist," No. SO, says: II shall not
scruple to add, that such an institution
national senate] may be sometimes neces-
sary, as defence to the people against their
own temporary errors and delusions." Most
intelligent people believe that the senate has
| served that purpose during the last two
| years. The Hon. James Bryce, in his
american Commonwealth" says: 1T
| the senate-"has succeeded by effecting that
chief object OF the Fathers Of the Constitu-
| ton, the creation of q center of gravity in
the government, an authority able to cor
| rect and check, on the one hand, the dem
ocratic recklessness of the House, on the
| other, 'monarchical ambition of the Pres
| ident." "The senate has succeeded
| in making itself eminent and respected. 1t
| has drawn the best talent OF the nation, 30
far as that talent flows to politics, into its
body, has established an intellectual SUI
| premacy." 1.-THE senate has therefore
usually kept its head better than the house
OF representatives. 1t has expressed more
adequately the judgment as contrasted
with the emotion, of the nation" Few, II
any, have written OH our institutions with
greater ability, or with stronger purpose to
deal fairly with all, than Mr.. Bryce.
Judge Powers argues: Again, no cleo
torate should be provided that, by any
chance, gives to minority the choice OF a
method just that faulty electorate is Gre
ated." Every reason that can be given to
prove that the small towns OF this state
should not have an equal vote with the large
towns in electing United States senator
can be given, and with equal force, to prove
that Vermont ought not to have repre-
sentation in the national senate equal to
that OF New York, and this on the ground
that the latter state has a population
eighteen or twenty times larger than the
former. If it was not for the provision in
the national constitution, that no state,
pithout its CONSENT shall be deprived Of its
equal suffrage in the senate" we should
hear much about the " faulty electorate ~
of senators. 1t would be insisted that
the United States should be divided into
forty-four senatorial districts, each contain
ing exactly the same number Of people. II
is fortunate that Washington and the other
| Fathers were not mere theorists, for then
there would have been no American Re
public. -.