The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1897-12-22
THE S ssNAToRSHlP.

The election of the next United |
States Senator from this state is |
matter which occupies a good part |
of public attention just now and will |
continue to for the next six weeks.
In Lincoln and Washoe Counties
post election efforts are being made
by Legislators to shift the RESPONSE
bilities of choice from the Legislators
to the people at large by asking for
expressions of opinion in the matter,
on cupons clipped from newspapers.
ala the guessing and beauty contests
used so much for advertising pur-
poses in the past few years.
The people, though interested
generally in the subject have not
taken to this method of expressing
preferences however Less interAst
was manifested in Reno than In De-
Lamar, the great majority of voters
recognizing that no fair expression
of opinion could be expected in such
cases.
How many of the voters at these
post election efforts were not citi-
zens, or what element of the politi-
cal perties was represented, can be
told only by noting the names and
addresses on the tickets, but the
thinking, conservative and taxpay-
ing element is wanting, for all ex-
pressions heard from such is that
the constitution of the United States
settles the matter, and that the
method of selecting Senators by
means of direct vote by the people,
was proposed, discussed and reject
ed, and election by each State legis-
lature provided, when the Constitu-
ton was put into operation.
The idea of sovereignty in the
states and separate and independent
governments, controlled, and legis-
lators are supposed to represent the
the political complexion of their
several counties and to vote accord
ingly on the selection of Senators,
and not otherwise, but this general
rule is frequently disregarded.
The important point is that MEM
bers of both houses shall not be
selected in the same manner nor
for the same length of time. This
is based on the teachings of past
history and a leading writer on the
form of our government says of it:
"The small number and long du-
ration of the Senate were intended
to render them safeguard against
the influence of those paroxysms o.
heat and passion, which prevail oc
casionally in the most enlightened
communities, and enter into the de
liberations of popular assemblies
In this point of view, a firm ant
independent Senate is justly regard
ed as an anchor of safety amidst the
storms of political faction; and TO
want OF such stable body, the re
publics of Athens and Florence wer'
overturned by the fury of commo
tions, which the Senators of Sparta
Carthage and Rome might have beel
able to withstand. The characters
tical qualities of the Senate, in tn
intendment of the Constitution, ar
wisdom and stability. The lega
presumption is,. that the Senate viii
entertain more enlarged views Q
public policy. and greater regar'
for stability in the administration c
the goverement. These qualities.
is true may, in most cases, be equal
ly found in the other branch of th
legislature, but the constitutions
structure of the House is not equal
calculated to produce them; for, q
the House of Representative
comes more Immediately from tn
people, and the members hold thei
seats for much shorter time, the
are presumed to partake, with
quicker sensibility, of the prevailin
temper and irritable disposition
the times, and to be in much mol
danger of adopting measures wit
precipitation, and of changing the
with levity. A mutable legislatio
is attended with formidable trai
of mischiefs to the community.
weakens the force, and increases I'll
intricacy of the laws, hur
credit, lessons the value of propert
and it is an infirmity every incide
to republican establishments, al
has been a constant source OF AM
ety and concern to the most enligl
ened admirers. A disposition
multiply and change laws upon t
spur of the occasion, and to be ms
ing constant and restless experimel
with the statute code, seems to
the natural disease of popular asse
blies. In order, therefore, to col
teract such dangerous propensi
and to maintain portion OF col
dence in the government, and
insure its safety and character
home and abroad, it is requisite t
another body of men, coming Ii
wise from the people, and equt
responsible for their conduct,
resting on more permanent ba
and constituted with stronger