New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-26
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL.
ELEcrrNG SENATORS By POPULAR VOTE
Mr.. MALLORY EXPLAINS WHY 1T rs DESIRABLE
THAT THE DIRECT VOICE OF THE PEOPLE
sEoULD BE HEARD IN Ma
TIoNAL. AFFAIRS.


sEoULD BE HEARD IN Ma.
TIoNAL AFFAIRS.
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: have observed in various papers strong
leaning toward the principle OF e!ec'ing United
States Senator'S by popular vote. II seems that
this idea is founded in the present conception OF
our National Government. When a citizen votes
for person for member OF his local Legislature ne
considers his Candidates Views on a certain liquor
tax law. the dcsrabillty of particular scheme
Of irrigation and very often that legislator after ne
Is elected. votes for for member OF the Cnitod
States Senate whose views the tariff or the cur
rency question exactly opposite those OF the
citizen voter In other words. a citizen often. In
directly, helps elect the United States Sem
ate whose views on Natona. questions he could not
tolerate.
A Nations affairs and interests should never be
mixed with couded by the local affairs and in
terests OF the States composing IT, TIE citizen who
dwel!s in New-York and tie citizen who 9wel.s~in
Nevada both citizens OF the United States Of
America. and when each comes to look over the
National situation preparatory 10 acting on It, no
State line should interfere with the view.
But the proposition strikes the iwyer and student
OF government in another light. although the prin-
c.pes involved rave something In common. The
idea in the Minus OF the trainers OF the Consttu-
ton was TO unite the several States States. for
certain strictly National purposes Only the press
ing needs and trying circumstances OF the time
could have Induced the men who framed and
secured the adoptlon OF the Constitution TO
union OF the States. The underlying idea in tho
Constitution seems to be that OF thirteen States
going into business together provide for the COM
mon defence and promote the genera. welfare. The
idea OF welding the people Of the country into
Nation IS but feeb'y expressed Even the provision
for the election OF members OF the House OF Repre-
senta;ves Is that they shall be chosen by the peo-
pie OF tie severa. States. The Constitution reads
n
partnership.
Sovereignty comprehends al! human power in gov
ernmtnt Sovereignty cannot be controlled, for
governmental power controlled or regulated by any
outside force is not sovereignty. So IL must follow
that a comminglng OF soveregn,ies cannot long en-
duIe. Where there Is association there must DO
mutual concession, and where there Is successful and
lasting association there must be effective means OF
coercng refractory members OF the association.
There be OF coercing sovereignty ex.
cep; by means OF threatening war.
1t would appear that. far this country u
concerned the idea Of sovereign States has been
lost. and by mutual forbeararce on the part OF
brcaG-mnded the United States OF America
has come to be recognized, both at home and
abroad, az single sovereignty "one and insepa-
rable." Separate State soverelgnties have become
merged In and for practical purposes lost In q
! single National sovereignty. The arbitrament Of
war has made this arrangement permanent.
The Constitution begins with great TRUTH I'VE.
the people of the United States. do ordain and
establish this Constitution for the United States Of
America It." The people of each colony had organ
ICED institution called their government, to
establish. execute and interpret their laws and
apply rules OF action The governments thus
founded were sovereign, but they came from the
people, and were based the will and consent OF
the people The powers the peoples did not give TO
their governments they retained In themselves.
What the people had given they could limit,
strain or recall-that u.s. they could modify the
stituions they had authorized ard which enumer-
ated the powers they had granted to their govern
ments. 1t Is principle held 10 In number OF de-
! cisions of the United States Supreme Court. and
maintained. think by Mr. Story I'm his exposition
/ of the Constitution that, out OF the whole amount
OF sovereignty rtrusted by the people Of the sew
era States 10 the governments OF the States, they
the people. took part. the necessarily National
part, and intrused that part TO the Government OF
adopted by conventions OF the people OF tho
several States, and not by the State governments
When the people Of the States adopted the Con-
stitution they made of themselves Nation and for
themselves q National Government.
Jealous Of the rights Of the States as were tho
trainers of the Constitution, and jealousy as they
guarded State rights the National Government, by
general consent and through the doctrine OF i'm
piled powers has become strong. and stable:
n Government of the people, of the Nation as
/ whole, and not Government OF sovereign states
/ banded together.
And yet have In the United States Senate the
anomaly of separate sovereignties, for the States
| for local purposes are sovereign. forming one OF
| the legislative bodies of another sovereignty.
The people. having established a Government,
should say what persons to act their agents
to carry IT The people should elect their United
States Senator's by their direct vote.
To carry out the idea above expressed. would II
not be well TO have the Electoral College meet in
Washington instead Of at the State capitals, and
to provide for the amendment of the Constitution
only proposal by Congress or conventions In the
States, and not by the Legislatures. as now?
Norwich. y. Y, May H. 1887. +. L. MALLORY.