The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-01-28
CHOOSING OF SENATORS.
REPRESENTATIyE TUCKER CITES
OBJECTIONS 10 PRESENT Plan.
Great Power of Money-The Question of
the Responsibility of the senator
Not Easily Answered.

more. lhc iltHthl H'odc "a '''~N -
the State Legislatures has been much
criticised, notably for TWO reasons:
First. Because tho basic principle
sought to be incorporated in the consti-
tuition by its trainers in the construction
of the Congress was the selection OF one
body, the lower House, on the basis OF
popular or proportionate representation.
and the other on the basis Of the repre-
sentdtion Of the States as political units
the one to represent the people and the
other the sovereign States or the Union,
as States.
The second objection IS based on the
serious evils which. Ia a large number
OF the States I'm the Union, II not IN
large majority flow from the present
method. These may be summarized
chiefly as the dangerous uses of money,
corporate influence, the irrcsponsiDility
OF the Senators 10 any fixed constituency,
clothed with the power of compelling n
response to their rightful demands, and
the dangerous intermingling in one body
Ohe state LegislatureD of Federal ana
State functions. FOR the proper discharge
OF which neither is dependent on the
other. These two views may now be
separately considered.
No ono who has properly read the hts
tory OF the Constitutional Convention can
ian TO nave noted the intense interest that
was manifested IN the determination Of
this question II that great instrument
had failed OF adoption. it must DE con-
coded. I'm the light of its history. that tho
divergent views between the large and
the small States as 10 their mode OF rep
rosentation i'm the Senate would have been
the efficient cause The memorable scene
~ this point when Benjamin Franklin
came into the Convention, when IL seem
ed 90 those who We're Interested in its
welfare that r. was on the verge of dis
solution. will never be forgotten. He said.
II have lived. sir. long time and the
longer / live the more convincing proofs
I see of this truth that God governs in
the affairs Of men, and II a sparrow cam
not fan 10 the ground without His notice.
is IL probable that an empire can rise
without HIS aid?'
From that time on tho Divine help was
sought az the opening Of each session of
the Convention. and the victory for con-
stituuonal government on the American
continent was assured. The plans sug-
sosted by Mr.. Pinckney Mr.. Morris Mr..
Hamilton Mr.. Edmund Randolph. Air.
Gerry and Mr. Wilson all proposed DIFF
fercnt methods. varying in some points
substantially and BOO others I'm mere de-
tails. and without pausing 20 discuss these
plans. or the reasons adduced for their
adoption. tho final result, 80 far as rep
rcscntation in the Senate Is cOscerned,
must Doe conceded by an TO have been a
triumph by the small over the large
States for representation by States as
separate political entities.
So that we start with the proposition
that the determination of the Convention.
IN its final action in the interest of har-
mony between the great and small states.
conceded TO the House representation ac-
cordng 20 population. but demanded and
secured FOR the Senate representation of
tho States as distinct political organiza-
lions. irrespective Of population.
STATES REPRESENTATION
The body polite called a State must not
De COMPOUNDED with the government of
state. The legislative. executive and iu-
dicial functions OF State neither con-
junctivcly nor disjunctively constitute the
political entity called q State. but the
three functions Conjoined constitute its
government. IL. then. sovereign States
as political units are TO bee represented
go the Senate. how is 10 10 be accomplish
edy only hy representation which rep
rescnts directly the sovereign power in
the State Does this power reside either
iu the Legislature. the Judiciary or the
Executive Departments?
Each OF these arms OF the government
possesses powers which are only deriva-
tive and not original. They are the
creations OF the sovereign power and not
The sources Of it. An early authority on
the constitution well says;
This unlimited power is that supreme.
absolute uncOuquerable authority which.
bv political writers in general. Is denomi-
mated the sovereignty, and which. Bog
most Of them. is supposed % Doe vested in
the government or administrative author
ity of the State. but which We contend
resides only in the people is inherent i'm
them and unalieuahle from them Sure
iy ths creature. the Legislature. IS not
fhe equal OF the creator. the sovereign
power bon the State nor can IL be success
fully claimed that the State. as pOliu-
cal organization. is more fifty represent
81 by creature Of us sovereignty than
by the sovereignty power itself
The second objection 10 tho present
mode OF eiectlng Senators is based on
the evils which arise from such mode i'm
dependent of the first objection. and will
Doe considered Dob detail The large accre-
ton or wealth in The hands Of individuals
and of corporations which has taken
place. notably loo the last thirty wears.
100 This country makes Legislature the
easy prey OF designing men. We can
accomplish nothing by shutting our cycs
fo the tru'H and assuming virtue where
none exists THAT ali Legislatures can
he OF have boon corrupted in the selection
OK Senator. OF course we do not claim.
Don't fhat wealth la. attempted and will
continue to control Legislatures "a the
election of Senators VIII not be deni "a
p Pee I'fNm1t 20 ru'e by intellectual and
moral forr' is fast giving way 10 the
power Of control by more practical meth
obs. and wealth the uncrowned king
oftcntimcs lacking both ard coveting noi-
Their. arrogautly seeks 10 rule iu a do
main where IL is only fitted 10 serve.
TUE POWER OF MONEY.
In "a Legislature OF ordinary size. say
$50 members. the candidate who can OBJ
tain sevcu'v-six votes can secure tho
coveted honor Of AN election 10 the Sen
ate. but under the rule OF party eau
cuscs. IL would only be necessary for a
candidate 20 get thirty-nine votes. CT a
majority OF the seventy-six and his field
o. operation would be confined 20 secur-
irg the thirty-niue men from the entire
state in order 10 gain success. In the
smaller States Z would be much less The
smaller the field 10 be cultivated the
greater the attention that can be given
it. 10 Is FAR easier 10 control by money
the thirty-nine men in the Legislature
than the whole body OF the people Of a
state NJ the polls. II is often urged.
however. that a change to the election
hui iF