The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-02-24
Against a Primary Election for United
States Senator.
Richmond. Va, Feb. @ 1888.


constitution.
The constitution Of the United States
makes the senators elective by the Leg
stature. And yet here find the Times,
dav by day. I'm a most damnable itera-
ton" vehemently opposing this express
provision Of the constitution and advo-
eating. the subtetrfuge the' indirection
of an expression for senator's at primary
elections. II some papers that ] could
name had taken this clandestine position
/ would not have marVelled but for The
Times, the Richmond Times, the soul
ana bodv OF conservative ideas. the eager
advocate of all that appertains To ancient
landmarks and immemorial customs. for
such a papsr to espouse this demagogical
and Populistic appeal TO the lower senti-
ments and vulgar notions OF the ground
unes"-I say. for such a paper TO adj
vocate this proposition 10 break down
the last vestige Of States rights left 10
tho South. IS indeed astonishing. Yes.
fl is astounding that The Times, OF all
papers. should advocate such Populis-
tic scheme.
Mr. Editor. 7 do sincerely wish that
YOU could have heard the speeches OF
Senators Wickham and Mushback and
Flood. upon this subject They were all
able and exhaustive. but the speech or
Mr.. Flood. In concluding the debate this
morning was according TO the poor
Judgment of your correspondent FAR IN
advance of anything that has been SAID
in either branch OF the Legislature dur
ing the present session. for exhaustive
research into the ultimate sources OF IN
formation upon the true construction Of
the constitution. lie made frequent re-
ferences 10 the Madison papers
Now 1 do not hesitate 10 declare that
no one can intelligently construe the con
stitution under which IN our political
system. we live and move and have our
being. without a careful reading of the
Madison papers
Very few people know what the Mad
ison papers" are. and very certain II Is
that nobody who has not read the Mad
fson papers" can pretend TO understand
the true and interior construction OF that
immortal instrument
Upon this question Of passing bill
10 authorize. primary elections for
United States senators, Mr.. Wickham
and Mr.. Mushback made effective argu-
ments TO show the ireXpediency or Inc
act. but II was reserved Tor Mr.. Flood
i'm a most copious and exhaustive cita-
ton from the secret debates In the con-
stitutional convention as preserved by
Mr. Madison. TO answer and controvert
all that had been adduced In defensive
OF this revolutionary measure.
Nv object. Mr. Editor. in addressing
to YOU this communication, is not 50
much 10 applaud the argument OF Mr..
Flood. as much as that argument de-
serves TO be applaudcd as II Is TO en-
phasize "a fact brought out in the speech
of Senator Flood.
He adverted to the fact that Senator
Lodge of Massachusetts,. had. In his BIO
graphy Of Daniel Webster admitted that
from the standpoint of historic TRUTH
Webster was wrong and Hayne was
right I'm tho great discussion OF January
$50 But Mr.. Lodge maintained that
Webster was right upon the principle, or
the ground. that ths government mad
changed from it's original basis and that
we had drfted into national govern
ment instead Of confederacy Of equal
States.
Would. Mr. Editor. that ! could impress
uDon YOU and upon your contributors the
value OF reading and bordering the Mad
ison Papers" They are the only true
source of investigation into the actual
ideas and views OF the trainers or the
Constitution, and founders OF the repuD-
lie.
Mr. Madison died i'm June 1896, Congress
purchased his manuscript papers relative
TO the proceedings of the convention OF
1-S7 that framed the Constitution. When
the question of purchasing these papers
was before the Senate Mr.. Webster on
the 10Th Of February, lSi', advocated their
purchase and publication. In the course
of his remarks he said: 1T is we'll known
that the convention Of great men who
formed our Constitution sat with closed
doors. that no report OF their proceed
ings was published at that time; and that
their debates were listened 10 by none
but themselves and The officers in at
tendance. We have indeed the Official
journal. but 80 informs Us only OF their
official acts. and We get from II nothing
whatever of the debates In that Nus
trious body" The connection OF Mr..
Madison with the Constitution and the
government. and his profound knowledge
of an that related 10 both. wall1 reces-
e1rilv give 10 any reports which lie should
hqva taken superior claim % accuracy
IL was his purpose when he entered me
body to report its whole proceedings. lie
chose position which best enabled him
20 do so: nor was he absent "a single day
during the whole period or its sltungs.
NV views wi Al' ''i'tiN"hi''i
arc well known: whether an inspection OF
these rapers will confirm ana strengthen
the views 7 entertain respecting tnat i'm
stramcnt. ] cannot say; nut certainly II
thev were now within nv reach | should
be very eager TO read them and their
examination Would be one Of tho very
first things that 7 should engage I'm. a
report Of such debates. from such a
pen. cannot but be Of the highest impor-
tancc. and may throw much light on the
early Interpretation Of the Constitution,
and on the nature and structure Of our
Government
Now. Mr.. Editor. may ] not ask tAat
you will revise your Views upon this
question of primary expression for
United States senator. You are evidently
wrong. You have manifestly gone OF
haIf-cocked. II I may use slang eX-
preston.
Contrary 20 the proverbial policy and
usage and opinions Of your paper. you
have gone off into mere pOpulistic and
plebcian appeal Of demagOgues for pri-
mary election for United States senator's.
How. how. can 80 conservative a paper
as The Times advocate such a measure?
l.. s. MARYE.