Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-11

spect. and fully equal 10 all the require
ments OF the great office, yet the fact
remains that within the recollection OF
those now living the Senate has greatly
degenerated. Ii is not what IL was IN
the purer and better days OF the republic.
In the place OF those intellectual giants,
who once dignihed and adorned the Office
by their genius and learning, we ma
multi-mlliOnaires and representatives, OF
great corporations. without any special
qualifications for the exalted. station 70
which they have been elevated. and with
out any legitimate claim upon II what
ever. What a fall is here. my cOun-
trymenw What is the remedy
THIS THE PEOPLES GOVERNMENT.
We must go back 10 first principles and
recognize the fundamental truth that
this j. the peoples government. The pe0-
pie must arise In the majesty Of their
strength, assert their inalienable rights
and say 10 corporate power: Thus far
shalt thou come and no farther Mr..
Gladstone said: THE American COnsti-
tuition is. SO far "a | can see, the most
wonderful work ever struck on al a gwen
time By the brain and purpose Of man.
IL is no vainglOriOus boast 10 say that II
was I'm great part the creation OF VIZ
ginia. (ApplauseD Always distinguished
for her conservatism. IL Is not 10 De sup
posed that she would rashly destroy the
work OF her own hands. but II Is TACT
that IL Virginia should favor the pro-
posed amendment II would be simply
reassertiOn on her part or the great pfh-
ciple Oh popular right Tor when she
stood In the beginning. Upon an exami-
nation of the proceedings OF the Federal
convention that framed the Constitution.
II will be seen that on the 18th day OF
June, i7S7. a vote OF the convention Was
taken on the proposition that the Senate
be chosen by the individual legislatures
on that proposition nine States voted IN
the Affirmative. and two Statcs-PennsNi-
vanfa and NiTginia-VOtsd in the negative.
The vote was taken by States, each state
casting one vote. The report does not
show how each individual member voted
but We know that Virginia was repre-
sented By George Washington, Edmund
Randolph John Blair James Madison,
George Mason. George Wythe. and James
mcclure as her delegates. and. OF course.
have concurred in casting the vote OF the
State in the negative.
THE POSITION OF MADISON.
II appears. furthermore, that in Com
mittee OF the Whole. Mr.. Dickinson, OF
Delaware on the lth Of June lIss. moved
that members 81 the Senate De- chosen by
the individual legislatures A debate upon
that proposition occurred, in which Mr.
Madison. confessedly the father Of the
Constitution. combated the view ad-
yanced BY Mr. Dickinson that elections
By the State legislatures would secure
men OF more weight than elections IN
some other way Mr. Madison said: If
an election by the people or through any
other channel than the State legislatures.
promised as uncOrrupr and impartial a
preference OF merit. there could surely
be no necessity for an appointment BY
those legislature Patrick Henry was
not a member Of the convention. but VINO
can doubt FOR 4 moment what the posi-
tion OF that inspired orator and fearless
tribune Of the people would be- on ques-
ton ike this2 Thomas jefferson was not
n member, but he was the father Of me
Democratic party the party Of the peo-
pie. and the author Of that Immortal
document which declares that govern
ments derive their Just POWERS from the
consent OF the governed" IL his spirit
could be permitted 10 revisit the scenes
OF earth. who can doubt what his advice
would be 10 US to-day 1hrouSnout MS
long and eventful public career his at
tachment TO popular righis never WAIVER
ed. His faith in the people and in their
capacity 10 govern themselves was never
shaken for a single moment In his first
Inaugural address as President. delivered
on tho 9Th OF March. lS0l. he condensed
in n single sentence all the safeguards
OF lftersy. and among thom he places "a
JEALOUS care Of the right of election by
the people"
NOT BEST PLAN NOW.
But. conceling. for the sake Of the ar
glIment. that the provision for the cleo
lion on United Sfntes senators by the
ieeislatures may have been wise In the
earlier dave ~ the republic. our conten-
ton is that the times have changed and
experience has shown that Il Is not the
best plan at the present day. Mr.. Burke
said: True statesmanship consists IN
adapting ourselves 10 the conditions In
which We are placed" And what are the
Conditions to-day? The wealth OF the
country is being rapidly con sentrated IN
the hands OF 4 few. Gigantic corpora-
tions have been organized all ever tllc
land and threaten TO trampis under foot