Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1899-04-28
MAY CONVENTION
Why tn e Constitution
Should Not Be Changed

Should Not Be Changed
5 The Proposition to Elect Sena-
tors Direct Discussed by a
Prominent Young Lawyer
of Tazewell.
The proposed convention to be
held for the purpose of inugurating
scheme for the election of United
States Senators by the direct vote of
the people, induces lovers of our
institutions to wonder why this tin
kering with form of government
that for so many years has been the
boast of public men to be the grand
est government on the face of the
globe? Why this movement, under
taking ultimately tC change the con-
stitution of the United States; an
instrument, the adoption of which
Alexander Hamilton finally declared
to the people of New York to be
ssthe safest course for your liberty,
your dignity and your happiness
an instrument ratified and confirm
ed by the legislatures of the respec-
tive states, aud not by the people of
these States, by the delegated and
not by the delegating authorityi
Madison, in 80 number of the
Fedelalist, declares the parties to
the constitution of the United States
a are the people, mot as individuals
composing one entire nation, but as
composing the distinct aud indepen-
dent States;" and Chief Justice Mar
shall, alter its adoption, in McCul
lcugh V Maryland, 4Wheaton, 4O3,
said: 1T is true they (the people)
assembled in their respective States,
and where else should they have as
sembled? No political dreamer was
ever wild enough to think of broak-
ing down the lines which separate
the States, and of compounding the
A@erican people into one common
mass"
Our Cons! !itution created FEEDER
eral Government, one in which
States were factors, and through
which States act with united powers
as constituents. Three departments,
the legislative, the executive, and
the judicial are the handiwork OF
our constitution, and ever since have
been the boast of political writers.
Congress represents the legisla-
tive department, and that depart
inert is composed of the Senate and
House of Representatives. Both
branches of Congress represent So
cisty, of which States are units. The
House of Representatives, the direct
popular element of Society. The
Senate, the deliberative, conservative
element. The House of Represen-
tatlves, based on numbers, repre-
sents the people of these respective
States. The Senate, based not or
numbers, the States. States, MOI
men, are constituents of the Senate
History tells US that before oul
Constitution, the thirteen origina
states were united under articles ol
confederation. By these articles
numbers were at the mercy Of th'
States. Co equality of the States
without regard to numbers, was per
ilous to the rights CT men, but {
united majority menaced the right
of minority.
How to guard against these evil
held up the preparation of our Coz
stitution. Two methods were ad
yanced: One to create will in &C
ciety independent of majority; th
other to divide society into 80 man
seperate and distinct classes, as I
render combination of the major
ity of the whole improbable, if no
impracticable. Under the frs
thought what check would thsr
be upon the power independent c
societys What would prevent tha
power from espousing the view
represented by the majority, to crus
tie interests of the minoritya Th
second Of these represent our Fet
eral Government. In it the majorit
is represented by the direct vote
the people for Congressman. Tt
oil t,v Sonofn,