Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-04-14

all the food of eioquence poured OUT py
MIR. Henry before the virginia ,onseh
ton OF 1888. no word OF cfl,iIisih .sS1 ~, %
| HIM n, 10 the constitutional inethod OF
aian,tno se,afors / have searched, now
over. without result. IL Is Tor those VINO
cite him 10 point 10 chhpter hhu W. 30.
With submission, however, shouid nave
been inclined to think that MI. Henry
dovo,ion 10 the rights of the states would
have inclined him favorably 10 TINS rccog,
nitIon of their legislatures in the FEDERAL
plan. ., IT.. 80 -
serious argument the Sortes NirgiIianae,
ar even the Sortes Jeffersonianae. cam
not be admitted. Mr.. Jeffersons Il am
not among those who fear the people
has about the same relation to the pres
ent subject as the dictum OF a recent
statesman. IL am a Democrat" The fal-
laciousness of so random "A quotation IS
at once discovered by reference 10 That
Mr.. Jefferson actually wrote on this sub
iect
II is well known that Mr. Jefferson was
I'm France during the Federal Convention
OF 1857 and the Virginia Ratifylng Con-
vention of l7sS. His views. upon the rev
Constitution will be found in a carefully
prepared letter addressed to James Madl-
son. dated December 90 1871. SO far from
antagonizlng the proposed plan for elect
ing senators. Mr.. Jefferson says:
II like the power given the Legislature
TO levy taxes. and for that reason sC-oly
approve of the greater house being chosen
by the people directly. For tho l think
a house chosen by them will be very lily
qualified 10 legislate for the Union, Tor
foreign nations, &c. yet TINS eVil does
not weigh against the good of preserving
inyiolate the fundamental principle that
the people are not TO be taxed, but by
representation chosen Immediately by
themselves"
This latter observation is in connection
with the constitutional provision requiring
tax bills to originate in the House or KEEP
reSentatiVes.
knowing, as we all do. the learning and
ability Of the gentlemen signing the can
of March 18th, | must confess 10 an I'M
oasiness i'm following a leadership whose
first public utterance instances such IN
cOnsiderate preparation.
Whatever may have been the past or
recent experience of other states, must
protest against certain implied reflections
upon the personnel of the General Assem-
bly, of Virginia. and beg leave to reafhrm
the declaration of the Hon. Henry 81
George Tucker on the floor of the House
of Representatives: 1T Is not only pro-
per, but a pleasure (having spoken OF the
dangers of corruption in the election OF
scnatOrs) TO state at this point mat 50
far as my own State IS concerned, ana
many of the States of the Union, there
has never been any ground for charge
of corruption i'm the election of senator's
Finally. if the object Of the call be
merely the institution of propaganda in
favor of a constitutional amendment pro-
vidng FOR the election Of senators by the
people, why such haste in preparation,
and why should the issue be complicated
by considering in the interim some fur
Their means for the selection of party
senatorial candidates by some popular
method?
Are there Il number Of senatorial aspi-
rants at present before the people Of Nir
GINA? is there peculiar opposition 20
any gentleman who has submitted his
name Of the people? II either of these
conditions exist. have not the people Of
each county and city the right often eX-
ercised, Of voting instructions 10 their
representatives, either by convention or
local primary? Can mere conference or
caucus interfere I'm the local affairs Of the
several counties or add an official nu-
thority 10 a right already possessed by
the local committees?
Wishing well to the general proposal
for constitutional amendment submit
ting the election Of senators directly TO
the people, | am unwilling to have the
main question Obscured by personal in
terests and factiOnal differences. and
dread the consequences 10 our party Of a
conference I'm which all Democrats may
not feel free TO participate and present
their views
At a Democratic convention we are all
at home. In the conference proposed for |
the 1lth of May. who can say what in |
SEPARATION shall guide or what influence
may control? The views expressed above |
lead me. as an individual voter. interested |
solely in my party'S good, 10 fear lest |
party harmony be not the objective TO be /
attained by the means proposed.
Very respectfully.
FRANCIS RIVES LASSITER.