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

I legislatures OF the several states. MI
Madison, OF Virginia, very earnestly ho-
yocafcd the system OF election by the
people. and declared that he thought
that the great fabric 20 be raised wouid .
be moro stable and durable III IL shouiu
rest on the solid foundation OF the people
Themselves than II Il should stand mercy
on the pillars OF the legislatures WINE
James Wilson, OF Pennsylvania. In MS
advocacy OF elections by the people SAID;
| II am in favor OF raising the Federai
pyramid TO considerable altitude. ana
| FOR that reason / wish TO give X as broa't
a base as possible. No government can
! long subsist without the confidence o.
the people
I'm more recent times the policy OF the
popular election OF senators by people OF
the States has met with very geherd'
sanction. and even with legislative APP
proval. This measure In It's genera
scope. has twice passed the nauonai
House Of Representatives. and up TO TINS
date eight Statcs-Oregon. California
Idaho Iowa. Wisconsin. Kansas, Indiana
and Nlnnesota-have through their legls-
latures. instructed I'm favor OF such
amendment. ..,
1T IS not the purpose OF this proposed
amendment 10 interfere with the repre-
scntation OF the several States, as such
IN the Senate OF the United States. Ihe
right OF tae states as integral units TO
representation In this body remains IN
tact and unaffected By the adoption q
this amendment.
"The only effect Of the change proposed
in the m0Ce OF olecting United Sta'es
senators VIII be TO enlarge the electoral
body which choices them by subsutut'lS
the whole number Of qualified voters al
the State f.; a very small NUMBER ihrie
III e In 80
latuTc.
"a careful survey. either Of the history
OF the States or Of the nation during the
period Of the last century. will show that
the extension Of the suffrage mas beeh
ono OF the permanent progressive pohcies
of our government And this extension
has not only increased in very con-
siderable degree the number or qudiiileu
voters I'm the several States, but 1t mas
added still more largely to the nuinper
of Offices which may be voted LOT, 50
that at this time in nearly all the states
and especially in those OF the greatest
wealth and population, the Offices OF the
three Northumberland legislative,
and iudiciai-in the governments Of the
several States are chosen by the popular
vote
when we consider the very great eVlls
OF the present system Of electing United
States senators. it might well be deemed
Of the first importance that the present
mode should be changed. one OF these
evils incident TO and arising from the me
thod Of senatorial elections now in use Is
the trouble about appOrtonment. Pollti-
cal parties in the several States must
inevitably contend for advantage IN pro-
curing an apportionment. TINS contest
is NOT temporary. but continues from
f,I H.
,nent uudcr the law Of each state accrueS.
"Tbe conflicting interests involved IN
such question absorb public attention ana
prevent the transaction of other legisia-
tive business.
"The same may be truly said OF the
election of senators, where, as Is Ilkeiy |
10 happen and has occurred very OFTEN |
luite recently parties are closely diVldeu |
n the legislative bodies, and the whole |
inc of the General Assembly OF the |
state is taken up with ballotng in the
senatorial election, and even theh mas
allied I'm effecting a result.
"To these manifest evils of the present |
.vstem may be added those criminative |
harges Of pecuniary corruption. which. |
wen If they be unfOunded. disparage the |
lction and character of the Senate IN |
ublic opinion. and constantly subject |
egislative bodies to reproach, to suspi- |
ion. TO obloquy. which might certainly |
be avoided by transfer of the power OF
hoOsing senators TO the mass OF electors
n the several States.
"Yet. Notwithstanding these threaten
ny mischiefs. unavoidably incident to the
resent mode of choosing senators, we
lace this great reform mainly upon the
round that the people were not only
originally declared by our Revolutionary
athers to be capable of self-government
mt that they have proved themselves in
he history of this country for more
han a hundred years to be worthy OF
hat grand prerogative
"The laws of the United States are
made by the Congress of the United
states for and on behalf of the people.
nd IL is therefore a matter OF the high
So moment that the lawmakers in both
ranches Of the National Legislature
hould be chosen by the people, and. like
he members Of the legislatures Of the
everal States. should be directly respon-
iblc to the people for the manner in
-biob fhev unrfOrrn their functions"