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

Ex-Congressmnn Epes states why
lie Can't Approve Its Object.

the purpose OF adopting measures to pro-
mote the election OF senators OF thu
United States by the direct vote OF tho
peonIe and. until this result Is accom-
plished, the selection OF party senatorial
candidates by some popular method"
This call was followed by favorable edi-
torIal comment In your own and other
leading Democratic papers. This condi-
ton. coupled with the fact that all OF
the distinguished slgners are my political
associates. and many of them my per-
sonal friends, causes me to feel consid-
cradle regret at not being able TO sym
pathize with the movement and some
hesitation in expressing dissent.
When such an impetuous alarm Is
sounded. and so unusual and hasty sum-
mons is issued to the people. the average
man would naturally conclude that Sc
rlous danger confronted us, and that the
danger must be sudden and unforeseen.
Manifestly, however, there cannot be any
danger which is sudden or unforeseen.
and presumably there is really no danger
at all, for the reason that 1T has been
considered by the people, and so adjudged
by three different accredited tribunals,
the Congress Uhe lower house,, them
selves directly elected and of very short
and uncertain tenure. alone adjudging to
the contrary.
| The distinguished gentlemen who issued
| the manifesto under consideration cam
| didly stated the above facts, and then
undertook to annu and set them aside
with the most remarkable remark that
| nothing Is ever decided which Is not de-
| cided right. or which is decided against
the irresistible course of events" Taking
the latter clause of this remark first. the
| average good citizen will want to known:
| II the course of events is so irresisti-
| BILE" in the direction they desire, whence
| comes the need for such distinguished
| gentlemen to be so anxious and impa-
| tient, or for the people to be so importu-
| nately disturbed? In regard TO the first
clause of the remark 0o-wit. Nothing
is ever decided until it is decided right')
the writer of this article confesses that
he has sometimes felt that way. He has
rarely heard the sentiment uttered. He
has never before seen party with the
rash courage TO put it in writing or in
print. He had never expected to live to
see the day when 1t would be embodied
in an argument. Evidently something
had occurred to excite temper when the
paper under consideration was prepared,
or else it would never have been held
that nothing is ever decided right which
is not decided" in favor OF the party
who prefers charges and makes COM
plant. II these gentlemen continue to
feel that way about the matter, then,
rather than engage In an intermnable
and uncompromsing controversy and wit
ness extra sessions of court bills of re-
views. rehearings, new trials, and appeals
al libitum ct ad nauseam, why, then.
from motives Of high personal regard
and peace at an undue price. the writer
will be disposed TO yield to unreasonable
tenacity and insuperable perseverance,
and withdraw his opposition to the move
ment
Reference has herein before been made
to the frequency and care with which
the people have considered this matter.
and tho consistency with which they
have resolved against the contemplated
change I'm the method of election.
1t is recited. correctly no doubt, that
at the time OF the adoption OF the clause
in the Federal Constitution providing for
the election OF United States senators by
the different State legislatures. Washing
Blair cast their votes against 1t. In this |
connection it must be borne in mind that |
there was adopted about the same time a !
guide. or rule. unwrltten, IL is true, but |
landed down from that day TO this with |
as much generation as If IL were canoni- |
cal, to the effect that, when a legislator |
is at all undecided as to the correct vote |
to cast. he ought always to vote NO!
1t is very well known. and will be known
for ages. that the weight and influence Of
the great men above mentioned was so
potent that they were able to oppose de-
cisively almost any measure TO which
they were opposed decidedly.
There is a deal of difference between
the estimates and opinions formed. pend
Ing the erection of a building and the
time when the structure is complete. The
evidence is that. when the Federal Con-
stitution was completed, II was accepted
by the great men above cited, and. with
but few exceptions by the great men OF
the world. as the most perfect chart that
ever was drawn. A century passed, and
it so endured until amendments notably
XIV. and XVI came and marred its
brightness as a shield. and. In many re-
spects. made ii unto Virginia people very
much like unto a sword There are,
among the gentlemen signing the call,
many eminent lawyers who will recall
tho safe old legal maxim stare decisis."
The people Of Virginia are familiar with
Il, and honor the conservative principle
inherent in II. They regard 1t as wise In
application TO business and politics, rs
we'll as in law. and, after their painful
experience with amendments, they are
going to deliberate more maturely and
act more cautiously in a matter of so
great Importance than they will have
line TO do between the 26th OF March, the
late of the call, and the llth of May, the
late when it is said they must come.
Proceeding TO another branch of the
argument, citation IS made to the action
If South Carolina, Georgia. Illinois, and
)ther States" as If Virginia. from time
the leader OF States, IS re-
luired simply TO be informed as TO what |
,ther States are doing in order TO make
taste blindly, unpreparedly. and sub
erviently to follow and do likewise.
In the first place, living Virginians (and
he honored dead, IL they have remem
France Of earthly affairs never will or
AN forget the pains and penalties they
nee suffered under the leadership Of |
south Carolina and Georgia.
In the second place the people Of these
states took care before the change was
made in the method Of electing United
states senator's TO make safe and ample
PROVISION whereby the control OF elections
n those States was secured in the hands
# the white people. In regard to the cita-
ion of other States illinois, Penn
ylvania, California, Utah, etc), where
What is commonly known as a dead
ock" has existed. and sometimes resulted
n a failure on the part OF those States