Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-04-14
SENATORIAL ELECTIONS.
An Open Deter to the signers Of tho
CnII for the May Conference.
Birdvllle near Petersburg. Vn),

que, and Others:
Gentlemen.-As one OF the Democratic
voters OF Virginia, / have been greaus
interested In your open letter published
in the Richmond Dispatch. OF the 18th oi
March, inviting n conference FOR the
purpose of adopting such measures as
may be deemed best TO promote the cleo
ton OF senators OF the United States Dy
direct vote of the people; and until THIS
result in accomplishing the selection oil
party senatorial candidates by some popu-
lar method
While your communication is addressed
"to the Democratic voters Of virginia
It has been suggested that a Limitation OF
selection was intended By the language Oh
the concluding paragraph:
ITO such Democrats as hold to the prin-
ciple that the people are fully capable Oh
choosing their senator's. and who are Will
ing to unite with us In an effort TO secure
to them that cherished right"
From such a distinguished and sincere
| source. am unwilling TO attribute HOle
| than rhetorical rOundneSS 10 TINS Idu-
! guage. deeming ii impossible that any
! Virginia Democrat could be believed Will
| ing TO impugn the capacity OF our people
| 10 choose their own senators. Inc con-
| Guiding language emphasizes That no lOSl-
| cal distinction was Intended, as 40 right
| can be cherished that was never enjoyed.
| The submission of Il Well-cOnsldered
| plan for the election of senator's OF Inc
| United States by the direct vote of the
| people of the several States has for many
years commended itself 10 me. ! am un-
| willing, by the effect of verbal tnesse or
| otherwise, 10 be placed in a position OF
antagOnism to such movement. L also
| approve the widest discussion or Such a
| proposition, whether through the public
| prints or on the hastings, or by private
| caucus.
Such a discussion, while it might not
Immediately lead TO an adoption OF the
proposed constitutional amendment would
at least enable its supporters 10 escape
criticisms as TO a possible personal IN
tercst, aroused by hasty and careless
preparation Of facts.
While imbucd with a reVerential respect
for the founders Of our Constitution, l
am not of those who believe that any
one or all Of them spoke or was capable
of speaking the last word Of political wis
dom / could not differ from their we'll
considered conclusions without distrust-
ing the inclination OF my own mind. This
is the general attitude of the people OF
Virginia.
Mhen. therefore, Washington, Madison,
Randolph Mason, Blair. Jefferson, and
Henry are quoted by gentlemen OF posi-
ton and learning In behalf of public
question the general mind Is At once
prepOssessed I'm its favor Judge, there
lOltt Oh my ulSiiultl, upbll Gbll0hAti VI
a communication to the Democrats OF
Virginia, the general proposal of when
met with my warm approval, to be unable
10 find that any of the ilustTious char
acters called in our behalf had embraced
our side Of this contention; but 50 far
as they seem to be recorded at all, mad
spoken and voted on the contrary side.
Remote from Libraries and historical stu
dents. l must speak sub JUDGE.
Section of Article ]. of the COnstitu-
ion fF Ia. nj r. "a
THE Senate of the United states shall
be composed of two senators from each
State. chosen by the Legislature thereof
for six years; and each senator shall have
one vote"
This is the section under consideration
for amendment, without adverting 10 the
plans proposed by Pinckney, Hamilton,
and others for a Federal Cons ututlon,
this section took its origin in the NTH
resolution, proposed by Mr.. Randolph on
May % 1884, in the Philadelphia Conyen-
ton which adopted the Federal Consti-
tuition.
Mr.. Randolphs fifth resolution was in
part as follows:
THAT the members Of the second branch
Of the National Legislature ought TO be
elected by those OF the first. out of pro-
per number Of persons nominated by tho
individual legislatures" &c, &c.
ON May 3lst this resolution was consid-
cred and Mir. Randolph being called on
to explain: He observed that the gene
raj object was TO provide a cure for tho
evils under which the United states labor
ed. that in tracing these evils 10 their
origin, every man had found il in tho
turbulence and f0llies Of democracy; that
some check. therefore, was 70 be sought
for against the tendency OF our govern
ments: and that good Senate seemed
most likely 10 answer this purpose
Mr.. Wilson. OF Pennsylvania, proposed
that senator's should be elected by the
people. and Mr.. Madison, of Virginia, an
tagOniZed this idea
ron the whole question for electing by
the first branch out of nominations by the
State legislatures-Massac Viz
ginia, South CaTolina-aye, 3.
Connecticut, New York. New Jersey
Pennsylvania. Delaware, North carolina,
GcOrgia-nOes, Z.
on June TN this question as to the
election of the Senate came on 10 he !
further considered on the motion of Mr.. |
Dickinson, of PENNSYLVANIA, that the
members Of the second branch ought 10
be chosen by the individual legislatures
Whatever attitude of opposition can be
attributed 10 the Virginia members or |
the convention IN regard TO this PROPOSE /
tiOn is familiar % every constitutional /
student. and has been emphasized in the /
law schools OF Virginia ever since. II |
had absolutely nothing 10 do with TINS |
mode of selecting senator's. and IS well |
stated in the note 10 Madison fdpeIS' |
Volume H.. page SIG as follows:
TO remark that an election by the state |
legislatures involved d surrender or the |
insisted on by the large states, |
and dreaded by the small Ones-ndmely, /
that of a proportional representation IN /
the Senate
when the compromise was effected |
an equal representation IN !
the Senate 10 every state, no opposition |
to the present plan seems 10 have been
developed In the convention, except on the /
part Of Mr. Wilson. of Pennsyl wanna.
whose motion for referring the election |
To the people was defeated. Pennsylvania
alone voting aye ten other states, IN
Guiding Virginia, voting no.
Upon the rejection of this motion OF
Mr.. Wilson, Colonel Mason, OF Virginia
supported the original motion OF Mr.
Dickinson, and that motion WAS adopted
by every State which had participated IN
the convention. except New Jersey, whose
vote is not recorded. Madison Papers,
Volume H., page Nl
II will be remembered that the States
cast each one vote and that WASHINGTON, |
Randolph, Blair. Madison. Mason, W}tne,
and McClurg We're the delegates from the
Old Dominion.
Whatever Inaccuracies may enter into
an hasty political pamphlet II seems IN
JudiciOus TO quote the following language /
of Mr.. Madison as i'm support OF the
popular election of senators. The great
fabric 90 be raised would be more stable
and enduring If IL should rest upon the
solid foundation OF the people themselves
than if IL should stand merely upon the
pillars of the legislatures" Madison
Papers, Volume H.. page 7yC.
The third preceding page shows that |
the matter under discussion and 10 which
his remarks were addressed was Mr.. Ran
dOlphs fourth resOlutiOn-"that the mem- !
bers Of the first branch of the National
Legislature ought 10 be elected by the