Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-02-07
.,.
snnnfnrx hx the PcOpIc.

fredericksburg Free Lai.ce1 odoral
| M, ,,ostion of amending the Federa
| Constitution so as TO nave 20 tho
o,ec,ed bv the people, instead OIL .no
present plan of choosing tnena " ca,n-
| State legislatures, is undodp.Su.' ,o,,or
| ing more and more into popui'i 20 :.
| Ard surely the spectacle in tne paos
~ weeks presented by the legislature
IN several States is well calcuiaIeu ~
o,,icken the sentiment in favor Oh suy"
| anendment especially the scenes az
tending the canvassing and bailotlns ia
prnnsvIvanIa. Delaware. Montana, Nsvh-
da California, West Virginia anu N'
broska. -, aoho,es
III any one will read the secret u. ,',,so,,
of the Philadelphia ConVehliUn, Viz
formed the Constitution, ne WIN oS 30
tho, remarkable body distrusted the ca
nocItv of the people for self-goverImeh';;
irbev on Ieayored TO take the electiOh VI
tho President away from the peopie W
tho Intervention of the electoral D'i.Se'
and the provision for the electioh "a -
ators by the legislatures was an ei'u,' ~ ~.
I'm the same direction. on the thlIu 80 n"S
of the convention two compeuns sOne.
of Government were brought 10" IL,
~ virginia plan and the New
Jersey plan. as they were caiiSu.lne
former being introduced by Edmuhu h Van,
dolph The Virginia plan proposeu oi'a'
the members of the upper branch Vi -
ate should be chosen by INC
branch blouse of Representatives, OUT
OF a proper number 10 be nominated py
the state legislatures. charles rlhVnue.
proposed the plan finally adopted 'i't
the State legislatures shOulu chVoHo ~
snnotors Alexander Hamilton was for
the election by the people oil electors az
I'm the case of President. Some We're Ior
the appointment of the senator's by tle
president Two of the very strongest
mon I'm the convention favored the eIec-
tion of senator's directly by the peopie'
Tbese were James Madison, OF virginia
and James Wilson. of PennsylYahla. VII
son declared that the election py 'ne
people would be most IkelS 10 op'din
men of intelligence ana upilsh'n'99'
Madison favored proportional representa-
ion in the Senate as in the House; and
all the large States favored this Nirglma
beino at that time the most populous
and the wealthiesO; but the members
from the smaller States deliberately ihdde
mn tbair minds to withdraw from me
Convention unless an equal representa-
ton was given them i'm the Senate.
s. Great was the distrust Of the people
I'm the early days of the repuDlc tldI
there was a very widespread ieeIlhs 'hdI
the election Of Mr.. jefferson (Who IeP'e-
santed the idea of coniiding all power III
the people) would result in disruption Oh
the Union. When his name was spoken
of rs competitor with Adams az WASH
irgton's successor oliver WOlcott OF con-
recticut. then Secretary Of the Treasury
Hamilton having resigned), WIot.'
sincerely declare that / wish the NoIln
or,, states would separate from the south
eru the moment that event jefferson -
election shall take effect Bul eNpe'i-
ence demonstrated that Jefferson $ CONF
dence I'm the capacity ana pttriou9ih va
Inc neople was not misplaced. ana grad
,,aiy vear bv year the wisest and best OF
orr ,,iblic men came TO share his falth N
the masses of the people.
What sound reason can any man give
for giving to the people the choice Oh
members Of the lower house OF congress
ana donying 10 them the election OF the
unuer house? No sound reason Tor TINS
distinction can be given. and II never had
any foundation except distrust by
majority OF the trainers or the 'ohSplu-
ton of the capacity OF the people Ior
salf-govcrnment. II is our weli-considered
belief that the Constitution ought 10 ne
amended so as to give the election OF
senators to the people. # will 20 far to-
wards removing the election from the
Vaccinations of intriguing politicians ana
from the corrupt influences when now
so II is charged, often prevail in the lesis-
latures. <-..,..
OF course, It is not possible to free cleo
tions no matter how held, altogether
from malign influences; but the opportuni-
Ties for the exercise Of such influences are
undoubtedly greater with legislatures
than they would be with the great mass
OF the people. The trend of public senu-
ment is towards a change in the selection
of United States Senators from the legis-
1otures 10 the people and the Free Lance
confidently believes that it will come to
PASS and that before many years shall
90 by. The sooner the change is made
the better II will be-