Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-04-13

Whatever inaccuracies may enter
into hasty political pamphlet it
seems injudicious to quote the follow
ing language of Mr.. Madison in sup
port OF the popular election of Sena-
tors:
The great fabric to be raised would
be more stable and enduring if it
should rest upon the solid foundation
of the people themselves than if it
should stand merely upon the pillars Of
the legislatures" Madison Papers,
vol. ,; page 756.
The Ord preceding page shows that
the matter under discussion and to
which his remarks was addressed was
Mr.. Randolph's 18th resolution That
the member of the first branch of the
national Legislature ought to be elected
by the people Of the several States"
which being adopted, the succeeding
page of Madison Papers contained the
tollowing:-"The committees proceed
ed to the fifth resolution that the sec
| ond or senatorial branch of the nation
| al Legislature ought to be chosen by the
first branch out of persons nominated
by the State legislature"
1t is also true that the expression
above attributed to Mr.. Madison imme-
diately succeeds the following:-"He
was al advocate for the policy Of rein
| ing the popular appointments by sue
cessive tiltrations, but thought it might
| be pushed too far. He wished the eX.
| pedlent TO be resorted to only in the
! appointment OF the second branch Of
the Legislature and in the executive and
| judiciary branches of the government"
On the 9th of June, 17SS, in the Viz
| GINA convention which ratified the con-
tuition OF the United States, Mr.. Msd
lson again upheld the clause OF the
constitution under which we now elect
Senators and adopted the careful and
favorable analysis of this subject pre-
viously submitted by Mr.. Nicholas.
Mr.. Madison is also the author OF No.
! LNll OF the FederaliSt as follows:
1T is equally unnecessary TO dilate
on the appointment of Senators by the
State legislatures. Among the various
modes which might have been devised
tor constituting this branch OF the gov
ernment, that which has been proposed
by the convention is probably the most
congenial with the public opinion. 1t is
recommended by the double advantage
of favorlng q select appointment and OF
| giving to the State governments such
an agency in the formation of the fede-
rGl government, as must secure the au-
! thority of the former and may form q
| convenient link between the two sys-
tens"
Il would be presumptous for so cur
sorry student as myself to say that in
al the flood of eloquence poured
out by Mr.. Henry, before the
Virginia convention OF 17SS, no word
of criticism escaped him as TO the IN
constitutional method OF electing Sena-
tors. | have searched, however, with.
out result. 1t is for those who cite him
90 point to chapter and verse. With
submission, however, | should have
been inclined to think that Mr.. Henry 5
| devotion to the rights of the States
would have inclined him favorably to
this recogniLonnof their legislatures in
the federal plan.
| Finally it must be admitted that as q
serious argument the sortes Nirgilienae
or even the sortes ,Iefiersonianae can
not be admitted Mr.. Jefferson's-"I
am not among those who fear the peo-
pie" has about the same relation to the
present subject as the dictum of re-
cent statesman, 81 am a democrat"
The righteousness OF so random quo
tation is at once discovered by refer
ence to what Mr.. Jefferson actually
wrote on this subject.
1t is we'll known that Mr.. Jefferson
was in France during the federal con-
vention OF 1887, and the Virginia Rat
flying Convention of 17SS. His views
upon the new constitution will be
found in q carefully prepared letter
addressed to James Madison, dated
December 20, 1877. So far from an
tagonizing the proposition for electing
Senators, Mr.. Jefferson says:
II like the power given the legisla-
ture to levy taxes and for that
reason solely approved Of the greater
house being chosen by the people d.
rectly. For though l think house
chosen by them will De very lily quail
fec to legislate for the union, for for
eign nations, &C., yet this evil does not
weigh against the good of preserving
lnviolate the fundamental principal
that the people are not to be taxed but
| by representation chosen Immediately
by themselves"
This latter observation is in connec-
ton with the Constitution provisions
requiring tax bills to originate in the
House OF Representatives.
Knowing, as we ell do, the learning
and ability OF the gentlemen signing
| the call of March g. must confess to
an uneasiness in following q leadership
whose first public utterance instances
such inconsiderate 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 Assembly of Virginia, and beg
leave to re-ailrm the declaration of the
Hon. Henry St. George Tucker on the
floor of the House of Representatives
ut is not only proper, but a pleasure
having spoken oil the dangers of cor
ruption in the election of Senators
to state at this point that, so far as my
own State is concerned, and many OF
the States of this Union, there has
never been any ground for charge of
corruption in the election of Senators.
Finally. if the object of the call be
merely the Institution Oh q propaganda
in favor Of a constitutional amendment
4. IL llnntinrn al Snnnlo..