St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1911-04-12
Election of U. s. Senators.


In another column will be found
an able editorial published in the St.
Adams Messenger in response to a
recent editorial on the subject of the
election of U. S. senators which ap-
peared in the Caledonian. The issue
between the Messenger and the Gale
DOMAIN is a fair one which it would
seem might be profitably discussed at
this time when the sentiment for the
popular election of senators is SO
strong.
The Necessity of States-The
quotations given by the Messenger
are from fundamental law and of
course cannot be denied but is the
Messenger correct regarding the es-
tablishment of our present form of
government. While it was adopted
by 1--WE the people of the United
States it was really formed by the
states themselves and the people
recognized them. Previous to the
adoption of the constitution there
was a federation between the states
themselves and when it was propos-
ed to substitute the present form for
the old confederation the rights and
powers of the states as individuals
were fully defined and carefully pro-
tected.
This was one of the necessary and
wise provisions of the federal govern
ment. Without it the present union
could not have been formed neither
could our present national greatness
and strength have been developed.
Had the mere mass of votes been the
only test for the choice of our nation
al lawmakers our government would
have been centralized in such a small
part of the national territory that it
would have been necessary to have
held the greater part of our present
sparsely settled territory in subjuga-
ton or lost controI over it. At the
time the constitution was adopted the
power would have been centralized in
a very narrow strip of territory
along the Atlantic coast. All of the
territory west of the Alleghanies
would have had practically no voice
in what the laws or their government
should be. Were it in force today
the power would be centralized in
the Mississippi valley and all the
other portions of the country would
be at their mercy. 1t cannot be claim
ed that one section can legislate wise
~ for all sections and if such large
portions of>the country had no effect
i've voice in the government their
loyalty to the government would soon
fail. The only thing that could keep
them under control of such a govern
ment would be force and that of
course would mean military control.
But with each state given an equal
voice in the legislative department
all sections of the country are given
a voice in the making of the law and
no legislative policy can be adopted
unless majority of all the states as
we'll as a majority of the direct rep
resentatives of the people shall ap-
prove of it. In this way the loyalty
of such a large proportion of our
cannot be successfully attempted.
The necessity of this form of equal
representation for all the territorial
divisions of this country must be
patent to all.
Who Represents The State-Aside
from the territorial boundaries of a
state the general government recog-
nizes the government of the state
rather than the people of the state
To the state government it leaves the
rights of making most of the laws
under which the individual lives. 1t
holds the state government RESPONSE
BILE for the enforcement of state laws.
Aside from limited and defined prin-
ciples embodied in the national con-
stitution it offers no protection to the
individual from the laws of the state.
The dealings of the national govern
ment with the state is not with the
individual voter but with the state
government as the agent and repre-
sentative of the state. The states
in forming the national government
fixed the limits of national control
over them and the national govern
ment accepted and has faithfully OBJ
served these limitations. The states
also referred to the people the out
line of their duties and powers and