[hinckley buzzard]

I’ve lived in several states, and in none of them have I seen any reason to believe the legislature would be more likely to elect a good Senate than the general populace

The point was not a "good" senate, whatever that means, but an avenue of federalism whereby the States had a strong voice in Washington to temper an ambitious and abusive central government. Popular vote removed federalism from the national legislature, to the enduring detriment of the States. And ultimately the Nation as a whole.

The change was of course a part of the Progressive Era agenda in the early twentieth century, the most catastrophic 20 years in the nation's history.

[Sherman Logan]

My point was that I’ve yet to see any reason to believe a Senate elected by the States would be more likely to convict and remove from office an impeached President that a Senate elected by the people of that State.

Your point about the weakening of federalism is well-taken, but it has little to do with impeachment

[Jacquerie]

Patrick Henry predicted rapid consolidation of all power into the new government. James Madison responded that could not happen as long as we had a Senate of the States.

The Framers got it right.