[Pelham]

There may be valid arguments against the direct election of US Senators, but blaming that for the loss of State power versus the national government isn’t one of them. That happened 50 years earlier.

Union victory in the Civil War ended the doctrine of state’s rights via force majeure, no messy Constitutional amendment needed. The Anti-Federalists’ suspicions were proven to be correct, the national government consolidated power to itself.

https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/blog/the-anti-federalists-and-their-important-role-during-the-ratification-fight

[Jacquerie]

What is the purpose of having two sets of reps, one popular per congressional district, and two roving, unattached, and likewise popularly elected senators per state?

[Jacquerie]

In opposition to the Framers, late 19th century progressives promoted a new purpose and a new foundation for the senate. Rather than block the will of the people, the new senate should facilitate their will. To facilitate their will, it follows that senators must, like representatives, stand for popular election. Indeed. In 1891, Senator David Turpie (D-IN), said that direct election, “would serve the needs, wants, aims, and aspirations of the masses of men in our communities to be more faithfully reflected, more clearly imaged forth in the laws of the country and administration.”3

Self-interest led the house to support the 17th Amendment (17A). Popularly elected senators represented the same constituency (albeit more numerous) as popularly elected representatives. Through their senators, pre-17A states often did their duty and blocked populist proposals from the house. Without the influence of state legislatures, the house stood to gain power in congress.4

Few voices advised caution, that despite the progressives’ propaganda regarding corruption, the senate still served its Constitutional and proper purpose, to temper and cool wild proposals from the house, protect the states from federal encroachment, and provide wise counsel and circumspection of the president’s nominees and proposed treaties.

A Senate of the States - The 17th Amendment Part II.