Governors did not appoint Senators prior to the 17th, they were elected by state legislators. State legislators are elected by the voters in their states. It was a very wise system that preserved the interests of the states at the federal level. Which is why the 1900’s progressives did away with it. 1900s progressives wanted an all powerful federal government, like we have now.
I’m sympathetic but not sure what kind of people we’d get...