The Republican ledger — Portsmouth, N.H., 1800-07-01 00:00:00, page 1

IN, NUMBER 4J.— VOL. I.]
,11 doubts are removed : as " the body po
litic" is declared to be formed bv ^ a volun
tary arfociation of individ^? ' It is aso
vttAL COMPACT, fays the Constitution, by
'whigh % whole people covenants with
&% citizen, and each citizen with the whole
people. Now. Meffn. Printers, when we
compare these several paifages with one ano
ther, can there be a doubt who ought to ap
point the Eledoti ? Will the State, or bo-
of government is to secure the exigence of
the (State) "or " body politic."—Here the
words government and body politic, are in di
st& contradiaton. But in the next feffiop
Remarks on the Resolution -lately passed the Le
gijlature of this State, d^pr^ing the People of
their right to.appoint Electors for President
and Vice-President.
Messrs. Adams & Rhoades,
I Scarcely believe a lingle perfdtl In either
the Senate or House of Representatives,
look the trouble calmly to examine the
merits of the late question; as to the p'ropei
mode of appointing Eledobs sos President
and Vice-President. The design was open
ly avowed, by a chip of the block, to secure
every vote in the State for Mr. Adams, to
the exclusion of Mr. Jeffeifon. Mr." Pinck
hey, the real candidate, who is intended to
be Smuggled into the chair of government
by his -particular friends, was not even men
tioned in the Short debate which occurred
on this interesting occasion. Thus the Con
stitution has been daringly violated, and the
People Gripped of their privilege, in favor
Os Mr., Pinckney, while the Hamiltonian
or Eflex Junto are laughing heartily at the
Tuccefs of their Stratagem. Ms. Adams,
whdis the mere toss-ball of the party, is
now clearly denounced in the Centinel., He
is calculated to have influence to procure on
ly 66 yqte§, while Mr. Pinckney is compu
ted at 77. Perhaps no poirit of the fame
^magnitude, was so suddenly decided. It
was pretended; that if the State did but
choose, the meaning of the Constitution Was
thereby fully answered. I now fend you
for publication, in your impartial paper,
ihe LXVIIIth number of the federalist,
<vhich was published soon after the present
Constitution was presented to the People
for their approbation. It fully proves what
Were the Ideas then held of thi^ power,
Which has thus been assumed by the Legifla--
lure.
It is conceived that they were written by
the learned, and patriotic: Mr. Madison, and
by Mr. Duer, and Jay, In conjunction with
Mr. Hamilton, (late getiekal of our provi
sional army, so happily disbanded.) This
last gentleman was supposed, in the time of
them, to have been their principal author.—
Messrs. Hathiltdn arid Madison were both
in the Convention— Duer and Jay well
knew all the Secrets and Ideas of that cele-
brated assembly. There is, therefore, no
reason to believe that their opinion is iricor
fe&. They had then no eteaibheering pro
ject to enforce. Their ideas, therefore, on
this head at least, mull have flowed warm
from their hearts ; and it appears beyond a
question that it was then imagined, that the
People alone had the right to appoint the
Electors for President & Vice-President. 11
this was the design of the Convention it is
likely that their intention has not been clear
ly expressed in the Constitution ? That sup-
Obfition is more absurd than any other. Mr.
Hamilton certainly knew what the Conven
tion intended, and he had then no motive to
disguise or pervert the truth. ,
Let us now enquire, Messrs. Printers,
How far the words of the Constitution cor
respond with the explanations and opinions
contained in the following letter. It is
wifely enabled, that each State shall ap
point Electors in such manner as the Legis
lature thereof may dire&. These words
lire found tn the 2d fe&ion, under the 2dar
ticle of the Constitution.
The only remaining queftfon then is whe
ther the Legislature of the State, in any
fence, can be considered as the State, itfelf.
This point Will not be long undetermined ;
for, if the citizens will only turn to the pre
amble of our local Constitution, it will be
there found, that " the end of the inftitutier
[The following Remarks, though calculated for
* the meridian pt the Massachusetts Legislature,
are so perfectly applicable to ours, that it is
'prefumed cur cullomers will be gratified by
their inf^rtiou.]
,
From the Independent Chronicle.
Political sifOT#n,
" WHEN YOU SHALL THESE DEEDS RELATE, SPEAK OF THEM AS THEY ARE ; NOTHING EXTENUATE NOR SET DOWN OUGHT IN MALICE."
PRINTED AT PORTSMOUTH, (NEW-HAMPSHIRE) NEXT DOOR TO ROUSSELET's MUSEUM, MULBERRY LANE.
The Republican Ledger.
dy politic, now appoint them according to
the existing resolution ? No; Sirs, that is
impossible., The Governor may appoint
them—a Convention of cititehs may ap
point them—but the State does not appoint
them. Will the People be Satisfied, espe
cially too when they have invariably exer
cised this right; aS far at they could; ever
tince the Federal Constitution was eftablith
ed ? It is very true, that the two of the E
leaors; which anfwefed to thte two Senators
chosen by the Legislature; bate been in our
late elections, appointed Flexors. For
the representation of the State has been made
as compleat as possible id the appointment
of Eleaors: For there are fourteen to an
swer to.the fourteen Representatives, & there
are two others to correspond to the number
of Senators. There was forte apology for
the Legislature appointing two 'of the whole 1
number, when the fourteen were appointed
among the districts, for the fake of conveni
ence, but with no party motive. Will the
Southern States be quiet under this flagrant
attempt to weaken the Republican interest,
iri this unprecedented manner? Will even
the citizens of Massachusetts sleep much
longer on their posts ? Massachusetts, the
fifft born of liberty—the former favorite of
all true Republicans. But I detain you too
long, Merits, Printers—you will exclaim,
the Letter, give us the promised Letter, so
much to the potnt ; and let it be read by
the. PEOPLE.
.Number lxviii.
The view of the Constitution of the rtfidem con
tinued, in Relation to the Made of appointment.
THE mode of appointment ot the chief
magistrate of the United States is ^moft the•
only part of the fylfot of any consequence,:
which h^s escaped without Severe censure,
or which has received the flighted mark of
approbation from its opponents. The most
p@fi% of these, who has appeared in the;
prim, has even deigned to admit, that the e
le&ion of the President is pretty well guard
ed. I venture Somewhat further, and hefi.
tate not to affirm, that if the manner of it 1
be not perfect, it is at lead excellent; It
unites in an eminent degree all the advanta
ges, the union of which was to be desired.
It was deferable; that the sense of the peo
ple should operate in the choice of the per
son to whom so important a trull was to be
confided. This end will be answered by
committing the right of making it, not to
any pre-eflablilhed body; but to then, chosen
by the people for the special pbrpofe, and
at the particular conjuncture.
It was equally deft rable,that the immediate
eleaion Should be made by men most capa
ble of analizing the qualities adapted to the
Station, and anting under circumstances fa
vorable to deliberation and to a judicious
combination of all the reasons and induce
ments that were proper to govern their
choice. A small dumber of persons, selected
by theirfellow-citizens from the general mass,
will be most likely to possess the informa
tion and difeernment requisite to so compli
cated an investigation.
It was also peculiarly definable, to afford
as little opportunity as possible to tumult &
difofider. This evil was not lead to be
dreaded ih the election of a magistrate ; who
was to have so important ah agency in the
administration of the government, as the
President of the United States. But the
precautions which have been so happily con
cerned in the system under consideration,
promise an effectual fcurity against this
mifehief. The choice of several to form an
intermediate body of electors, will be much
less apt to cohVulfe the community, with
any extraordinary or violent movements,
than the choice of bne who was himfelf to be
the final objed of the public withes. And
as the eleaors, chosen in each State, are to
assemble and vote in the State in which they
are chosen, this detached and divided situa
tion will expose them much less to heats
and ferments., which might be communicat
ed from them to the people, than if they
were all t^be convened at one time in one
place.
Nothing was more to be desired, than that
every practicable obstacle should be opposed
to cabal, intrigue and corruption. These
most deadly adversaries of republican gov
ernment might naturally have been expect
ed to make the'r approaches from mote than
one quarter, but chiefly from the desire in
foreign powers to gain an improper alcend
ant in our councils-, How could they better
gratify this, than by railing a creature of
TUESDAY, JULf 1,1800.
their own to the chief magistracy of the
'union ? But the convention have guarded
against all danger of this fort with the most
provident Arid judicious attention. They
have not made the appoiritmeht of the Prt
fident to depend on any pfe-eXifling bodies
of men Who might be tampered with before
hand to prostitute thteir votes ; but they have
referreu it in the firft instance to an immedi
ate ad of the people of America, to be exerted
in the Choice of perfops for the temporary
and fye purpofc of making the appointment.
And taey have excluded from the eligibility
to this trust, all those who from Situation
might be fufpcaed of too great devotion to
the President in office. No fenator,frepre
fentative, or other person holding a place of
trust or profit under the United States can be
the eledors. Thus, without corrupting the
bod) of the people, the immediate agents in the
election will at lead enter upon the talk; free
from any sinister biafs. Their tranfeient
exigence, and their detached Situation, al
ready taken notice of, afford a Satisfactory
profpeC tof their cohtinuing so to the con
clusion of it. The buSineU of corruption,
when it is to embrace so cobfiderable a num
ber of men; requires time as well as means.
Nor would it be found easy suddenly to em
bark them, dispersed as they would be over
thirteen states, in any combinations found
ed upon motives, which though they could
not properly be denominated corrupt, might
yet be of a nature to mislead them froth their
duty.
Another and no lets important defideta^
turn was, that the executive should be inde
pendent for his continuance in office on all,
but the people themselves. He might oth
erwise be tempted to facrifce his duty to his
complaisance for those whose faVor was ne
cessary to the duration of his official conse
quence. This advantage will also be secur
ed by making his re-eledion to depend on
a special body of representatives, deputed by
the society fox the single purpose of making
the important choice.
All these advantages will be happily com
bined in the plan devised by the convention,
which is that the people of each State Ihall
choose a number of persons as ele&ors,
equal to the number of Senators and repre
sentatives of Such ftat^ in the national gov^
ernment, who shall assemble within the
date and vote for some fit person as Presi
dent. Their votes thus given are to be
transmitted to the feat of the national gov
ernment ; and the person who may happen
to have a majority of the whole number of
votes, will be the President; But as a ma
jority of the #otes might hot always happen
to centre on one man; ahd as it might be
unfafe to, permit less than a majority to be
conclusive, it is provided that in Such a con
tingency, the house of representatives shall
feltcl out of the candidates, who shall have
the five higher numbers of votes, the man,
who in their opinion may be best qualified
for the office.
PUBLIUS.
What is the cause of those aspersions,
and foul declamations raffed by a party who
arrogantly styles itfelf federal, against the
republican citizens, who are asserting the
rights of freemen, and holding up tb view
the Scales of equality in a reptefentative
government, as the only means to make the
people happy. Let us for a moment make
some general obfervatioris on the thara&er
of both parties, and fee which deserves the
applause and approbation of true Ameri
cans—and then conclude with a remark or
two.
ln the firft plaice, has not the party desig
nated by federal, given as much reason to
believe that they are not sincere in their
profeffions ; that their pretended zealous
ness proceeds principally from an intention
to deceive and keep the people in blindness
to their dark views, and thereby be more a&
ble to play off their fchetnes of chicanery &
deception ? If we look and fee who com
pose this party, do We not find many of our
old enemies the thoft strenuous advocates cf
it ? Does not a party made of fnch charac
ters look suspicious? Are they not the warm
friends of our administration ? If they are,
does it not fufficicntly prove that they are
interested in its support, either from lucra.
live or political motives? If they were not
,/'v^u^.^. w\ 4 #- ' ^,
FELLOW CITIZENS,
READ and UNDERSTAND.
From the Centinel of Freedom.
[1 DOL. 50 CTS. PER ANNUM.
Id an address to the citizens of Norfolk, by one
of the proprietors, it appears that of the elegant
hot-prelfed edition of the bible, printed in Phila
delphia, by Messrs. John Thomplon and A. Small
some years ago, fourteen hundred copies have al
ready been fold out of the 1500 which were print
ed ; a proof of the good taite, as well as piety, of
the citizens of the United States. We are happy
to learn that such an undertaking hath met with
fuctf encouragement.
Mr. Pickering was willing to let go bis best
bower—but his cable was cut by the failing m,°
ter—feme folks think he is how aft adrift, and wilh
to bring him up by the run.
Seeking Something derogatory to the rights
of freemen; why so firmly adhere to what
is called the aristocratic party r Why not re
hiain neutral in our political affairs ? Is that
the case ? No; but on the contrary, do we
not find them the most zealous and active
in endeavoring to influence our elections)
and using every artifice th bring true repub
licans into contempt and diftepute / Does
not, this look as though they Were defitous
to deftro„our happy form of government,
an ." '"''"""e a form congenial to their
wife in their stead ? Look at the conduct
of the trhe/erving federalifts, in declaring a
war necellary with France ; and while they
criminated lier condu& in taking our mer
chantmen, did they not juftify the captures
made by Britain by their lilence on the fob
je& ? Look at their condud in abusing and
calumniating every one who will not impli
citly fubferibe to their doctrine. Look at
their conduct in calling their opponents ja
cobins ahd antl-federalifts. Look at thejr
conduct in the origin of the feditioh law.— +
Why retrain the people from animadvert
ing on their agents conduct ? Is it because
their deeds are evil ? Is it not a true maxim,
that truth and uprightness will always prove
a barrier against falfhood & calumny ? If so,
why should the federalists have a Sedition
law to terrify the people, and Support their
influenc'e ? Let thb judicious reader remem
ber, that the sedition law now ekifts, and tie
mult answer these queltions.
In the fecohd place do we not find repub
licans to be Strenuous advocates for peace
with all hatious, when that can be preferred
with that honor and independence which be^
comes the chara&er of a free, powerful and iris
dependent nation ? Do we find them willing
to Sacrifice the public good and happiness fort
the fake of gratifying a few who ,te Seeking
the loaves and fi/het at the public expebfef
Do we find them willing to bpprefs the in
dustrious farmer in his landed:property,while
the Speculator who has his fortune in the
bank, pays no per cent, for the Support of
government ? Do we find them anxious to
oppress you with almost ihfupportable taxes
which are neceflary to Support a navy and a
handing army, at a time when your coun
try is at peace ? Do we find them anxious
to deter the people from invefligating the
condua of their public Servants ? Did the
republicans advocate the pafling of the Sedi
tion law, a law Which has created so mucli
jealousy, so much warmth, and so much
distrust among out fellow citizens ? Do we
find them pofTefling ihat persecuting Spirit,
which their Opponents so frequently exer
cise ? Is there an instance where the repub
licans have commenced Suits by virtue of
the Sedition a& against any of the federal
party, notwithstanding the most libellous
publications which hate been circulated by
them against Tome of the officers of govern
ment. Ye Saviours of the American Re
public, examine these questions With candor
and impartiality, and fee if you cannot an
swer, with the utmof t propriety, in the ne
gative.
In thus contrafling the tWo powerful po
litical parties in America, what friend to li
berty, what friend to the Independence of
the United States mus t hot view the former
with a jealous eye ? Who can look at their
daily proceedings without Shrinking back
with abhorrence !—But look at the princi
ples of the latter. They are the lovers of
liberty, the adtnirers of the constitution, and
the supporters of all conflitutional law s—in
Short, they are the friends and adherents to
that system of government founded by the
FATHER OF HIS COUNTRY, Gert. GLO.
WASHINGTON, whose virtue and pat
riotism they revere. It is theres »re, evident
that the republicans are ffie true Americans,
and that they will not Sacrifice the liberty of
their country to any foreign government
whatsoever, nor even fuffer a powerful aris
tocracy, or domestic prince to usurp that
power veiled in the people by nature, as well
as by our charter of rights;