The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-03-11
FROM THE NATIONAL 1NrE11tcfxicE Err


FROM THE NATIONAL 1NrELLtcENcER.
TO THE PEOPLE OF THE U. STATES.
FELLow-CITIzENs,
In the course of the events which have
marked the conduct and characters of those
TO whom you have, at different periods, in
trusted by your srffrages the power of max
ing laws tor, your government, few measures
nave occurred, since the adoption of the
present constitution, more extraordinary,
than the meeting lately held for the purpose
OF nominating President and Vice-Presi-
dent OF the u. S.
Our alarm is equally excited, whether We
advert to the mode in which the meeting
was summoned, or to the proceedings after
1t was convened. The Senator who assumed
the power of calling together the members of
Congress, did it under the pretext of that
power being vested in him, by former con-
vention; this pretext, whether it be true or
not, implies an assertion of right in the
Congress of 1904, to direct their successors
In the mode of choosing the chief magistrate
an assertion which no man has ever before
had the hardihood TO advance. The notices
were private; not general to all the men,
oers OF the two Houses nor confined TO the
republican party: a delegate from one of
the territories. was invited and attended, a
man who in elections has no suffrage, and in
legislation no vote. The persons, who met
IN pursuance OF this unprecedented summons,
proceeded without discussion or debate, to
determine by ballot the candidates for the
highest Offices in the union. The characters
OF different men, and their pretentions to the
public favor, were not suffered to be can
vassed, and all responsibility was avoided by
the mode of selection. The determination OF
tins conclave has been published as the act of
the republican party; and with as much ex-
uItatIon ms the result of a solemn election by
the nation Attempts are making to impress
upon the public mind, that those proceed
iiigs ought to be binding upon all the repubii-
cans, and those who refused to attend or
dlsapproved of the meeting are denounced
as enemies of liberty, and as apostates from
the cause OF the people. In this state of
things, we think it our duty to address YOU.
and we deem ourselves called upon to enter
our most solemn protest against these pro-
ceedings
|. 1t is true that at former periods, when the
election of President and Vice President
approached, it was customary to hold meet
ings of the members of Congress- for the pur
pose OF recommending candidates to the pub
ilc But these meetings, if not justified,
were palliated by the necessity of union. The
federallsts presented formidable phalanx;
and either to succeed at all, or to prevent
them from placing the candidate for the
wee Presidency in the Presidential chair,
1t was necessary to exert the combined efforts
OF the whole republican party But it is e.
qually true that In those instances, the NOM
nations tor the Presidency were mere mat
tiers OF course. In the first and second elec-
lions uD6Pr the tha IL
were turned upon @ eneral Washington, and
since the expiration of the two periods, dur
ing which he filled the supreme executive Of
nee, there has not until now been any diff
ference OF opinion, among the republicans,
as to the candidate for the first magistracy.---
The real object of all former meetings, was
to produce such corporation as would Sc
cure the election of republican Vice-Pre-
sident
The circumstances, which might be urged
in cxtenuation of such measure heretofore,
do not now exist. The fcdcralists are Com
parativeiy few in number, and form but fee
Die party they cannot give 70 any one candi-
date, more than sixteen or seventeen votes
out of one hundred and seventy six no fe-
deralist can therefore be elected by the Elcc-
tors; and should no person have a majority
of all the electoral votes, the choice of the
President will deIolVe on the members of the
present House OF Representatives, in which
the federalists have the votes Of only two
states, Connecticut and Delaware. The al
teratloH of the constitution prevents the dan
ger of any intrigue, by which the intended
Vice-President might be elected President.
No good reason can therefore now be assign
cd, why an union of the republicans in favor
of any particular person, should be attempted
by measure III itself so exceptionable, as a
nomination by the Senators and Representa-
tives in Congress.
We do not say that a consultation among
the members OF Congress, respecting the per-
sons to be recommended as candidates for
the two highest Offices of the nation; may
not in some extraordinary crisis, be proper.
But the propriety must arise from absolute ne
cessity. Even then, we doubt whether it can
be completely justified. The people ought
to exercise their right of election without a.
ny undue bias and is il not the evident in
tention Of such consultations, to produce a
bias' Besides, in the event Of there being
no election by the electors, the choice of the
President deyelyes on the House Of Repre-