Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-12-24

ties, for the time being, az may answer
their particular views. Our oYn expert
ence is ample to prove tbs: We have
seen sometimes general vote prescribed
| districts ot'various sizes clecting from
one TO three or four Representatives OF
electors, and legislatures have taken upon
themselves the appointment of electors
Thus have the people been kept i'll .
| observation-disclosures ad uncertainty, about
| the most important right they possess,
after enjoying it very equIyocaliy and in
directly, if enjoyed at all. There have
been exhibited between states and the
parties i'll states, almost every four years,
what might be called apolitical farce, but
for the importance ofihe actors, and the
weight of the results. The prevailing
advocates of state-rights, and for giving a
united suffrage, regardless of the senti-
ments of divisions, being minority of
the whole state. The minority in state
have commended for allowing to every sec
ton Its proper and distinct weight, tend
ing to divide the weight of suffrage
And this is the. general character of the
majority and minority, no matter of what
political complexion.
We have seen the great state of Penn
sylvania, though she generally acts with
much regularity, at the point of losing
her entire suffrage in the choice of cleo
tors !; the choice was then III the legisla
tnre, and the two branches differing III
political views, they were unable to agree
on ballot, until an actual compromise
was effected, in which each side held
out tor the best terms it, could pro-
cure. In this act the public voice was
unheard
About four years ago a similar case
happened i'll Massachusetts, in which
compromise was agreed to, after many
vain attempts to effect the choice, the
TWO branches being opposed TO each O.
Their
About the same time, in New-Jerscy, q
general vote of the ople being the es-
tabllsled mode for choosing electors, and
no change in the number of electors, or
other ostensible reason for an alteration,
existing, the legislature convened a few
days previous 10 the time of election, and
findings majority of that body of a differ
emf political complexion from what they
supposed the majority of the qualified
voters IN the state TO be, the election law
was instantly repealed, and the right of
appointing electors was assumed by the
legislature, giving the electoral college
their own political image.
Mr.. p. sa;d he meant no ref SC ivu on
these respectable states the fault is in
the system, or rather the want of system.
These are few only Of the ridiculous
aud disgusting occurrences which ever
have, and ever will attend this unsettled
course; tending to degrade our repre-
sentative government in the eyes of tine
world, and to lower it in our own estiRla-
ton
We boast Of our government as an ex-
ception III the wisdom Gifts organization,
as well as in the freedom of its institu-
tons, and that If is not formed for the
present day only, butfor posterity. How
can we reconcile this promising picture
with the fact before us, that we cannot
exercise one of the plainest acts under
the constitution, and one essential TO its
existcnce-the choice of a chief magis-
trate-without these struggles and in
trisues among the members of the confe-
deracy, and between their component
parts No uniformity-no stability ::
maxlms which we call fundamental, be-
ing often disregarded in practice, by which
the people, the boosted fountain of pow
err, have sometimes not even the SEM
blance ofsuffrage, and often nothing but
the semblance. The electors, chosen by
a Legislature, elected for a very differ
ent purpose, or by general ticket, form
ed by a legislative or other caucus.
Would 1T not conduce more TO the dig
nifty and stability OF the government,
TO have its principal Offices filled by a
TAR and uniform procedure, which long
habit would render venerable 2 Nothing
tends more to give respect to any insti-
tuition, than long unatered custom This
renders bad government more tolerablc,
and is the foundation of half the laws of
every country in the world, our own not ex-
cepted. When, TO this regularity of me-
thod, is added the qualities of being fair,
pure, and congeDiaI to our free pro-
LESSONS, we can at least promise our
selves fair trial of tie theory of our GO
vernment.
These qualities all attend the mode
proposed, in an eminent degree, with o.
theirs which add to It's worth. IN cleo
tlons by the people, in single districts,
the candidates viii be well known 10 the
voters they can best Judge by their own
knowledge, who may be entitled Ia their
confidence. The choice flows most d-
rectly from the people, who need 10 die
tatlOn from caucus. The voter is not
hampercd by a general ticket Of many
names, some of whom ne may not know,
and others he may not like. Tie opera
ton being confined to narrow limits, and
the result being small, the public excite
ment cannot be great. The exercise of
suffrage, originating with the people, it
must be inaccessible to corruption. II is
a maxim universally admitted, that the
hnt., off tho ,,.,rIo -,