Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1819-05-29

and patriotism OF the community,
----" As who should say,
81 am Sir Oracle, and when ope my mouth,
Let no dog bark %
But it is foreign to my intention to
dwell upon this. | merely wish, with
the freedom which SO truly belongs to
an American, TO express my opinion,
that such a mode Of nomination Off it
may be called nomination is not SO like
ly to keep the representative in mind OF
his dependence on the people, as when
he depends on that people for his nomi-
nation as well as election. In this case
he feels assured that he will not be held
up as candidate for a second election,
unless his conduct has been satisfactory
by the Hastings system, he is enabled to
hold himself up to view Notwithstanding
his dement's, and if he can act without
the checks of honesty (for such charac-
tiers are sometimes to be found in public
life, and when self-nomination is coun-
tenanced, are more likely to obtrude
themselves) can pursue such measures
as a man of rcctitude would disdain, to
secure his election. Thus impudence
and intrigue would triumph over honest
INTEGRITY.
If it should be observed that this is
stigmatizing the public with folly in
elccting a knave to office, answer that
examples Of this kind are not few where
the people are both honest and intelli-
gent. Counterfeits are SO common, and
many of them so well executed, that l
need not enlarge in proof of the practi-
cability. | would barely suggest it as
my opinion, that the majority OF the peo-
pie of England are opposed to the pre-
sent ministry, yet the opposition in the
house of Commons is almost constantly
in the minority, and that this arises from
the Hastings system, by which the popu-
lace is blinded at the precise moment
when they should see most clearly and
act with greatest promptness and de-
cision.
While l discover the defects of one
system, with the hope of expelling it
from the state, it may be expected that
] would point out the advantages of ano-
ther; in order to which would draw a
genera. outline of the, plan l would re-
commend. y
Let the people of our newly formed
state show determination to resist all
attempts by individuals to mount the
office-hunting hobby, by meeting togeth-
er in townships, or counties, or such
other districts as may be most CONVEX
lent, and as will produce the most gene
raj attendance, and let them then appoint
delegates, who may meet at some CEN
trail point of the state, and then acting
as men to whom an important trust is
delegated, let them consult together, and
after mature deliberation, fix upon some
citizen, distinguished by his moral and
intellectual worth, and recommend him
by public address to the people as a
candidate for their sufirages for the Of
fee of representative to Congress.
In making the selection, the delegates
ought to look not at the desires, but the
qualifications of the individual, and if
they perform their duty well and consci-
entiously, we shall have less cause for
those acrimonious feelings which are
engendered when the candidates are their
own trumpeters.
The hackneyed objection to this mode
is, that 1--WE are bound to vote for the
nomination we are not left to our free
choice" Hackneyed as this assertion
is, it is absurd.
If we are compelled to vote for the
person nominated, contrary to our opin-
ions, why not empower the delegates TO
elect the member, and save the expense
of a general election. What is the OBJ
hgation to vote for candidate thus set
up, more than for one who ''oil'ers" him
self? Will he not use every exertion to
succeed? Does he not, by " offerings %
tell the people that he ardently desires
the office for their good !? Now they are
just as much compelled to vote for a
man thus self 6 offered" as for the more
modest man who is selected by their
own delegates.
If the delegates select such man as
/ believe ought to be elected, although
he may not be the individual whom |
would have named, yet | would give
him my vote, without considering my
rights invaded or my freedom compro-
mitted.
But on the other hand, if the delegates
should forget their duty to themselves
and their constituents, and act from self
ish or other improper motives, in the
selection, and by these means hold up
a person unqualified for the office,
would not hesitate to refuse him my vote,