Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-03-27

th'u~tbU- Dut to eheTCisc tJttT tpnt ca
suffrage, does not evlnce such an organ
izatlon IL the officers Of The u. States.
nor Is the iDdiscrecI yea! OF some OF then,
to he eed as - proof of its existence.
Individuals may be violent. without being
organ'ged 10 subrert the foundations on
state sovereignty aud such an indiscre-
lion becomes The strongest evidence that
10 sucii organization exists. The ap-
proach u! despoi-m. is not by boisie.
rous iuvec'ives, or deep. toned rccriminss
irons; bn' by silent aud imsidious adj
vances-- undermining first. theu pros
trating; and If the general government
had organized ,heir officers to waragainss
this state, or any Individual of il. the
means would not have been employed,
Which have been indicated, az the evi.
dence of such design. His Excel!cnry
observes, that The elective franchise
shon!d be exercised by na,ioual officers,
an the genuine spirit IF republication
| that tie smDfoges Of tile c,fiSen should not be
Oidssed by the en,oiuments and honors IF the
officer. and that lie should not carry into the
elections any Of tie Influence derived from, his
cGiciai position" This Discrimination 10
NOT easily comprehended, and won,d
seem to he impracticahie. The constitu-
ton and laws recogn,Ze no distinction,
between the citizens who hold offices
N'utf tuf OUNtd StdlfS. anu tH0SS VINO
do not, in tle mode Of exercising ibe eiccs
| tive franchise. II they have tie right 10
vote at our elections, may they mol also
| express their opinions OF the conduct of
pnblc men, and offer the reasons which Z
induce them 10 prefer one candidate TO
| another! ilfis right, the executive dee
eiares III his messag,, iS poss essed bv
every citizen and alms The benefit Of
| j, himself. Aud 1t may further be asked,
have they not The same right ~hicA Other
cii;zsns enjoy, OF inducing their coiapaI.
ions, ne!gsborS, aud friends, o ce-upt-
rate with ,iiem. i'll all honorable mes-
suree, 10 promote The genera! welfare =
Or, are ;hey merely IN be pcrmlttrzi 80
deposit their haIeis nto the boxes. and
then 10 .eire This would be- prcs-
erpiioD unjust az we'll AS uncons,iin-
sional ahsidpiag the freedom OF action
and 81 speech, aud Introducing dis'itlc-
lions between our ci'i2eus, repuguant 10
or republican chat c'er. l. il pnsYihle
~ separate the iDtlaencc, which AN indi-
vidnal would possess, il liP we're W, a
national officer, from that which lie
possesses "a such, in any seusibl, rlan-
ner, so as 10 allow him 10 exercise his
Whole influence al The state ceclinns, IN
the first character, end excluding all
shich apRer'ai;iS 10 him in tie o,Err ca
l TdCuN AtbidIilt SuC' ulSrIIn.
,nalion Is Theoretical and iauclfui, NOT
| psagiiCabie.
There i no alternative, but 10 refuse
TO the oihc ~ Of The general government
all participation in ilr elective frau. hlse
t-or 10 sanction 10 them iis fu,!, free.
and unrestricted cxa:t,se, in equal dea,ee
with other c.'z ~. n vii nj be pre-
tended, that ikis stale c;.uid corsiiipti, N
ally pass law, restraining oiiiee,s IF re
| UnIied S'aies from The enIUi meni of thus
privI'eg>: neither has HE g~neral eov-
ernm.ni' ihe power TO control Them i'm
'h,s particular, or To prescribe The course
| which they are 10 pursu in reference 10
stale elections. This idea will be clearly
illustrated by single examplo. Suppose,
Tia, Immediately preceding the last eIec
lion, The genera! governmen, had issued
al order. prohibiting tielg Ulcers ff0n,
INTERFERING I'll that occasion uuoni pain
OF removal; or, merely prrm,-.iRr iilcm.
10 give fheic strut veics. Vito would
mol have pronounced s0cl measure q
violation OF herr rights, a. ,ilizers of ii,is
slate Wac woHld have been foremost
I" deUOun"P iiIrm 'OT tins " uuwdtranla,
Die obtruslpD n' eNfrane ,us il hu nee, in
lie local concerns a. ,br staie1 Snch
tonduci wauli haee mrriled aaG ygurlP
have met, III The Indignation Of cyrry
friend Is liberty with VIA prop5.efy.
then, has tie executive q ma den fEe
intrrro sitioD Il the M . nal Ieg,siA re.
and iDs inu,ted thai ,hcS wee rrrarri.ss
Of their duty 0pon ,As sutjecl 2 Anv
interference on tie part of 'he general
| government. either 10 restrict ar instruct
'heli Offices, would ir eguaIlr uuuon-
'iiLtona and rriu-t Aner he most
del bria'e reflections. the comnd,ies are
OF OpiujDu hat tlp floor Of flr ,sra
ial gnvciuWCn! arc mas in n st4te II aise
rranchisemept but that ibeir rights, IA
citgcus 81 ihe RESPECTIVE s'xtfs, .se
: nriiher forfeited nor diminished, - Ear
, "a relates to The local cOucerus OF eapl,
state.
$ The committee will nou review ibe
excuIpaiOry documents transmitted 10
then promising, Tia all the evidence
D furnished iy The executive, has been
: procured since his accusation WAS pre-.
I tcrrcd ihnS admitting, Ina he WAS not
I at that time, iu pass $500 Of single fact
. 10 justify liiS dri'uni ration Of lie oni crs
$ Of tie Unit d Slates. The testimony
9 thus offered, j. not NJ = positive naiuTe
! and noSi Of Ire individuals who have
Z drpos"d or Ger fled 20 ihcjr sistcbeuis
u peak from presumption aud hearssy, NO
= from their owl knOwl. dye.
IL The conduct Of the officers at thu nay1
u Nard, IN Kings county. Is first complain
ie ed at. II - alleged. That col Decatur
r and other officers, brought up The per
SONS in public employ 10 vote and iha
!, Improper attempt we're made in va
u riety of shapes 10 operate on The electors
% That col. Decaipr, and Other officers al
y iachPd to the navy yard, were active q
y. the last election, is NOT denied be- them
"a 4 he substance of the charge against thp m