The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1822-08-27

inrnis ol the people, hay never, tlai we khns
Of, been doubled II public opinion be nothing
more Than the aggregate ai individual senu-
meal aud ii this Uriaien can be collected IN
20 ottfr wat than by lsafBiug hfst personal
al ini1n - detail then can We conceived 81 no
o,lIef mode - nncrfing IS 10y NATIONAL rep
p. .eatnlinn from every section OF the union.
ii il he aid thu the members Of Congress
are ignernnt Of the wishes OF their consiitn-
rms on This particular subject, the same re-
max viii applyto every object Of legislation !;
sinee The 10 ople are in no case at the pains OF
= i8rmnl expression 81 their opinions, or Of
4 Matching instructions 10 their representa-
l,yes But in reniily, the representative IS
mpra likely 10 know ihr sentiments OF ms
enrsfifIenis on this subject than any other
ILprs Is scarcely q man 20 be found ~ the
fnnls ni society Who has not formed and es-
nres4rd an opinion on the matter II Is one
which reqnirt. small deibcrsiion, aud on
y.b,eb one 1 not alI 10 alter his opinion
Every one has his political fsseFiies, end, AS
IN Iavc. lr /. not 10 be driven from bis pred.
lotion b. the arguments Of IN adversary nor
the Lad conduct Of hi favoflle. But II Il Nom
bor of Compress should be NJ loss from ~
nnianre of the opinions oi his immediate
constituents he has another guido inthe course
of tkr Lcgisleture of the state he represents
By adhering 10 their selection, he is pretty GER
tain 10 realise the expectations of bis eonstlt-
uenis, and viii have NJ lenst sufficient apol-
ogy Tor disobcyine them II IS more peril
nent To enquire, II the representative Is likely
In saeri6cc his own wishes and opinions 10
those of his constituents, or of The sintc which
he in pnrt represents Here, unfortunately,
~ in mos, other matters which are transacted
b AGENTS. every thing must be trusted 10 Tire
honesty Of the representative. II hi, interest
or ambition be mol TOO violently assaled, the
presumption Is Oh the side OF his fidelity II
h. Is accessible ~ either Of these avenues TO
hNman frnilty, the evil Is irremcdiab't, and.
ffon the necessary imPerioction ot til tenn
nclnl institutions, political ingenuity may
seek in vnin 10 dtY.se suitable checks 10 guard
agaieN BIZ trpraYty, and protect the interests
of his constituents f isn't this point that the
laabiltt4 ni every sysicm Of government dis,
play itaff, and bpyand this, il is in vain To
hops or 10 expect further improvement From
The constitutions of things, WE ARE compelled
to repose in our governors more trust and con.
fdrure than human nBtnrc deserves AMI when
we mike any NEARER approach 10 tioplan per-
FICTION, II mnst be when manknd bave dis
rurdcd a portion 81 their native weakness,
aud nttsincd pitch 81 more sublimated viz
tue
Believing that personal and interested CON
must enter IN n greater or less de-
gree, into the deliberations Of every body OF
men, no matter how or by whom constituted,
10 effect this object, we are willing to entrnst
il, a, heretofore 10 those whom the people
have selected 10 transact their pntional con
cerns--if our members Of Conpress nre cor
rnplible, then Isay VIZ despair of finding, in
any SGT Of men, pOitichl integrity--It thc
MI "A siy % irl Il
acquaintance with public men, be necessary 10
govern the choice, we cannot expect these
qualifications to be found with more certainty
than in the congress Of the union, selected for
their wisdom, acting on the same theatre, and
in habits of daily intercourse with the class of
mtn which ~ aspiring to the guidance of the
national helm. ii unaIlnlity he necessary, II
IL no otherwise to he hoped thaH from a caucus
where tile conflicting views and
opinions of the members must ultimately set
Tie down in some specific nomination. The
people, utter all, will have little Ia do with the
never have had much. hnnd in
the Presidential elections aud from the mode
of election, they never can have much We
should be happy 10 see the various Congressi.
DUAL districts fall upon the eSpedirnt OF max
ing their members, nj the newt election, pledge
themselves 10 support some particular candi-
date Not that we mean II strictly rs II test
bat ihnl il may securc an honest vote in the
caucus, and shield our members, In some de-
gree, from the operations ol siniler motives.
We confess, however, that this is but an i'm
perfect security, rs the man who is capable OF
being scduced, or bribed from the duty he
owes 10 his constituents and his country, will
not greatly regard an honorary pledge Such
arc our views OF this question--Not perhaps
vii In I,i
and expression, and ms, we fear not strictly
orthodox in the eyes Of the Enquirer. Until,
however al amendment of the Constitution,
prescribing a new mode OF election, is effect
ed, we cundidly declare our wish 10 see that
mode OF designation kept up which origina-
ted, ana has been continued in necessity
One word to the Enquirer on the subject of
our original appeal 10 Itself. From its proies.
Sions oil candor, we expected at the com.
mencemen', an explicit declaration in behalf
ot some ONE Of the Pre- ,,dcntlal candidates -.
Whilst we cannot awnrd any applause on this
score, we Will not withhold any credit that
may he due Tor its ingenious evasion of our
enquiry In tenth, we are mere at fault than
before For Whereas we had Mt first no doubt
but the preference OF its editors leaned to-
wnrds Mr.. Crawford, we are now perpleScd 10 4
understand Il he or Mr.. Adams will receive
Their support Either we are justified in this
conclusion, or The Enquirer has bestowed on
Us le,t-handed compliment, in insnuating
that we had already deserted the standard I'M
Ter which sc irst rallied, for the one it was
resolved Itself to defend. II the Enquirer
means the latter, it cannot be sincere in the
celoSium ii has pleased to bcstow upon our
PRINCIPLES, Such vaciation would rather
argue the absence of all principle We hope,
however, and N part believe, that the prog
nostic OF It's editors will be fulfilled aud that
governed by the same political sentiments, we
shall ultimately dHite under the same Presi-
dental standard VIZ have already declared
& willingness to sncrhee our individual pre-
terence, 10 that of the republican party and
whether Mr. Adams or Mr.. Crawford be nom
mated at Washington, we shall contribute our
small exertions to secure the triumph to him,
whom we shall thus be Induced TO believe. is
the choice of the people. IL the Enquirer
reasons i'll the same way, its nrrtliction NAV