Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1823-08-12

gard measures or men. Since the cons, iruion has
guaranteed the liberty o speech to all, absurd indeed
would he that construction which condemns the
members to silence they shall have quilted
their seats. Members lose not their rights as cu-
zens and such, they may and ought to express,
not C'andesiinely Tut publicly, their opinions tins
aud every other Important polite al subject To
prohibit this would he MS tyranncal, in,poIic and
absurd. IT might lead tU secret combinations and
private intrsues-more dangerous, for being less
liable 10 exposure. But il the constitution fo,bls
thus, why not point out the prohibition The plain
truth Is, there rs not prcteXt that it does. OF Tins
truth this writer aware aud he seems Ia great
distress Ia avoid II, by esprit of the constitutions,
" ami constitutional complexion," and twenty other
expressions equally eguiyOcaI and evasive. The
slti' aud complexion OF the constitution arc seen
ana understand 10y IT'S express provisions, Away then
with spirit, compexiou, construction, aud
They are ;he ordinary resort OF political mounte.
banks. The members of Congress cannot he the
primary, because they may he the ultimate electors
But as citizens they anticipate IN the choice oi
electors, and such never be prohibited pub
lic expression of tieir opinions. The whole ohjec-
Ton rests ON ms-apprchenSion perversion oifhe
Object oi such Caucus IL rs merely 10 nd
To the people suitable candidate tor President. I'm.
less, all things considered, they prefer him To any
Oihcr, they Will al course reject him.
Aud where is the danger o impulicy OF this WHO
are the mrn who make the Dunn ndaiion and in
what relation do they stand 10 the States and TO the
people They a,e either all the Senators aud Rem
resen'atres o. those oi the republican party, which
Is neat All Ihey act, not officially, but many
individuals, coming from all paris oil the Union and
bringing with them the iederave well as the pop
uiat interest and The rm of service of
nne-tbrh of the Senators and all the Representa-
tiNes viii expire at the close OF succeeding ses-
sion, aud most OF them probably candidates for
reelection. They act IN the presence OF the people
and Their conduct Us To endure the strict examination
oil a Jealous community and the scrutiny aud
Criticism ot, at least four dis appointed candidates,
aud t.ie ardent and indefatip able and in.
huentIa friends FINALLY, tl,er act is ~ most re-
conmendat"ry. Now surprising their views To he
SINISTER or corrupt, and without this the objection
TAILS, what are their means of Accomplishment with
out detection or exposure? This ohjcctor pre-
sumes aud Predicaes every Thug on the ignorance
| oi the people, and seems have adopted the 100
prevalent opininu that they NAV he duped and cir
cumvehed at the pleasure Of their representatives.
lhs Is paying hem TO say The least, no very high
compliment.
IL should he recoected that when the members
assemble AT Washington, the country is not entirely
exhausted oi talent. Every member leaves among
ms 'mmed'aie constituents, perhaps hundreds as in
'e'hSeni as himself. Among these men Jealous
at their rights political critics thirsmc for defects
unfortunate rivals snariing from defeat nd peyhaps
not "bouudng enher IN charity confidence IL is
moreover To he remembered that the competitors OF
me candidate recommended, will not be asieep
heir vigilance will be proporiione 10 the object al
stake, and every combination to thwa,t the psrali-
ues OF ueeat the wishes OF the people, will he dis
covered, exposed n,agnified aud condemned What
Po''''cd' u'hSSresson can endure such ordeal
BIT let the memhers combine 10 preye,, n, cIac,;o,
ana Their responsibility destroyed, for their etec-
non Is impossible II then propensity should he as
| w" id'hor OF me remOnsirhucc nagnes. q
seihsll or corrupt design, lhey might with much
safety intrigue al home, iomeut divisions urge tbr
Grams OF their own state, press upOn their immediate
! constituents men whom iAey personally know pl,v
upon Their State PRIDE, and encourage their local mar
i'"i,'ies In tins way, they might with safety and
perhaps with nrp'use secure to themselves the ulli-
male determination Aud u is worthy of special
remark; thar IN such case, where the power of sdvre
is exalted 10 that % determinations the responsibility
IS materially diminished. The members are farther
removed i'om 'he reach OF the people. The deter
/ N au lE feusfs "a 4 4,
most OF tire mcmbrrs viii have succeeded or failed IN
another election ln The former case they may defy
p"hi'c renSure tor time, IN The latter they may he
ready for the market. Here too they can act eifec
lively and definvcly, and the Candidate can kn,,v
The value OF heir votes
IL then comes ihis-State caucuses have ple,r ri
their support their respective tavor,res so strongly
th', without concert and rompI omise, the primary
election must fail. The members are reduced TO this
aher"hiIve-euheI 10 coumienance this division or
endeavor to prevent it. In the one case they secure
to themselves The hnal election, IN the other they
contribute their Influence leave il in the hands OF
! the people We need not ask which course is the
most disnieresed aud patriotic
| The preencc Of The writer, hat since the amend
neht oil the constitution, the fleet of election by
the ii"use has never been tested DIES no better
appei!aIion than miserable subicrfuge In the con.
test between 'ier'on and Burr member believed
that sngie vote was gwen Tor The later for resi-
dent. Yet Notwithstanding this manifest expression
n the peoples Wishes their candidate was resisted
ny iheir representatives. III thirty-iour successive
temptation and impuriiy find but feeble resistance
IN moral obligations. And If such things were done.
| IN case so paIpable, what are we to expect when
'hree candidates shall be presented OF nearly equal
Claims, each having strong public sentiment in his
favor
This provision Of the constitution was Intended 10
meet entirely foiinitous-but here The event
is TO he accomplished by design. Tue people have
not been tell To act-Staes preten,lers have Gre
aed the disractOn, aud the single question is shall
the representatives of the nation make an effort 10
If fhn aIa 81. l.
people In this effort, naton on the republican
party is To be represented IN The same proportion
ana with the same amount OF ederaIive powers rs in
the electoral colleges
IL IS pretended, moreover, that The members of The
caucus will prejudice case which they may be
obliged to f'-iay determine. But the object of their
advice rs tn prevent this determination Should il
tail, no member is nledged by his caucns vote If
politicians were The judges and juries, bound by the
law and the fact, The objection might he entitled I'm
consideration. The election of President however
- question OF preference policy or expedieucy--
should the people disregard the advice !: would he
ihe huiy ni HE members 10 respect the public will so
lar as II could he asceIiaiued, combined with tho
tXcenclcs ni the nation, Ear they could lie un-
derStund. Al elecor may express , preference for
one Candidate and very consistently give his vote for
'rolheI After thirtv balIoiings IN the House
OF Representatives, MI. Bayard, of Delaware ab,n-
doueh h's friends, changed his vote and determined
thc election. Their caucus vote would, moreover
bear mean proportion 20 The popular voicp-their
electoral vote would be iederatye and vcry dispro.
p0rtiunate.
Bat IS said the measure would lie uppopnI,r -
How Is THIS ascerlaned By the public ncwspapefs
AND even 10y this test. lie argument of the writer of
Tie remoGstTauce Is against him. II the solic,tude
oil the hest IN tire republic is 10 be repurded II
local pariales and geographical parties arc 10 be
deprecated. Il discOrd = perniCious tu the eouIe If
MINORITY President ~ nor 10 he preferred 10 one vim
carries with him HE confidence and support of the
nation, If an uncquivocd and decisive expression of
upu prff Al attdf