The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-08-22
ron THE vrRCIsrAs.
On De course Dc Tuginia as 10 The Pres
deniin[ Oueshgn.....NO. 1.

On lie course d DirRtHid as 10 me f>ress-
deniim QueStion-...No. /.
From many circumstances, there IS
strung ground for believing, that, whatever
the true sentiments Of Virginia may be, as
IL flle comparative qualifications at the
candidates for the presidency, majority
OF her legislature will sanction the preten-
SONS of William ii. Crawford. There IS
no difficulty either. in accounting for the
existence of this fact, Or in proving that
the causes which produced it were distinct
from the wishes or the opinions OF the
peoph. Assuming, therefore, the PROPOSE
ton that a majority of the next general
assembly will be disposed 10 favor MIR.
craniord's election, aud will consequently
nominate electors who will support their
views as granted, will, ia this number,
attempt IA trace the causes Of this partial
ity, and toipr0ye that il did not originate
IN thewill Of the people. If ! succeed IN
this design, II will tl4en become manifest
that the legislature, in undertaking to pro-
nounee The sentiments Of their constituents
on this delicate subject, will be acting either
without formal instructions, or VI bout the
sanction Ut that strong curreuUbf public
opinion which IS tautamOunt to regular in
sireetion, and consequently that all they do
must be 4 departure from representative
fidelity, and for this reason void and nuga-
tory nay, that for the sake of principle, 1t
ought - be viewed as aH act of usurpation,
aud as such be resisted by the people.
am ready 10 admit here, that, if a majority
Of Virginia is in favor of Dir. Crawford, II
isimmaerial how this favorable opinion
has been ELECTED, and whether the leglsla
tnfe has wed It's preference for that
gentlen,d 0m their constituents or, as
should Then be Disposed to bekeve, the
orderof things had been reversed, and tie
people derived their preference of him
from The tone of the members Of the last
Legislature. The question and the object
of lhI seusson would both be al M end,
aud Fld the will Of the people in sucii
profound reverence, that, once fairly and
freely expressed, would not question even
lis abstract propricty Bat as it is not
kHyieu that the voice Of Virginia is in favor
Of Mr.. Crawford and as, for one, ] firmly
believe the contrary and doubt if, in a fair
contest, he could obtain eycua plurality of
her VOTES, | hold il both the right and duty
~ goad citizen to anticipate the state of
thugs during the next winter, 10 demon.
strate that a nomination. Of Mr.. Crawford,
would BIZ an Infringement Of popular rights,
that The people ought not Ia acquicsCe in
II, and that the only mode Of cuultcract-
Ing It's forestalIlpg influence is by opposing
ther.frm and a,owed determination not Ia
regardlt.
: In sapposing a majority OF the next ge-
neral assembly will bet the advocates of Mr.
GraNford's election, am far from intend
ing to.admit, that they viii in this matter
represent the wishes of their constituents.
The presidential election was IN a very few
instances. If III any, made the test Of the
last elections. The people either really
felt too muc, indll' rcucc ON tIiMubieci
To MAKE ii Il test, or there wctc other con =
sldeIaions, as the personal popularity of
candidates, tbclr superiority in other re
spects and legislative questions which came
more Immediately home to their interests,
which diminished or entirely excluded
tlclr feelings Of interest on this pomt.--
Since that period, there has been no rc2u-
lar demonstration ofpubic sentiment. One
way OF ascertalolng public sentiment, is by
the collection and aggregation oiindyldual
oIhnion; hut this mode SO far from cstsb-
fishing wy result IN this case. has by the
contrbfiety of the evidence it has furnished,
added 10 previous doubt aud prrpleXity.-
And II may be safely asserted that the proof
of popular feeling by the fourth of July
meetings, so far from autliufi,in@ the le-
gisature tn nominate Mr.. Crawford, de
prisc3 them 81 the prrtcxt which they
might before have urged, from tIlc aIIcdged
unanmlty olthc people. But lhu,r grant
ed that a majority Of the next Legislature
IS favourable to Mr.. Crawford. How is
this 10 he accounted for, when it is appa-
rent that this preference is not derived
from the will OF III" people, either express
or implied II may he answered in the
first place. that the present general assem-
bly,, III succeeding to the dutits, succeeded
also IN tits particular, to the opinion of
their predecessors. The prefcrrncc 81 the
last legislature to MIR. Crawford is well
known, and this preference would naturally
descend To the succeeding legislature, com
posed as II IS, ot great proportion of the
same individuals, aud at new members
elected by the countenancc aud influence
OF the old. Add 10 this, the assertion in.
dnstnoesly calculated, that Virginia was
decidedly IN favor Of Mr., Crawford, aud
The circumstance that the influential eli
zens IN Richmond were attached 10 the
SAME canse, and it viii uo longer be doubt
ed that the new legislature, uniformed of
the WISHES uitheir constituents aud anxious
to preserve entire and und, ided the pby-
steal and moral weight Of Virginia, VIII
adhere To the inclination Of their prrtcces.
sers thus apparently sanctioned by men
whose influence in general questions of
national politics has heretofore been de
elsi'e. The question rrcurs, why Mr..
Crawford received the preference Of the
ta&t legislature 7 Il will not here be pre-
tended, that Hey imbibed their opinions
Irem their constituents, forat the period of