The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1824-07-23
Ts tie Sresh0ldess OF tie eolng az


ut. Observed publication Of proceed
ings, as 1t states, at a meeting OF the free
holders OF Fairfax, convened agreeably
to public notice, for the purpose Of con
sidrtIDg the best means of cooperating
with other sections of the state in orga-
nizing an opposition TO the nomination OF
candidates for the presidency and vico
presidency, by the caucus at Washing.
ton and to the nomination of electors by
the caucus at Richmond In that publ
cation Nhe two late delegates frem thi,
county are censured for their participation
IN acts which are declared to be Facts of u.
surpa'ion against the rights of the people,
not only not authorized by the constitu-
ZION, but IN direct hostility to some of its
provisions
One myself of the sovereign consti,u.
en' botlv--the people in relation to some
and representative of others, recog.
nize IN either capacity tho amenabiJity of
the latter to the former snd had the
meeting been really what it proposes to
be,thuugh "a meeting Of khe freehoIders"
should have bowed with submissiun,& not
wfhoutrePiy to its censure or had j,
been content, such as il was, to omit the
unprovokcd and unnecessary imputatiop
upon my conduct | should never have
made its proceedings or itself the subject
OF serious thought or observation, since
the settled determination OF Virginia 10
continue her support of the only mea.
sure under existing circumstances, cal.
culated 10 ensure tranquil cleo
ton of chief magistrate OF the u
mon BY the people, presents an
Insuperable barrier to the attainment OF
the object avowed by the meeting, had it
ever presented any appearance of eff
cheney or received any mark of public
appreciation but proclaimed TO the
world through the medium OF the press
as subject upon whom the animal
version and censure of the .treehoiders of
my county have been exercised, should
be wanting In respect TO you as well as
in justice to myself if did not appeal to
your tribunal to which alone l am respon.
slble for my public sonduct as your repre>
senta'ives inmy justification, > in dong
winch L sbalihave occasion 10 speak also
OF the meeting and its proceedings.
It's already known TO you that accord.
ing TO the constitution on failure of the
people to elect president by the votes
OF the electoral colleges the choice of
the five highest ON the lis, of those voted
tor by the colleges, 'devolves upon the
house OF representives, where it is made
by states--each state having bu, one vote,
consequently Rhode Island, who has but
one representative having as much influ
ence IN the choice as Virginia-who has
twenty four,or NY ork who has thirty six.
Many ofyou must remember, though be-
lore my recollection,when on the happen
Ing OF this very contingency the integrity
OF the union was shaken to its foundation,
& the good people Of these states stood a
ghast with horror at the prospect of be-
holding lis dismemberment by the con.
fiicting interests and passions involved in
the coptest,G Burr had been well nigh
foisted into The presidential chair instead
of the election Of a Jefferson, in direct Cd.
position TO the manifest wishes of the peo.
pie. That the trainers Of our consli,u
ton were amongst the best and wisest of
mankind that have ever existed in apy
age or country, there can be no doubt
but that they we're not infalIible, suffici
emily appears from their failure 10 provide
against the only evil of elective govern
men;-tumJlt at elections and to deprive
hereditary successible of its most plausi
BILE pretoxt Hence The necessity of col
Letting and concentrating by Unofficial
meetings OF the representatives of the
people, the sentiments of the people
on this tremendous subject--a necessi.
ty rendered absolute at this time by the
unusual number Of competitors and the
angry and eDvenomed character Of the
competition. Under this impression. | do
not hesitate to avow that ! did at The last
session of the Legislature, otter mentioning
my design to some other members every
way entitled to my confidence and meet
ing with their cooperation, invite the
caucus ofrepublicans of the sixth Of ia
Duary to confer upon the subject of
congressional caucus. This meeting
assembled in the evening after the bust.
ness OF the Legislature for the day had
oeeD finished was attended " 10 mem
bers ofthe senate and ia OF the house of
delegates, and adopted the following
preamble and resolutions:
"io secure concert amongst the re.
pubIicsns Of The union, to give to the ma
Jorily of the people oil thisnation their due
ascendancy by means of the editorial
votes aud to avoid a'Fesort to the house
OF representative