Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-02-21
ADDRESS.


Members Of both Houses of Congress, " hose
names are stated to you, have proceeded To
recommend Suitable persons TO Gil the offices
at President aud Vice President of the Unit
ed States, for the term ensuing the expiration
ofthe present. Existing circumstances will
justify, If they do not require, brief exposi-
ton Of the grounds of this proceeding. La its
adoption, and submission To your cUnsidera-
ton, we have acted as members of the repub-
iican party, pursuing the footsteps of those
who have gone before us, from the important
revolution in the politics of the country. RE-
sulting in the choice Of Mr.. Jefferson, To- the
period of the first election of the present
Chief Magistrate. That this course has nor
been sanctioned by all our republican col
leagues, is subject for regret. Others, with
whom We wished To associate and unite in
measures of Cancellation and concord. have.
Though respectfully invited, declined To co -op-
erate with us. We have been ready, and anx-
'ous, in a general meeting of all the RrpubIi.
can Me1beIs, to submit our preferences to
the will of the ma urity. Those who differ
win us IN opinion have refused their concur
renee. 1t IS your right, and becomes your
duty, to decide between us. We intend no
impeachment OF the conduct or motive, of
others We speak for ourselves only, with
out affecting To conceal our expectation of
obtaining your approval Of the course of pro-
ceeding we have adopted. 1t is now twenty
tour years since the gr, IT political revolution
to which we have alluded was effected. and
the power which was then acquired by re-
pubiicans in the government oft Union is
sun retained. Their enjoyment of this as
cendancy has not however, heeu undislurb-
ed /; on the contrary, they have had AN nm
wearied struggle 10 maintain with the sam,
adversary over whom their triumph was a.
chIeved. Ii Is not To be- doubted That il was
by union and concert Of action that the
strehS'h oi The republican party was consul
iuattu, anu ITS success In the decisive coniro-
versy eDtcfed. Ii Is as little Ia be doubted
that IS by adherence Ia the same principle and
policy Of action that It's unbl oxen force and
continued asceDdancy can be preserved. The
reasons for adherins 10 this policy ofeficiency
ana safety derive, in our Judgment, peculiar
force iromIthe circumstances which cbarac-
terlze the existing period. The correctness
OIL this opinion is demonstrated by revision
OF the grounds which have been assignedfnr y
deviation from that policy. Those grounds,
we understand 10 be, the supposed obltera-
tion oil party distinctions, the change of opin-
ION OH me subject, which is apprehendrd Ia
nave taken place in the Republican body. and
Tue lmprobabIilty that general attendance of
tue Republican members could be obtalned-
In relation 10 the correctness of the FIRST Of
these grounds, the supposed obliteration of
parry distinctions, your ability to decide can
aerve little aid from any obser, atoms of ours
Ihat, IN some parts of the Union, where the
euerai party have always been weaker and
Tess violent, the fact is, in some degree. as
stated, aud that, since the late war. their ex.
ertions have no where been as efficient AZ for
meriy, we admit. But that danger is not 10 he
apprehended from this source, in connection
VITA the pending divisions in the Republican
party, and the angry dissentions they are Ike
~ TO engender, we deny. That our adverse
ries have not lost their: disposition to avail
themselves of those division s, To regain their
ascendancy, is confirmed by reference to
ihe past, and ought not to be doubted. There
Is nor an Instance to be found in the history
o' lhe politics of the different states, for the
last twenty years, in which serious and CON
tinued divisions among Republicans have not
led TO IA temporary success of their opuonents
The same cause will produce more extend
Gu elect on larger scale of operations, and.
we are persuaded, that all calculations. of
o,hertnt result, will, ia The end, deceive and
uisappolnt those who shall be so indiscreet as
10 induiSe Them. As II respects the supposed
cnanee oil sentiment among the Republicans
OF the Union, on the question of the fitness of
conventions of this character, the proceed
inss Ot the last twelve months have stronplv
impressed our minds with different concln-
sioh' Herefofore conventions Of The Repub-
licah hemberS OF Congress, for the nomna-
ton OF candidates for President and Vice PR.
sIdent, have been held upon the presumed an
probation of their constituents onIu The
question now, however, stands upon a very
different footing. Resolutions expressive Of
their dissent to meetings of this character.
nave, during their last session, been passed Inv
the Legislature of the state ofTennessee. and
transmitted To the Executives of the nther
states, Tor the purpose of being laid before
Their Legislatures for concurrence. No mode
could have been adopted better devised IN
ascertain the state of public sentin. emf. II Is
known that those resolutions have been acted
upon by the Legislatures of Maine. New
I ork, Virginia, Georgia, n. Carolina, Rhode
Island, ONO, pennsylvania aud Indiana
which states are entitled to one hundred and
forty-six out of the too hundred and sirf,,- o,e
uoteS 10 be given IN the United States. Bv
the republican members of the legislatures
OF the four states first named, and entitled 10
seventy-eIght votes, resolutions have heep
passed, with great unaninlity, approving. in
the warmest terms. such a meeting ae has
been held. lD the remaining states mentioned.
the resolutions of Tennessee bay. he.n uos,' |
poned, ~ some instances, indefinitely. and in |
others disposed of in a manner eyIncive of = |
determination not to act upon them. In no
state, except Maryland, entitled to eleven votes.
has there been an expression Of concurrence
ny Inc Legislature, IN the views of the Lee
Sslature Ut Tennessee. In South Carolina.
entitled to the same ndmber of votes. one
branch of the Legislature, iu opposition TO ths
opinion Of the other, has expressed such
concurrence. Nor have the members of the
Legislature Of any state, in their ndiyid.
u capacity, Expressed similar views