Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-01-06

from the contest; aud, in this manner, The
probabiify 'f ~. elect'vn, at The first ba!loting
VIII he vsty muct increas,d
This branch of t.,r amendment is recon-
mendrd by all the reastus which can b- urged
agiust the election Ut the President by the
House at Representatives. AGd these, IN the
npinloO of tAe COZ Iuitiec, are eUseut and con
elusive.
All history teaches us the rnrnucholy truth.
that in the eirt,i"n If the Chief Magistrate
ot great Republic, intrigue aud corruptiuu,
under the various aud ilsiIiuus DISCUSSES
whlyh they are capable "g assuming, are tls.
drieie'iS's principles against which the pre-
cautions AT human wisdom are least capable
Of providing an rlIrctual resistance. The
danger To he apprrhendc6 from these princi-
pie, rs IN direct proportion 10 the temptation
aud the ineans of rendering, them efficient
instruments IN promoting the VIEWS of ambi-
tion. And what prize can lind uut more at
;racilNe semp;ainns To the ambitious, than the
PRESIDENCY uf the United States In pursuit
at what Object Is even Il NrtuDus mind su
much cxpused 10 the blandishing deiusiuns of
thai wretched caSustry, which makes the end
snncify the means? Aud when we ad,ertt,,
iiie immense stole o. patronage which would
he placed for distribution ia The hands of the
successful aspirant, it cannot be disguised,
That he would have precisely thuse means OF
u. L.
which the wages 81 wick-duess might be re-
ceiyed in the disguise Of virtues recniapenge ::
and the wretch who sold his integrity, might
almost dr!nde linn self into the belief that he
was serving his country. Il is exceedingly ia
pleasant I" indu3e the idea, that The represru-
tdtt'ts al Ntrtnnns and enlightened people
Gould ever be swery ud fran any duiy by self
tsh or siaistcr views; bu, w., have the auihori-
ty at more than human wi4tiuu1 fuH saving
Z" lead us not into temptation" Il IL, therefore
the deliberate opinOn 0f the committee. that
lie oD!y cfcctnal mode Of preserving our go
Yernmcnt from the cOrrUpInns which haze
uuderlnined the liberty of SO many Other ma
tiops, IS 10 confle The election Of our Chief Ere
cHlge .NigiSirdte 10 hoSe ,oho are firihesL re
Tloced from the iHJlusncs Of has paircnage.
As ions As the national legislature continues
Ia have 50 direct IA agency in The election Of
the President, even excluding The supposiiiun
"a corrupt lniltirncc, The u1p,i Injurious ciirri
must be prOdnrrd upon the character OF lis
members. and the temper OF lis deliberations.
1'hr Legislators OF thr Union will he con
,"riri nlto partz uf The respective candi-
dates for tie Presidrnty their mutual crimi.
nations viii nayoidabiy distract and EN-
barrass the essential business Of The country ;
aud, instead of Ge'"tnS themselves exclusive
~ 20 the great objects oftheir legislative trust
ihelr-line Will be rngrossed in holding consul.
t.Iions aud projecting devices, for thu purpose
al cnntroilipS public opinion on the Pres i,ien-
tai Election and 1t would bat too certainly
result, that principles would De sacrificed 10
men.
Il may be fairly assumed, that, until the con
stitaiion IS amended, the President of the
United States Will. in general hp elected wiz
taaily by Congress- la one form or another
Without intending to blend the consideration
81 temporary questions and passing events
with the general views here presented The
C"mm Tee wril he excused for adyer,iug 10
the tici, that the eventual choice of the Prtsi-
deaf ny the House of Representative in
mode " hich makes a slIsic member from one
state equal 10 thiriy-six from another, will al.
ways furnish an Argument, or u pretext for
those preliminary combinations, which all adj
mt la be- evils ca themselves and only 10 be-
excused as the means at az gliding greater evils
10 t!is manner, We are Dnt only exposed to
the contingent evil, growing out of the CON
stituIIon Itself, bat the certain evil of comb.
naiIens for the ayuwc,i rurpnse of avoiding IT,
Congress "iii not only have the power OF
chdNsl1S a President fInm the three persons
who shall recciye The largest number of elrc-
toral votes, but viii have plausible argument
III favor Of nominating President, before the
electoral vote has furnished item with any Ger
tAnndication OF popuaropiHion, to direct their
choice and itnlt ,ile extent q! their discretion
II cannot BE Disguised, therefore, that the
Tendency OF ihe%late OF things now existing
under the constitution, Is 10 concert Congress
Sato n permanent electoral body. Under these
circumstances, the candidates for the Pres-
dency, Instead Of devuting themselves to the
service of the country, by measures calculated
10 promote the welfare and secure the conf.
dcnce of the people, viii DE tempted 10 devote
themselves 20 those arts Of c0nciiaiiun and
management by which the members of Con.
gress may be most eaectuaIy secured in their
interest. The Ultimate consequence would I've,
that our chief magistrates would bc elected by
cabas OF politicians, having views aud in
terests alien from those of iho people, and that
the country would be governed by success
sion of factions, each prescribing The members
aud destroying the work of The one which
preceded it, and communicating TO the
operations of orr system all the unstcadiness
OLA turbulent democracy. and all the Tyranny
Of temporary despotism.
The COmtHiNer, therefore, believe that the
only effrciual mode of rendering the govern
nent eticlent and steady ia It's operations, s. at
the sameilme consistent with the security ofthe
general liberty, is 10 infi,se more Of the demo
cratic principle into the election of the Presi-
dat. making him, in fact, as be j. in theory,
the CHOICE OF tie people.
Having thus attempted TO shpw, they trust
not altogether without success, TIA; the rights
and Interests of the people :uiperIousiy de-
ina1d that iile proposed amendment should be-
adopted, the Committee will DiIer u few con-
Gliding remarks upon the manner in which
the states viii DC relatively affected by it.
II may be Justly dOuhrd whether, on such
q question as The present Ing states, as Separate
communities, can h1te ANY interest different
from that Of the peOpie'oftbe states, consider
4 q