Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-01-20
to perceive, that those dangers would be

that congressional nomination, could tend,
10 any degree, to impair the Just rights Of the
| ice1Eer states, the state of New York. great MS
| she - IN rank, in population, and in resources,
would he foremost To denounce, and the last
To adopt the measure. Such measure, in the
opinion at the committee, will not only, not
violate the equality intended by the constitu-
non 10 be secured to all the states; but as they
VIII hereafter prove, is the most effectual, if
not the only mode, by which that equality can
now he attained.
! With this view Of the constitutional points,
presented by the preamble and resolutions,
the committee proceed To examine the cape
dtency OF the practice of congressional recon
msndatlons; and on this head. they intend to
he equally candid in the expression of their
opinions.
! Parties will ever exist, in free state and
when founded on principle, and governed by
love OF country, they are among the iruiest
bnlwarks Ofcivil liberty. The choice Of rulers,
and especially of those who are to Gil the most
elevated places in the gift of the people, will
always be more or less Influenced by political
considerations. All experiences has shown,
that Efforts, to be powerful must be conceu-
trated and men, whose general interests are
the same, are therefore compelled to concert
such measures, as will, by obtaining conn mon
support, best secure the complete attainment
OF the common object.
| This remark applies, with more truth, 10
political combinations, than IN any other Fer
tunateiy, too, for the liberties and the happi-
ness of this country,it has ever been cardinal
maxim, with the great republican party, the
party which originated, and has most frequent
iy adopted the system of congress- onai nomi-
nations, always To seek for, and when :scer-
tanned, Always to Jolioio The wii Of The majority
That principle they have invariably applied Iu
the selection of all candidat for Office, and 10
the decision of all other questions : but they
have been particularly solicitous TO extend il,
above all, To the candidates for the Offices Of
president and ,ice-presidcnt. For, in this
country, there is nothing which can more
deeply excite the feeling, or affect the inter
esis of the people, than the election Of those
officers and hence il is justly Ia he .;...s4a
AS the most important OF all our political
concerns.
From the population of the American re-
public, and the vast extent of Territory. over
which it is dffused, il is ordinarily Impossible,
That the people should individually become
fully acquainted with the character and quail
hcations of the various candidates for the pres
identa chair. Their representatives in con-
gress who are personally known TO them, are,
| however, generally enabled, in some good
degree, TO inform themselves, concerning the
merits of the persons who may aspire To that
high station. IL IS, therefore, perfectly uatli-
raj, that men, enjoying the confidence OF their
constituents, entertaining the same political
opinions, and possessing advantages which
cannot be enjoyed, at the same time, by the
great mass of the community, should be look
ed To, for an expression ef opinion on this sub
Ject, by those who are TO act in matter of
such general concern.
| From these considerations, and not from any
| uanrn,finn .~f
the practice of congressional recummenda-
lions and the influence of such nominations.
with the republican party, throughout the
United States, has resulted from a full per-
sliasion, that they the best altainable
means OF securing an expression of the wishes
of the great body of that party, and of per-
petuaing and extending its principles.
The expedIepcy of the practice, in periods
OF great political excitement, appears To be
generally admitted but its propriety is
denied at the present crisis, when the demo-
cratic principles which distinguish the great
mass of the American people, are almost uni
versalIy avowed, and when the party by which
on former occasions, their prevalence and as
tendency was so vigorously opposed, is said
no longer 10 exist. 1t is unnecessary, on this
| occasion, To inquire, whether the political dis
tinciIons which have heretofore obtained
among us, are really extinct, or wbtiher il be
indeed true, that tbs republican party have
nothing To apprehend from the opposition of
those who have often contested With them
the supremacy of the union. These are
questions som to be decided by the people,
and the committee entertain d confident ex-
pectati0n, that the result will afford additional
evidence of their frDness, intelligence, aud
patriotic devotion, to the best interests Of the
nation.
| II rs, indeed, true, that the party divisions of
the present day, though growing out of, and
founded upon fundamental political priuci-
pies, are oftener chequered by ecuaritles of
local feeling, than when tAe people were d-
yldsd upon great questiO of national policy
alone; but the COMMITTEES can by no means
agree, that congressional recommendation
of candidates, for the Offices in question, is on
that account the less expedient or Desirable
On the contrary, they consider such a nomi-
nation mere highly indispensable, now, than il
has ever been at any previous election.
In a country SO extensive, and among pn
pulatiun SO numerous as our own, there must
ever exist great variety of local matters,
giving rise 10 sectional feelings, and sectional
interests. On no occasion, are these feelings
and interests more likely 10 exhibit them
selves, than at the recurrence of the Pfesden-
tial election; especially when political disiinc
lions ola more general character, are less vi
! sid than usual. The influence Of such feel
iugs on the politics Of the union, is peculiarly
unfortunate. When men are governed by
common principle, which is fully indHlged and
equally operative 10 all paris Of the country,
the agency Of party cOnduces 10 the public
good. But the political operations Ofthe same
men, when actuated by feelings of sectional
character, are directly the reverse What is
party IN the one case, is faction IN the other :;