Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-09-28

otheS III dlscharglng the duties oil which.
the dictates OF his understanding were
not to be in harmony with the wishes OF
the nation.
The friends OF Mr.. Crawford now be-
gan to despair OF success unless some
impression might be made on the peo-
pie by caucus nomination. As the
supporters OF the present administration,
although forming but one party, were
divided between MIR. Adams, General
Jackson, Mr.. Clay and Mr.. Calhoun, it
was imagined that Mr. Crawford would,
| 10y having all the votes Of the opposi-
ton and his personal friends) have a D lu-
rality, and thus on the caucus principle
OF The plurality governing the whole
meeting, get what would be called its
unanimous vote. BY this management
lha ,s.o~.-,-~,-..-, r --..~..s., .,osu uCcu
overthrow, aud the will oil the great
majority OF the nation controlled by the
minority. When it was clearly ascer-
tanned, however, that only about one
fourth OF Congress would sanction this
proceeding, The project Nigh, have been
re inquIshed if 1t had no been imagined
that the name Of the thing would go as
far as The realty.
No pains have been spared, fellow
cillzens, throughout our country, to con-
+! found caucus Of Members of Congress
tor the nomination Of President, with
common caucusses for the proper OBJ
| lects of legislative deliberaion--lo fix
! question OF policy--to prevent unneces-
| ry wranEilpg IN debate, or TO select an
| eiiicer whom the nominating body has
! right to elect If the latter be inslifa-
Bile, on the score OF expectancy, the for
mer have only to be understood to be
condemned. There really appears to
US, whilst we preserve our present con
siltu'ion OF government, three unanswer-
able objections lothem. Isl. They will
convert the seat of government into
theatre OF intrigue; cause the deiibera-
tons OF Congress to be BIASED by per-
sonal factions, and lead, inevitably, in
the end, 70 The corrupt disposal of Off
ces, to acquire votes. Are we, even at
this carly period OF our history, SO ex-
empt from oiiice-seekers that no mem
! bers oil Congress are ever seen soliciting
the patronage oi the Executive Are all
our great men SO ignorantoi the winning
| ways OF smiles aud promises, as 10 max {
ii necessary ior them TO shock the con-
science OF a voter by rudely tumbing a
purse ini0 bts "Ilchiog palm - II they
be, let us preserve our national simpli-
city, and not open school 10 tlain up
our future great men to political amor
dcx,erity. 2dly. Tney will render The
Executive branch OIL our government de-
pendent 90 the Legislative, and by thus
destroying the happy balance OF our con-
aiituunn, lead TO tyranny We know
ina, the preservation oil liberty depends
on keeping The EXccWige, the Legisla-
ture and The judiciary, as separate and
independent oil each other as possible.
3dly. Ihey violate the spirit, i! hot the
letter OF our constitution; Tor this de-
larcs, that the people shall first, in their
aggregate capacity, vote for President,
AID That II 10 one should have a MAORI
y, that then the states, in their moral or
4 federal capacity, shah select the Prcsi-
Clcnt from among the three highest re-
turned by he people. Now, ii . csucus
nomination Is TO secure the electlon OF
the nominated individual, is 1t hot put
tlng the election, virtually, into the hands
al Congress Is It not giving 70 the Sc
nate Ca coordinate branch OF the Execu.
siye,) an influence and participation in
the choice OF President, from which they
were excluded by the trainers OF our
constitution Is ii not giving to The
members Of Congress, who are the only
cltzens of the Unned States forbidden
by the Constitution from being Eiec.
torso the power Of controlling the cleo.
lion, as nominalors Is il Dol violation
OF S ate rights, since ii robs the smaller
states OF the rights secured 10 them by
the constitution, voting in The second in
stance as sc(ectors, as strongly as the
large states ?--and whilst this Is The law
OF the land, Is 1t justlfiable TO essde il by
sub erfngc? Are not The people OF the
states sufficiently enlightened TO select
by conventions Of delegates Tor that pur.
pose Is it worthy the irankneas OF Re-
publicans to attempt 20 Distinguish be-
tween their public and private capacities
when they know they are summoned, a;
/" Members Of Congress-" to meet--tha
their influence is derived from tina
source, and that the name OF a cup o
hemlock does not neutral,ze lis poison
j. We do not mean to impugn the mo
lives OF the gentlemen who met in eau
cus,at Washington, because we know