Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-12-29
RICHMOND, DECEMBER %. I8e.
MEASURES AND NOT MEN.

GENTLsMEN As majority Of the votes
81 the Electoral Colleges, has not been given
| 10 any individual, the selection ola Presiti.n,
oi Tue U. States from the personsnot exceed
'nS three, having the highest number OF votes.
| must be made y.you, in obedience To the
will Of the People expressed in the Consti,u.
| ton. In thedischarge of this important trust.
yon VII have to determine principle of more
interest to us, aud to our pusterity, than any
other which has ever been agitated or settled
| IN our public councils since the adoption of
hrConsi'tution;perhaps since he d Declaration
Of independence.
The principle is involved in the considera.
lion ut this question: Ought the possession
OF military talents, and the performance uf
| sptenuid military achievements by any indi
| r'dmdl, To constitute thu grounds of prefer
ehce IN the election of President Of the uni.
| ed States
Were not this question involved, and the
prncpie contained in IT, dependent upon the
| selection which you will shortly haze Ia make.
should not have addressed YOU consider
me decision of this principle as psram cunt in
importance To all considerations All Using from
any difference of political sentiment existing
among the gentlemen from amorg whom the
selection must be made. These differences
y, they eXis') as to the powers vested By the
| Constitution in the Executive Legislative
| "'N o"o'N'"' DciudTtiHtUS OIL Inc SOSPrnmPQt
OF TIE United States, and as to ihe limitation
and construction Of those powers AS to the
general policy which ought to be- pursued in
me administration of The General Govern
| nent ana as To The nature NJ nd extent OF the
| t'ghls OF The states individually certain
" VI great consequence, when they are the
o"'y circumstances, or the most important
ones affecting your choice. On the present
oecas.on' they shrink into comparative in
| Significance.
The .pretensions of one of the gentlemen
! VINO WIN come before you are considered ms
entitled 10 preferences ON account of his m;H-
tory talents and Serricts. His candid friends
VIII ADMIT, that be is not statesman superior
To either OF the other two. The preiensiops
OF these are founded on civil qualifications and
civil services. The liberal and candid arr. mai
disposed to doubt the patriotism of either of
the three. Were the qualifications, and SER
wees OF these three gentlemen equal; were
| their political opinions The same-militarv IA /.
tents propensIiies,and even services, consiitut.
me strongest grounds of objection TO any in
diridual in whom they are found. VIVA,
wou'd hP, what has ever been the direct len
ar ICY OF the selection Of a chief magistrate
account OF military emiDence ?-'Fba di-
| lection OF the public mind To ,car as the the
atre OF renown-the desire Of war i'm the mind
ofeSery future spirant to the presidency.
that he may obtain by achievements in IKE
heid. superior claims to that high s,atjop.-.
Sihi magnum mperium, erercifun,. beiltn,
noo!sm exoptat, ubi virus eniiaseere possetv
And 10 what does this direction of the pnb.
nc mind, and this desire excited I'm the n,iods
of individuals inevitably lead !? To ,yhat Inv
they led in all ages and among all Nations ?
impartial history presents TO our view AZ tn.
results, the creation of great physical force.
,n haiions-the successful prosec uii0n of count
less wars the acquisition OF military ola,
~ by The nation, and Of renown and NOM
iarIty by the chiefiains who learn % yie.y,
without horror, the blood and carnage If
the'r fellow men; and last of all. the per.
mdnent security Of cirh liberty and of nntionai
haPp'ness ?--.No;ast of all comes The blindness
OF me people produced by the dazzling spIpr,
eour rehec'ei from the war inr's shipid-ihe
Intellectual effort of civil right rgapst miI;tarv
power-the last expiring shrieks of liberty
ana the triumphant shouts of despotism re-
ecnoeu oy popular chieftan and his pre
torIan bands. Should the virtues. the .,
Tents, and the patriotism Of any individual
nouce you 10 sanction u principle. which
sooner or later, leads To- these results , Exen
should the administration of man elevated
tothe presidency on account Of military meri,
! be successful &happy, it would only give great
5 er iorce ana energy to this principle OF DIES.
II - '|"iHC iuiuIc patriot looking back
{ win 'ond regret 10 the happiness of our inlan,
T, republic as we look back from scenes Of mi.
sery ana distress to the happier scenes of early
, 'n', VIII excaim, "eurse on his virtues.
e they've uodone his country"
were all those, who will be presented IN
y you ny the Electors, military men, or none of
.lrp1' the selection would then depend ON
."Tir political opinions and conduct. Bu, il
.,,r'ssi TO all rejecting men, that you have
J. 'o' merely TO select President, but Ia do.
o S,,,,.o "e = fnocple; and that the election OF
y p.',r 'sS''shs, aud the desiinies of This
- p'oue oepena upon The direction which
: - 81 ''' W" s,'e to the public mind, and
ID ~. pursuits OF Individuals. g. Pause, and
n principle like this. No co,,ic,io, IF s,',,".;,
II ineTlt, much less The populgitv or '.srs,
o preference Of any man, shonldind 90, ..
y lay the foundation stone of miiitsrv dcsoo,.
k ism 10 this happy land. The PRINCIPLES of an,
nature are The same as those Of the men nj
j. other nations, whose liberties have been d.
81 Hoyed by some popular chiefiain; and if ~,
e r@!so men 70 the chief magistrscy on account
l. oi MILITARY merit, il requires no proohe, :.
s foretel our fate. But Washington. H.. les.
DER ~ our armies, was the first President ri
o the Uuiied States. True, and our civil r;g,,,,
l. were preserved i0vOidte We have be.o col,
lee'ed 70 mo- evil from this awful experiment
q eAceP' mat II is DOW cited as a precedent, ant
n urged as reason for the election OF n1ir,sr,
q men. Had there not been united in the chs.
u fac'eF OF that extraordinary man. virtue, va.
'fi ior ana patriotism rarely to be found, hi,