Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-08-24

'ehtion, tuis mgh aufnonion and influential guide
gwen them by their chosen and highly relied
on, well experienced friends and euardi-
ans. What is this but giving consequent result
nay an immediate direction the will of the peo-
Pile, IN the FIRST place. in the electoral colleges; and
pre-determining, and plcdging the states n, Com
gress assembled, in the second place, to comm omit
by way of compromise, the will of the whole and
.na' as we have already seen tn most contempti-
oe "ihorHy' THAT is II but To lay the door wide |
open 10 the most abominable corruption and i'm |
iigue-to the ting and wds of the mos,
deceitiul demagogues, and plausible and popular |
leaders To give to candidates from among tbei, |
own body, perhaps in tme if not at present. a n un-
oue influence and advantage over others even of |
more merit. To produce over again those very
scenes and struggles of the SO ballot,inus ca much
apprehended ny MIR. Richie, and all the other arise
friends Of lie Congressional Caucus; which the Con-
stltuton seems to have had in view, and intended
to guard against?
What is such compromise of the clashinc will of
the whole, by the votes of the members of Congress
,ndtctdudHy, but an immediate defeat IF the consii-
fMtohdi compromise IN favor Of the small states
gainst the overPowering influence of the great
Suppose such caucus should go on as surely .hey
have an equal right, to e0npromise aue,r without
an amendment of the Constitutions, the will Ind in
fluence of the states in the Senate, by declaring
that, Instead OF an equal vote upon all great and
na,iohai questions they shall only have right and
influence according to the census; would the small
states not view it little deviation from the
hrst and great fundamental principles OF that sacred
national Charter by WHICH alone they were bound
TO the Union: And where, let me ask, is the great
| and mighty difference, between such-a Stretch of
power in any other great national questions, and
the great and interesting of the choice CHEF
magistrate for FoCR YEARS. Where; the equal
rights of the states i'm either case?
But let il be distinctly understood that IL is only
congressional cancusses that protest against. do
not pretend to question the right Of the free pcople
| OF this country To assemble and meet together
al an times and all places either by night or
| by day, Tor the lawful and peaceable purpose OF
considering, discussing, and deciding orr any iN,e-
| resting question, of political, ny more than of a
religious, moral, or scientific character: Neither
shall deny TO members of Congress the right of
mixing, arguing, and voting, in their real ci;ufac-
tiers OF private, individual citizens, in such ssen-
bhes: But when they meet together in congrcs
Caucus and deny To the whole body of reni pirate
ciSe7is throughout the whole continent, the right of
interfering or voting in snch mcetings-wheu they
assume 10 themselves the sole right Of acting on
such occasiouS-l cannot conceive how any one Of
common sense can persuade himself, or expect to
convince others of common sense, that even those
members OF congress- who form those caucusses cons-
der themselves acting altogether in their private
and individual characters. confess, cannot for
my soul, discover any such mighty differe and dis
tincon III the capacities of the same persons acting
as members OF congress, and members Of congressi-
onal c9ucusses, under the foregoing view of the
all the diScer',menf and ingenuity Of tie Engui-
rer, 10 ne contrary notwithstanding! confess see
great deal OF usurpation and assumption of pow
er-an actual disregard and total dsca riding of
all the rights and authorities of the people over
their own most Immediate interests and important
concerns, well most thorough .onten,p, for
their authorities and controul over Mcnil
The nearest that all this comes to a constitutions
dtrepTeSedfton 81 tie peoples rights, to be found
in the constitutional prOrision IN relation to tie
nree.!yhS fofe on oar black popuiatio,,--at least
the practice If not the principle, il cannot be de-
MED, is precisely the same--their MASTERS take
all their rights and interests wha little they have
under such circumstances in public concerns, into
heir own hands, and act entirely at their own will
and discretion for them-they have no agency even
themselves, iii either case, much less have they a.
gents, as the free acte population at least should
have, under Their control.
Another great and radical objection to this eve
ry-way Objectionable, dark-totored, midnight mock
representation, of the rights and will of all the Cf
'ci,He people of the nation; is to be found IN t.
particular case of the late Washington aucus in
the character of the persont who they have coupled
as Vice President, with the one nominated as Pre-
sident; and the consequences inevitably grow inc
out OF their election together! have no obiection
to Mr.. Crawford. On the contrary he is INV first
choice; and therefore object the 10 his being
put III such bad company, and promoted the FIRST
Office in the nation, through the evident de.truction
OF the peoples lost rights; when, 100, il is equally
evident, from the acknowledged prccarious stat. of
his health, that such bice President is to become
ipsoftcto the President of these United States Arc
we prepared for this? Citizens, natives of Americn
| immaculate descendants of ma
triotic and heroic revolutionary fathers, Are Won
prepared So soon after those Tiers had rid YOU of
FOREIGN MASTERS, to submit TO another over Won,
Ii you are call for one who promises some height
ard elevation OF character: Impoit, and tiy YOUNG
| NAPOLEON, of renowned and splendid ahcestry: and
not accept of mere driueler, who would sstoD HE
'eteels ofsortr7,nie' hro Hehoy right Of insurrcc
hon, without having the courage TO face the very
| first onset in the contest!
| Fellow citizens. have you so soon forrot the
| TREAsoNs of Arnold, ARMSTRONG, Shayes Ga,la .
tin, Fryes, Burr, and the Hartford Convention men,
IT you have, will refresh your recollections with
few plain and undcniable facts, which sha prove
to your full satisfaction. that there are but a few
very faint shades of difference in ali these cases.
and those differences pointediy against the
; caucus, "the regularly national nominated candi-
Il date, for the Vice Presidency, as it is STYLED
Arpodonly escaped the strong grasp ofthe vjrt,Ious
Indignation of WASHINGTON, by fight; Armstrong,
by shetering himself under ANONYMOUS guise:
Gallatin under the proclamation of forgiveness and
by retractins and advising his insurgents 10 submit
| when WAsHINGToN had approached their encanp-
mcnt at great national expense: Fryes by the for.
givcness and pardon of the humane and benevo-
lent old Adams, after he was condenned;-Bu,r
escaped it was said, througb the defects of the law
the testimony, or the administration of the. laws"
aud Shayes, who perhaps deserves our gratitude g.
thanks for attempting mere than all the rest TO
bastthe fruits of our revolution; escaped BY change
! of government from the old confederation tn the