The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1824-01-02

| del VIII have enlisted under his banners
/ numerous crop of adhrrcuts, and the feel
ings ensenderrd in the Gret election wi
Increase and become powerful IN the tina
contest. Heretofore, the struggle for poll
teal ascendanCy has been carried on be
tween the Two great parties, each of Hhiel
for q long time, claimed 10 POSSESS an Z
quality Of influence. But, ~ geographical
line was drawn, no local feelings engrndef
ed by reason thereof. Members of eacl
party were found in every state, and loca
! attachments aud sectional views enter
ed not into the contest far different
however, is our present situation. We N,
threatened with the array of State agains
state, of East against tho, Nest, aud ia,
| North against the South. The existence
of such a state of things, all attached to I'll,
scouniry and lis Institutions cannot fail to
deplore.
But, Independent of these considera-
tons, there are others of equal or of great
er force which operate on this Body Ia
come to different result from the Legs
lalure of rrnncs.ee. 1t has already been
said, that the election would in all pruba-
biity devolvc on the House of Representa-.
lives. To this, the most manifest oblcc-
tons exist. by this, small minority
| may impose on the people of the L nited
States man, to whom the great ma GRITTY
| is decidedly nVerse THIS is Il truth 50
| obvious, that il must occur 10 the most
inattcntve observer. The election, in the
last resort, is made by the States without
reference 10 the number of Representa-
tncs. Tho House of Representatives,
consists of 9l3 members :--now the4'
are thirteen States, constituting majority
of the whole number, whose representa-
ton consists of but forty 1--WE members
Surprising the most perfect unanmity Ia
exist among the members representing
said Suites, the consequence would be,
that that small minority might impose a
President on the nation, in opposition 10
the expressed wishes of 1863 Representa-
lives speaking with fidelity the sentments
of their coustltuents.-Rut,t the minority,
instead of amounting to forty five, may be
still smaller IL may not exceed thirty two;
that number being the result of the coin
blned majorltes of each of the thirteen
smallest and least populous States When
we come Ia examine this subject IN refer
ence 10 the great body of the people, the
disparity will appear even more striking.
The combined population of ten Of the
States does not equal that of the single
State of New York. The population of
that great and rapidly growing State is by
the last census rated at i,37e,ai2 inhabi-
tants-and yet New York would count but
III the ratio of one 10 ten. The popula-
ton of the New State of Mississippi is esti-
mated at about j5,21l-and vel that State
would have, should the election devolse
on the House of Representatives, an equal
influence with N. York thus giving to
the inhabjtant of Mississippi, within a
fraction, twenty five times as much mia.
ence in the election of the President, rs
would belong to the citizen of New York.
Let those who oppose the course which
has heretofore been pursued IN regard To-
the Presidential Election, explain TO the
nation how it is, that when they are so cla-
morous for the rights of the people, their
efforts should be directed to the accom-
pshment of that which may eGcctualy
silence the voice Of the majority, aud sub
nit il to the rule and government of a
small minority
But this IS not aIl--If the election, from
the want of union and concert 10 the great
Electoral body of The people, should de.
yolye on the House of Representatives.
the nation may ia fact be denied Pres
dent altogether. The Union embraces
within lis circle twenty four states, and il
requires majority of that number to elect
the President. Now let us suppose, aud il
is by no means IA forced or an unnatural
supposition, 1T has once occurred in our
history and may occur again. that there
should be an equal division eff VOtcs--Or,
since the constitution admits Of votes for
three Of those who may stand highest on
The list, suppose thai each candidate of the
three, as would Individually be the CASE,
should receive support, and yet no one Of
the three receive majority Of all the
States, the result above anticipated, he
comes realized. Lei il be remembered also,
that the same result may take place as 10
the Vice Presidency. This reasoning is
based on coneclureB neither forced NJ ;.
uauatural and although Virginia w1ald
be among the first To sustain this Union
and the government thereof in IA time of
danger and difficulty, yet It's w3lfmest wish
is, tina an hour so dark and pnpropiiious 10
the best interests and permanent safety of
these States, may never arrive. This Gr-
neral Assembly canuot be ldlcd into n
state of Indifference and apathy on this
interesting subject, by the hope that one 81.
The other of the cohtendrg parties on the
floor ofthe Representative Chamber would
surrruder.its tayortc, and contribute lis aid
to the election of one Of the other two car.
didates. Should such party even be in-
Glued 10 do so IN OBEDIENCE to the com
mands 0fpatriotism aud propricty, il might
not he able TO accomplish It's laudabl-
purpose. Its course. IN that event n oil,
produce lie between the two on, candi.
dates, ard the nation would beyfpr in M
| 1. 80.