Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-03-09
THE ELECTORAL LAW.

1t will he seen by the Legislative Report, that
Messrs Dudley, McCall,& Wooster to whom Lieut..
Gov. Root referred the Electoral bill from the AS
scmbiy, have made long report dccidly against re-
storing to the People the choice of Presidential Eec-
tors This adverse report, the course taken by the
enemies of the bill i'll the Senate and the confident
predictions of its enemies out of doors, all indicate
settled determination to reject it and defeat the lust
wishes of the People and Major Noah, of the Adj
vocate, appears to have received such strong assur
ance that the bill will be thrown out that he does
not hesitate IN his paper of this morning, to saw
wlrh confidence that the OF this state will be Of
ven To William III. Crawford for next Prcsdentn-
Let MN not be too certain the question on order
ing the bill and report lie on the table, and to print
iu0 copies OF the letter to spread over the state by
way ofexcuse for isrcgafing the voice of the peo-
pie, Is not test of the sentiments of the Senate If
will not be suffered to sleep where it is
Neither will the people submit in silence to be de-
Prved OF right OF popular suffrage which properly
belongs to them, and which they have in the most
clear and unequivocal manner demanded to be res
tored to them. The advocates of Mr.. Crawford NAV
reject the bill, hold i'll contempt the wishes and the
rights oil the people, resolve 10 saddle them with the
expence OF an extra session of the legislatures and
use their utmost efforts to give the electoral vote of
the state OF New-Y York TO candidate for the Pre,i-
eency who could not reserve, in election by tho
people one fourth of the votes. Suppose thew sue
coed in doing all this, and even destroy the influence
at New York in the Presidential election, by cast
eng vote for MIR. Crawford, we apprehend in that
case, Mr.. Crawford has the poorest chance of anv
;ot the candidates before the public
But let those who think of assuming the respons
Billy OF rejecting the electoral bill, reflect that
they can never meet at the polls an indignant and
abusedpeope whose wishes they disregard and whose
petitions they treat worse than Indifference For
ourselves should be perfectly content whoever of
the candidate; should receive the electoral vote of
New York, provided it is obtained in fair and
open manner, each of them being placed before the
people on the same footing, and the people the Judges
of their respective claims and fitness for the Office
But the people constitutionay possess the right
OF deciding Tor themselves; fhey have declared by
their votes their wish 10 exercise that right if the
popular branch of the legislature has determined IN
give .e them by an almost unprecedented maiOri-
ty; If petitions are still pouring in from al quarters
OF the state nrgrg the passage of the law in qucs-
on; If it be an iRcontoveTtiblc fact that one of the
candidates could not obtain one fourth of the votes
OF the people; If these positions are true, and we
believe no impartial man capable of Judging viii
dispute them, what ask is the value of flat plo-
rious privilege of freemen, the right of suffrage if
that candidate should receive the electoral vote of
this state agant the will of three-fourth of the peo
pie.
The servant eZalts br15ef above the master: the
people are told that they are incapable of Judging
for themselves, that they are their own worst enc
mics, and their will save them from ruin
by appointing to rule over them one whom they
would not elect themselves Let the enetnies of the
electoral bill pause before they incur the fearful re-
sponsibility of withholding from two hundred and
fifty thousand Independents electors the right of suf-
ragc. II will be their turn long to speak at the
polls, and they will speak n voice which will be
heard and cannot then be dsregarded.
To The Edjtors ofNte oNattolal Hnte!ligenccr.
GENTLEMEN: In your paper of the 4th inst.
you observe that, AT a meeting Of the Demo
RCpublicar, of tl,o