Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-03-30
RECxTMOND:
The Ramored Coalition eftAe Presidential Can
di1iates
TUESDAY MORNING, MARCH 30. 10:

TUESDAY MORNING, MARCH 30, 1924
Inc Rnn,ored Coalition Of Tie Presidential Can
Giiointes.
Many of the papers in opposition to Mr.. Craw
toro aid more especially those in the interest of
Messrs- Calhoun and Jacksou, have inculcatcd the
opiinon that combination existed among the four
ami caucus candidates to exclude the co,cus can.ji
didatc from the Presidency. 1t is not srpri;-
ing, that to certain extent, some oppegrnucs y,
least OF concert should shew itself among the friends
OF the four candidates, who are supposed TO have
been unfricmlly to the mode in which Mr. Crawford
was brought before the country. They would, of
course, unite in reprobating measure, which some
OF them disapproved upon principle, and which
Others dsliked from the prejudice it inflicted ON r
candidate they supported. The disapprobntion If
the caucus would naturally extend to the persons
engaged IN 1t, and would at last be transferred to
him for whose benefit it was brought about So far
there mas oeen concert among the opponents Of
Mr. CRAWFORD and the friends of all the other cand-
dates. whether this concert, as we believe, has
been the result of events and entirely accidental
or whether 1t has been confirmed by express under
standing among the knowing ones about Washing
tom as writer in the Enquirer who signs himself
ssWestern Farmer" would seem to infer, we have no
means OF Judging We know nothing of what has
transp:red between Jackson and Calhoun or their
friends. IL Is probable, at least, that between hem
there was some understandings transfer of in
terest-some secret negotiation in which prete nsons
n
strengthening the other. This migh have extended
no further (and we hope it did not) than TO an un
outstanding among the friends, and the principal,
might have had no cognizance of the negotiation
But unless there was n previous negotiation of
some sort, the scene in Philadelphia, the unanmity
OF the Harrisburg convention, and the immediate
transfer of certain papers from the interest of Mr.
Calhoun to that of Gen. Jackson, present n very
rapid, strange, and harmonious succession of acct
dents. III we refer them to the agency of the same
cause, they are easily accounted for as its simple
and natural consequences; if we assign to each
event, an independent and sepcratc cause, all must
be struck by the contemporaneous occurrence of so
! many kindred effects, so much alike in themselves
and hearing the same appearance of a common af-
fluffy, though all flowing from different sources
There is no philosophy which would ascribe them TO
the agency of chasce,
| VIC are rfrom charging either Gen. jackson or
Mr Calhoun rs particeps in this traffic. We
choose rather to attribute it those ofcious un-
dersrappers, who have volunteered to manage the
affairs of the people for them.
The writer before alluded in the Enquirer ha s
rescued Mr.. Clay from being concerned in this plot
Ii is but justice to that gentleman saw that we
have never heard him spoken of as party in the
combination.
We believe that Adams and MI. Adams's
friends are equally unconcerned in any such i'm
proper alliance. There is foundatio for the
opposite conjecture either from any thing which has
happened, of which apprsed, or from the ee-
| neral department of Adams since he has been
before the people as candidate. He has been con-
| tented on his own part, to submit his prctensions
entirely to the people, without putting into operation
| the machinery of intrigue and no recent circtnn-
stance indicates departure from his moderate and
| unpretcnding course. However he might be bene-
| fitted in other quarters by combination with any
other candidate, he would loose by such IA course
all his friends in Virginia. We are sure that we
give utterance to their opinion when declare that
such change in the dignihed and disntercsted po-
lcy which he has heretofore pursued would lead to
| an immediate and Simultaneous abandonment of his
cause here. The sentiments of the friends of MI
Adams generally, in Virginia, not hostile TO Mr..
| Crawford. They prefer Mr.. Adams without dislik-
ing him. There arc passagcsi lin the political lives
of both which they dislike, and that scale being
| equally poised, they have adhered TO him who pos
sesscs, i'll their opinion, the greatest number quail
| bcations. They are further willing concede TO
the Northern States, the honor which they have so
| much coveted, of giving President to the Union.
They dcspse those sectional jcalouses which rem
der such concession necessary the preservation
of national harmony, but they perceive them to be
of that character, which however unfortunate and
unreasonable in themselves, have taken deep root
in the minds of the northern people, which cannot
be suddenly eradicated, especially by opposition,
and which must therefore be humorcd until the strong
ties of interest and consanguanity which bind the
opposite end1 of the Union together made still
stronger by habit and better information.
These are the considerations which have inclined
great numbers in Virginia TO support tho claims of
Mr.. Adams. They have been confirmed in their
selection, by the great purity and moderation which
they think Mr. Adams has displayed throughout the
Presidential canvass. They would necessarily give
up this opinion by pcrceiving any deviation in tine
disintercslcd modesty of his course. They would
| not consent to be transferred like Russian Doors
| themselves, nor support who would purchase
a title to the adhcren;s of another. They would
not agree if they were consulted, that the man
whom they had supported. should give up before the
people had passed upon his preteusions; and they
would equally disapprove of his being concerned i'll
any compromise beforehand with any Of tho oppos-
ing candidates.
We do not mean to say that there are no circum-
stances which would justify a compromise among
the candidates. But let this be done by the people;
by the States in their instructions their clectors
1 or the House of Representatives, if the election
should fnallylevolve that body. II will then be
time enough, when the people shall have failed to
make choice, TO combine 70 exclude an obnoxious
| or daugeros; individual. Before that time, and
for il to be effected by the direct agency Of the inii-
vidual candidates, their immediate, influential
friends, is offering insult to the people, and the
pnrity of elections.
| We should be willing, for instance, to sec n COM
promise under the circumstances we have mention
], when it should plainly be discovered that ma
rity of the people united in favor Of candidate
20 keep out Gen. Jackson. Such a compromise
made when the people had failed to elect would D