Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-08-20

md integrity could wish, ofdispaying his talents,
MS integrity, his devotion to the interests of the
nation, aud his capacity of filling, with useful
ness to the nation, the highest Office ipits gilt.
This was an ample and an honorable field. How
has it been improved? Has the administration OF
the treasury department., by MIR. Crawford, fur
nishcd anv new proofs ut his qualifications for
the Presidency? Has it increased the conf
dencc of the nation in his ability integrity
Has it made hIu an additional number OF friends
among those who most ConverSant with
pubck BUSINESS, The community gives no
sign of its confidence. Three iourths of the
members of Congress declare by their refusal To
nominate him, that III their opinion, he is I'M
worthy of the place. Yet Mr.. Crawford comes
forward, in the face of these acknowledgements.
and fortified by the rccommcn! aton of ono
fourth against the refusalto recommend of three
fourths, calls upon the people of America. to
make him their President! The peopie, did we
say? Not so: He has, long since, given up
all hopes of an election by the votes OF the peo-
ple.-'fhere is no salvation for him in the fee
dom of suffrage. 1t is fraught with perlitioa
and despair, and hrs plans of greatness mast be
pursued by other means. As the suffrage of
the people is against him, that Suffrage must he
abolished. As the publick voice is loud and
unanimous in his condemnation, fhnt coice must
be siifed. The people of Georgia of New-York,
OF Vermont, and Rhode Island must be deprived
ofthe right ot choosing their own electors and
that power must be retained by invested in,
an aristocratic< body in each of these states,
who can be concilated by the largeuess of the
treasury,
In Georgia the adopted State of Mr.. Craw-
ford, and where he first obtained distinction, the
election of Senators AMI Representatives to the
state legislature, last autumn, gave that sgcntc-
mans party majority OF four, in Joint ballot of
both houses, for Governor. His partizans be-
al. tl,o ~,
dint OF management, obtained the passage of
bill To deprive the pa Dp'c of the right OF cIoos-
ing electors m to vest the t,,ioe of doing So in
tue legislature.
In New York, the legislature has exercised
the Poice'' without t!c right, Of che sing cleo
tors, ever since the creation Of the federal go
verninent. AT the last general election, nearly
all The members chosen To the House OF Assem-
bly,, as well as the Senators elected, came in
under pledge 10 their constituents, that they
would cuact a law giving To the people the right
Which they have so long claimed. lIr. Craw-
tord's friends III New York, who had vai.ly at
tempted 10 stem the current of public opinion
at the polls, now applied themselves, with great
industry AM skill, TO prevent the representatives
OF the people from rc,fecming their pledge.
They have hitherto succecIe1--bv what means
cannot hcIoub,el, by any one whJ pro 3crly
considers the history 9th two sessions of the
Legislature holden since the election.
In Vermont, at the last session Of the legis-
laiure. an abortive attempt was made, To take
the choice OF electors from the people, and vest
1t in the General Assembly. The representa-
tves OF the people were too honest to counta-
nance this plan, and it was secuted from the lc-
sisiative hall, with the greatest Indignation.
In Island, the advocates of Mr.. Cravv-
ford, having vaniy endGavourcd To procure a
muster of the people in his favour, sec no hopes
IN of ttn- ,iatn oh
them ptegcd toone of Mr.. Crawfor,i's friends, in
the State of \. y DIRK, about twelve month ago,
except by managing the members of the iegis-
taturc They are now, il is said, secretly at
wo' * upon plan TO obtaiR, at the next session.
repeal of the present law, and a passage of a
bill to vest the choice of electors i'll the General
Assembly.
All these name uvcrs originated in the same
view OF the qucstiou,ani iu:cnlcd To pro-
mote the same object. The friends of MIR.
Crawford have no hope in the people, in any
part OF the country and their olly chance of
success depends upon their plan, of deprivng
the people OF the power oF choosing cleo tors,
and vcsting Chat power in few individuals who
may be collected at point, and rem Tered
suhserv,cut to the views of the treasury canli-
date. They do not even aiact any conceal
mcnt of their plan Cooperation. On the con
trary, they laugh, whenever told OF new mo, g.
meats, among the people, in favour OF MIR. A
dams, an'i assert, boaStngly and unblu,hiuglv
that the talents and adrotness of their leaders
will, assurediy, defeat the wishes of the great
mass OF our population, and place their Apollo
in the clair.
Up to the present time. the elections Of tins
country have been conducted with purity and
moderation, without example in any other
country, vince any part of tie magistracv is
renewable by the suffrage Of the people We
have seldom heard of briberv, or of public enter
,ainments, given 10 the electors hv the candi
daes--Very seldom have we heard of popular
violence, or IntoXicdtion--nevcr Of the conccn-
trauon, near the places of election Of military
force 10 overawe the freeraen.-But, ii the pre-
sent mode of eIectionecring is to be countc-
uancet an tolerated, all the evils which we
have enumerated, and many more than VIC can
thi"lS Of nov, will be entaiicd upon this coun-
try III Mir. Crawford coming forward as he docs
with nothing but the treasury patronage t.. re-
commend him, should he elected for the ensu-
ing term of the Presidency, the Amy, will be
at his disposal nj the next election and NAV be
50 disposed as To- influence and decide that and
all future elections. This is within the consti.
fuuonal power of the President The control
oil the military force was annexed To the Office
Tor the safety oF the country: in the confidence
HAT IT would no; be abused. That it has not
oeen ahnsei bv former Presidents, was owing
entirely to their virtue and integrity and To the
virtue and integrity Of the people. If, there
tore, thc people should now be so Indifferent TO
the ricanS employed by Mr. Crawford, in his
attempts upon the Presidency as TO suffer him
TO be elected, they woulI give an Indirect sane
ton to those means, and virtual encourage
rncnt {" tlin, to secure his next election. by o.
der and more forciblc measures The term of
eight wears. which fine ,y1tn.lc of NJ ,.u,,I,