Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-11-23
rAB1Us.

commend it to the grave consideration Of the EIec-
torai College. The denunciaton of MIR. Calhoun
oy Tue Enquirer, has been Intellectual in Virginia
lie stands high with the great body of the people,
VINO have not forgotten that he was the pillar of
Mr. Nadisons administration. Men who are now
nigh IN favor, then skunk from responsibility Timo-
my PICKERING, aud the Essex Junto, have got to
oe more popular with certain politicians than John
=. Calhoun We would call for the sentiments of
iesSrs Ritchie and Gooch this interesting uues-
uoh, II we did not know that the call would be UNI
"eened. Public opinion is unfxed, and so of course
T re ,ney. Let that once speak, and will they.
onu 'hen, mum is the word. AS Noah said of
coleman, "we fsresee they will be i'm the maiotitvo
Sir-As it is the habit of men enraped in
tne pursuit of an object to look rather before
'''ah around them, IT often happens that those
VINO are most interested in the issue of public
transactions, are least capable of attending to
ulcir eiiects or OF calculating their consequent
ces' To be at the same time botl. eager and
onCu,hSPect,l Is condition of the mind not ca
s''y attalnable, while a consciousness that our
passions are quiet, affords at least a negative
persuasion that our Judgment is clear
ihese considerations obviously proceeding
from the points of political view we respectively
occupy, and which have from time iminemo-
riai conferred upon bystanders the dignity of
| counseliors. inspire me with a hope that INV re-
flect'ons upon the present crisis of our affairs
| may not be Improbable. Others assure me
they Will not be deemed obtruslve. A son of
Virginia, can never be insensible to the inter
ests Oh her power or reputation--a lover of the
UNION, naturally deprecate whatever tends TO
weaken, or threatens to dissolve it.
The agitations of public opinion operate in
free societies, like winds upon the sea, which
render its waters healthy and navigable But
the course OF the moral element, to be sautary
must be directed by the light OF reason as the
air circulates and the ocean swells by the iufIu-
ence of the heavenly bodies. Whenever. there
| tore, great lmDulSnS paryodo tho n.,t;o.
(, comes the duty ofits citizens carefully to reru
late their progress and to see that the republc
sustain no harm.
However singular it may be, il is uevertbc
less my opinion, that the immediate result of
the presidential contest, is not the most impor
tant OF ITS consequences as respects Virginia.
The effect that it is likely to have upon her in
t,uence IN the confederacy,. is matter of far
greater moment; Is the point upon which her
real interest depends, and to which the vie,vs of
| her statesmen should now be directed With
regard TO the first office in competition, our DO
siuon is taken, and no doubt will be firmly
maintained. Political fidelity is among the no
blest public virtues, and even those who dissent
I from the choice OF Virginia, cannot fail to adj
mire her constancy and zeal. But unfortunate
~ TINS is not the only sentiment, to which our
| support of MIR. Crawford has given rise. II
adds strength TO that feeling of jealousy and
! sense oil injustice, with which the almost unn-
terrupted descent of the Presidency, in the line
OF Virginia patriots, has affected our sister re-
Paocs. The ascendancy of our state il is true
moved hand in hand with the glory of the ma,
ton. But the causes which created it. have
completed their operations; the memory of our
wisdom IN council, of our renown I'm arms. cam
not exact perpetual Difference. We have no
| longer statistical superiority; hencef rward
our asceniancy, If not erected on new foun,,a-
ton oi merit, must depend ON the good will of
| the States Every opportunity therefore should
he selzed of conciliatng their affection and
; every occasion avoided of provoking their dis
esteem.
Tins twofold dictate of prudence. il canno,
tail to occur TO you, is eminently applicable to
the approaching election of Vice President
Tho circumstances attending il are peculiar
and striking. Our first demonstra ton was in
favour OF an individual, in whose advancement.
none OF the states could feel that generous
PRIDE, which our own has often experienced
and If 1t has produced any good effect. has
| Deen 10 convince us that in this country no
course OF policy can succeed in opposition
to the will Of the people Our second demon
| stration, IN order TO be successful must he more
prudent, ana can hardly be prudent if ii cloud
US with the dscredit of another defeat
| As public indications limit our choic G TO two
distinguished individuals it would be superGuous
TO extend our deliberation beyond compa risou
OF their CLAIMS. First then, shall we vote for Mr.
lay as V.PresIdent! This question is answered
as easily as proposed. For after full considera-
tion, conceive the objections to a selection of
Mr.. Clay are as obvious and irresistible as his
claims to respect and!admiraton are numerous
and strong. One fact alone is decisive. Mr.
! crawford, who Is our choice for the first Office
Is native OF Virginia; TO propose for the second
ONCE also, native of Virginia after orr Ionn
ascendency and power, would aggravate the
jealousy existing against us, and weaken our
influence In the union Again, Mr.. Clay is a
candidate for the Presidency itself, and has
through his friends avowed his perseverance, in
that purpose. After declaration so solemn. TO
support him for an incompatible Office yyonl5
eyince suspicion or affect an exposure of b;s
sincerity. In the third place, the States friend
ly TO HIM will appoint Electors to support him
as President. They could not combine in an
attempt to make him Vice President, and of
course our vote would be thrown away. O.
ven should all the Electors of Mr. Crawford
| concur IN 1T. Iffurther observations were ne
cessary toprove that this attempt would be both
injurious and abortiye, might refer to the obi
Gus appearance and slight resistance it would
present to the friends of MIR. Calhoun, who con-
| sttute large majority of our fellow citizens.
| For ITS paipable inefficacy would certainly in
duce them to attribute it, not TO the wisdom ofour
counsels, but to the force of our pri.le less TO a
preference ofMr Clay than to jealousy of Mr..
Calhoup, and to a want of sympathy with tbe
| inclnations of the Unon
III then IT IS demonstrabIe that we cannot elect
and ought not to support Mr. Clay as Vice Pre-
sident, 1t remains to determine whether we shall
vote for MIR. Calhoun. None of the objections
which forbid the selection of MIR. CLAW apply to
him, while all the adversatiye Inducements re-
commend him. He is not native of Virginia,
/ ~ NzA -.