Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-10-05

preservedn out of the hands of the stfederaists:n
and, at the late extra meeting, it was ssrepubli-
can" in about forty members of the Assembly,
who voted for the law few months before, to
vote against it, and for some of them TO go as
far as they dared, TO insinuate that ii was the
tories who were most friendly TO the said laws
Here we have ''republicaus," ssfcderalstsn and
stories" all in heap, and those may select any
one from the others for themselves, who please
to spend their time i'll discovering how these me-
tamorphoses were brought about.
/ well remember that the ssrepub!icansn of
1898, had no more doubt that the leading politi-
cal measures of that day were by direction OF
the "Essex Junto," than they had that such a
Junto existed: and it often times appeared as If
missionaries and agents of it were sent 20 many
OF the States, to arrange or settle with the local
or sub. jnntoS, the manner of proceeding on i'm
portant occasions, The establishment of this
central power on the one side, begat the politi-
cal necessity of building up one on the other,
and Richmond became the opposite of Boston.
But those powers which the respective parties
had raised, feeling something like authority TO
act, transcribed their bounds, and assumed the
part of dictators to, instead of collectors of pub
lie opinion. The eastern was severely shaken
ON account of its Prescriptions, long before the
| federal interest was broken as il Isl and we re-
collect well that there were two great parties in
that interest, which, though seriously opposed
one TO the other, were united in opposing the re-
publican party; and it was owing to the violence
OF their measures that succeeded i'm defeating.
both. The southern central power has lapsed
into the same lust for domination; :. but,
while the first has sunk into nothing or been dis
solved by its own dissentions. the other has
maintained itself so well as even now to attempt
the mahing of President, without consultation
with or respect for the people, whose will it
hath affected to represent on every OCCASION
! I'm fl.at <,4f II
cause to wonder how it is that, without some
such concentration of power as have spoken
Of 1T has happened that the moral yo,ce,. of the
State OF Virginia and the actual Strength of its
representation in Congress- has been kept so
closely together. 1t is impossible to believe that
ON the various questions in which the represcn
tations of New York, PENNSYLVANIA and other
States have been dirided, and that of Virginia
unanimous, there was not some understanding
present to bring 1t ahout-some givinps up of
pFtrate opinion To the 'tgood of Tie Causen as we
used to say in warn party times. Without this
conclusion, we must needs suppose that the sim.
pie fact Of being elected member of Congress
from the state named, confers some peculiar spi-
| mt OF discernment. casts the opinion of each
intilvItual person into common stock, for the
benefit of the whole-for, however much the Ia
tents OF some of the members ought to be res
pected, no one will claim for the entire number
| greater amount of sound Judgment than be-
longs to the representations of other States
But we have heard much about the Virginia
"schoo"-aud, if there is school, there must
be a schootn,aster. And presuming as we ought
| that the members act conscientiously, there is
great merit in the fact that they are moved as if
possessed OF only one soul, on every great uues-
ton that concerns themselves Their iluence
| too IS extraordinary, for the reason that it has
been the policy ofthe people of Virginia TO make
very few changes III their representation. Much
| H. Al.
may not entirely comport with the r0taLion prin-
! cipie, which, in the commonly received opinion
OF the republican party, is necessary TO good
administration of the public affairs.
| large majority of the people of tbo
eastern states was decidedly opposed to the
measures OF government. and the density
OF their population and great wealth, rendered
| them much more powerful than their actual
numbers would seem TO allow; and New York
herself, was inclined TO act with them. Indeed
| from all the states east of New-Jersey. only
! twelve gentlemen attended the congressional
caucus of 1912; but previous to that meeting an
| opposition had been expected, and Mr.. Clinton
was regarded by his friends as the only probable
person that could succeed-and wished for by
the interest that have alluded 10, that, bv be-
ing brought out rs opposed To the ,cnr, which. il
was thought, would cause him to fail, he might
be set aside from probable succession TO
the presidency at any future period But he he.
sitated-he could not go with the eastern peo-
| pie the lengths that they would have expected.
! and some inaneuvre was necessary to lead him
! to an oUert act against the republican party 81
| w hat twas, or by whom practise,l do not now:
yet that plan Tor the purpose was carried into
effect, believed at The time and never doubted
since. Indeed, numerous things that have han
! pened, gave to beefthe semblance of certainty.
though no proof of the fact has ever reached me.
| Great party matters were al stake and ora,t
party management was to be expected. The
! unto would not consent to lose its power any
more then than Hoto without desperate strur-
| gle; and whether they had or had not intrigued
TO bring him out would not have CHANGED nv
course on the occasion, when did all that /
rghtfuly could do to defeat hirn--beIieyinr that
change IN the chief magistracy, at that very
important time, would have shaken our institn
tons at home and seriously have injured our
country and the character ofthe republican sys-
TEN abroad. Most of us, in Baltimore, who on.
posed him, regretted what we regarded the nall
hcM necessity of doing so-for he had been nor
sonaliy respected in this city as much as Mr..
Madison, and regarded as equally devoted to the
nation and IFS cause. The suspicion was not
entertained that he would make a dishonor,bIe
peace, or become tool of the Essex Junto-
but, as the war had been recommended bv Mr.
Madison, Ut appeared right that he should have
an opportunity offending it, flo be ACCOMPLISHED
within the space which seemed to be xtended& Ii
limited for holding the presidency never have
regretted the part that mysclftoolx in that affair