Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1824-09-22


have urged that, while other States were
making provision for an undivided vote, Mas
sachusetts also would be justified in making a
similar arrangement. But we confess we are
not of the number of those, who believe that
individual offences may be palliated by eta
lions from the records ofother mems immorali-
ty, nor that there is any political virtue in
copying political transgressions. If other
States have been induced by the unreasonable
zeal OF private friendship, or the frenzy ofpar-
ty spirit, to violate the rights of the people,
or to disregard the sa,utary admonitions or the
wise ordinances Of the Constitution, let US
not be seduced by the evil of thei. example
but, will, ma5nnni1aaity which 80 duo from
men who act for their country, let us yield our
private partialities to higher obligations, and
adhere with unwavering frmness to those
principles which are founded in the common
rights Of the whole community.
. Great, however, as are our objections to a
General Ticket, we might have found some
alienation in its operation, had the nomina-
lions beel left to the several Congressional
Districts of the State. But even this relief
was denied; and the same individuals, who
by their exertions in the Legislature had Sc
cured the passage of the Resolve for this disa-
greeable system, Immediately upon leaving
the halls of public legislation, assembled in
caucus. together with few Others from some
of the towns in the vicinity of Boston, and
there, by making nominations, in effect die
tated to the people whom they might be per-
mitted to choose for their Electors. Not con-
tent, however, with even all this assumption,
they proceeded to nominate their Presidential
candidate; and arrived at the climax of their
extraordinary dictation by binding, with
pledges, their nominated list of Electors 10 the
support oftheirf avourite for the Presidency .(c)
This list has since been officially announced
to the public; and in the leading newspaper
OF the partizans of the General Ticket, and
in various Others in the State, has been osten-
tatiously displayed under the appellation Of
" THE Peoples Ticket" We leave it to you
to decide, whether Ticket, formed as this
has been, and bound as its members are by
pledges to the support of particular individu-
al, deserves the name with which its support
ers have sought to recommend it.
Under these circumstances, we have felt il
our duty, in common with many others in all
parts of the State, to assemble in convention
and concert measures ofopposition to the can
didates nominated by the partizans to whom
we have alluded
Conventions have already been held in the
Counties of Berkshire and Suffolk. They
have nominated unpledged candidates for
their Districts; Cd and we have concured with
them in recommending His Excellency WILL
At as the HS have H aso recom
mended the Hon. SOLOMON STRONG for
an Elector for our North, and DANIEL
THURBER, Esq. for our South District. We
have not inquired into the political partialities
or predictions OF these gentlemen; (e) and the
only pledge which we are willing to accept, as
to the manner in which they will discharge
their Electoral duty, is the intelligence, and
the life of public and private virtue, which
they have already exhibited.
We consider it duty to assure you, that
conventions have been called in other Dis
tricts OF the State and that q full Ticket, by
free and public nomination, will soon be pre-
sented to your attention.
In behalf of candidates so fairly selected, so
free to act according to the dictates OF their
soundest Judgment, untrammelled by the re-
quirements of caucus pledges, we appeal to
you for support; and we assure you that your
eXertions will meet with efficient cooperation
dependent throughout the State And against
that list of Electoral Candidates, which was
formed at the legislative caucus in Boston,
and which has been presented to you with art
fui delusVeness under an imposing name, we
appeal to you for opposition and we conf
IDENTIFY trust, that in the election of those whom
we now recommend, we shall all witness the
triumph Of honour, of constancy, and of
principle.
By order Of the Contention,
?. MERRICK, Chairman Of Committee.
Editorial Notes.
(a) Whatever may be their professions, the
certain effect of the course they pursue, il
any effect is produced, will be to divert nor.
ton OF the votes ofthe state from the candi-
date supported by the majority, in favour OIL
the one supported by the minority.
(b) A distinction without a difference. But
let us see what the Constitution says. The
following are the exact words Tart. 9 sec. |. J
" Each STATE shall appoint, in such man.
nsr as The Legislature thereof man direct, a
number of Electors equal to the whole num-
Der of Senators and Representatives to which
the state may be entitled in Congress-
1t is proper to remark that the practice Of
the trainers Of the constitution, in the frs,
election held under it, does not justify the
forced construction attempted to be put upon
it i'll this address. On the contrary it has
been argued, and we think with much force.
that the original intention was, that each state
should choose electors in such manner as would
secure TO it an undivided vote, and that as an
equivalent for the advantage this gives to the
large states, the small states were given an
equal vote with them in case the election
should come into the House Of Representa-.
tives.
We readily grant, as we have heretofore
held, that a choice by districts is the most de-
mocratic mode, prOoided al is made uniforn.
throughout The Union. But, when a part Of
the states choose in such manner as to give
an undivided vote, it is antt-republicGn for the
remainder to elect bV districts ber.usn N n