Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-10-19

| " ana harmony Of a Representative Rcpublic
should exhibit the riot rnd turbulence of a pure
democracy. Our polit icians in Virginia. in t,e;r
zeal to limit the right of suffrage, and TO dsiran.
chisc one half of the people, have :iscribed h !, !
symptoms OF Reorganization tn the practice OF
universal suffrage which prevails i'm that state.
| w ith greater probability. and moi rcsDcct to
the majesty OF the people, we are disposed TO as
ctioe 'hc'n to the unprincipcd ambition Of her
gre" men, y tn The peculiar construction of her
s'''e pa',es. These have never been formed
upon TIE basis OF prUicipIc, and their duration h,s
accordingly correspondent to the sieLi and tenn
porary nature of the foundation. Parties are
created aud cemented in Newly York nv fbo
names anu influence of men, and have no otl,er
IMAM AN accidental connection with measures
u measures are ever appealed to, it is to answer
some pressing end-and the influence they cx-
cit, Is derived more from their having been SUM-
ported or opposed by particular persons. tlian
from their own merit. 1t may with truth be said
mat measures are used TO support men, and moi
men To support measures. 1t to these causes
.lat we ascrIbe the ever varying character Of
New York politics, aud the proiliracv of her
Nus. ,c,Ve politicians. How is possible TO e.
corcic such Inconsistencies as these
| De witt Clinton, if not the protector was ,,,o
conspicuous and able supporter of the Grand
lanai. As citizen and statesman, he pro,no
ted IL IN every way, in the councils of the state
ana ny his individual cXertions and popularity.
lie assumed much responsibility, and public
justice has SO far rewarded him, as 10 identify
his name with one of the greatest works of the
age.
Eut at tic moment when the Grand Canal ;s
either finished, or rapidly approaching IFS com
p!cuon-whcn its advantages began TO be fell
ana infinitely greater anticpated-w every
view forker Is proud of the honor il reflects ON
his state, and the clamors of its foes siIcnced bv
us complete success-thc people of New York
seize ON thisvery conluncturo TO discard Mr. Gin
'o'' ana IN contest with an adversary every
way his Inferior, elect the latter by Tremendous
majority.
Mr. Clinton is, however, continued y Canal
commissioners, which Office he discharges era
tuitousiy, and we presume faithfully and ably
hen scarcely any thing more is left for the
Canal Commissioners to do-wIcn the whole
honor OF the cntorprize Is realized, and The saga
city and wisdom OF its projectors established nv
The unanimous appreciation of America, Mr..
Clinton isfnrther rewarded by being ignomni
ousiy expelled from his honorary office without
charge a!!cdScd, or cause assigned What
seems strange still, some of ms own political
friends unite with his enemies in inhictiu@ This
last act OF wanton injustice--and among others
Tie gentleman, whose political opinions have as
9ooia.ea MN IN the recent popular nomination,
with Mr. Clinton himself,.ase candidate for Lit.
Goycrnor-we mean, Gen. Tallmadce.
minority of the Legislature is sand to be for
Cra"iord-yct Yates, the friend of Crawford. is
abandoned, and Young, the friend of Clay, 70
taken up as the next Caucus Governor-So
That the caucus friends the friends of ,.eouLor
noa'taatie''s, find themselves In the strange pre-
dicament of supporting Crawford as President
ana Dung as Governor, although Young is
hostile TO Craw ford-anl what is still more.
they being all opposed to the Electoral .aw.
That Is To say, To admitting the people To vote in
Tie PRESIDENTIAL Election, are vet supporting
Young, who says he has always been warmly lis
friend, and are actually electioneerine for him
on that ground!
Col. Young was canal Commissioner, and
has the credit of being gentleman of sense
How hc has answered this descriptions let these
circumstances say:
Previously TO the last winter, lie was the open
partizah OF Clay; having probably become so,
by their sympathetic opinions ON the subject of
roads and canals When Yates who had sa,ri-
Heed his own popularity in the State by uphold
ing Crawford, was Judged by the regency too
weak to be run again as Governor, coalition is
formed between Yong aud the Regency
Young Is to succeed Yates in the nomination for
Governor, and Is TO pay no other consideration
Tor the honor, but TO give up his predection for
clay and turn over 10 Crawford, and TO exert
his influence III opposition 10 tie Electoral Law.
winch he had before advocated. CLAW is ac-
cordingly abandoned, and the electoral law dc.
i'"l II ii't- S!ilCc DcGn discovered by the
Regency at Albany, that Craw ford could not be
elected, and that the people oi New York are so
determined upon assuming the privilege of self
government that they will elect no man Tho
was hos hostile TO the Electoral Law-It becomes
therefore necessary for item TO chance their
Ground-Clay is 10 be taken up as Secaod best.
aHd 1T is To appear that the candidate COL YOUNG
is friend 10 the Electoral Law. There is q
happy correspondence between tkese changes
and col Ioung's first attachment TO Clay and
to Tie Electoral law. He makes no difficulty,
but sends in his adhesion in the following. letter:
''Baikston, Sept. %, 1924
! Dear Sir,
| have received yours of the Goth inst in
which you inquire whether my opinion in refer
encc to tie Electoral law has changed
| Since the first agitation of the question at the
last election, | have uniformly entertained and
expressed an opinion in favor oftransferring the
choice of Presidential Electors from the Lccis-
| la'urc 10 the ballot boxes. have entertained
and expressed this opinion, not only because
| believed that such law would be correct in
principle, but because was satisfied that il was
! called for b. public sentiment.
| have within the last five or six weeks re-
ceyed many letters from various parts of the
state mvl<ing the same enquiry as YOURS and
some of them asking my opinion in reference
to the candidates for the presidency have no
objection that my sentiments on all political sub
!ects should be known but have felt great re-
luctancc to be the organ of their publicity.
The many pressing solicitations, however,
which had received, induced me eirht or ton
days since TO write a letter to Edward IIudson
ESD. member of Assembly from Madison co,n