Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-08-24
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, TUESDAY, AUGUST a. 1924.

States, belongs of right, to the people, and that
tue Withholding of this right by the present Le-
gisiature OF the State, is proceeding, Justly
j stematised, as oppressive and tyrannical.
x feSotced, That those members ofthe SEN
ale and Assembly, who voted against the Elccto-
raj Bill, have abused the confidence reposed i'm
them; violated the rights of their Constituents;
degraded the character of the State; and rem
dered themselves utterly unworthy to be the
Representatives of frec,nen
.. Ifesotoed, That we will newer cease from
our efforts, until the passage of the Electoral
law, shall be effected, and that we will support
those men only, for office and political advance
ment, who are friendly to restoring to the peo-
PIE Of this state, their just rig in the election
OF President and Vice-President of the United
States.
d. And whereas on the 9Th November, 1920
re 1Pth Clinton thnn Governor of the state of
New York, recommended to the Legislature
the passage of the Electoral Law, and foretoId
ihe present state of things in the following
words
| Son the recurrence of an election of Prcsi-
dent and Vice President Of the United States.
the annual meeting of the Legislature is trans
ferred from ITS usual period to this time, in con-
sequence OF the choice of electors by that bo-
dy; and notwithstanding adjourned session
mas been considered expedicnt after the trans
acton Of extraordinary business, vet it has been
usual tor the executive to make his commune
cation at the first neeting--and as this measure
is recommended by its salutary tendency. and
will enable the Legislature in its recess 10 hes.
tow deliberate attention the subjects recon-
mehdeu 10 their consideration, and TO consult
the sense, and understand the views of their
constituents, shallnot hesitate to comply with
the customary rule on this OCCASION.
! 'In advertng to the object of this anticiDa
ted meeting, it will readily occur to YOU how
much better calculated IL would be to promote
economy, and to preserve the purity of republi-
can government, and how uuch more oonso-
hant with The representative principle, il the
choice oil electors were nearer | ONE TO the peo-
Pile. Indeed, it must be considered a striiino
imperfection in the national constitution that no
uniform rule has been prescribed on this sub
Iect In some states, electors are chosen by
the people by district; in others, by a general
ticket; and IN few by the legislature; the last
| mode Is certainly the most objectionable. A
body not numerous, and selected for several
months previous to the period of action. is ex-
posed TO the operations of intrigue and is moi so
sale depository of this great trust, as the com
nunity at large. In some cases minority of
The people may choose majority of the lcgisla-
| ture. III; election OF that body in time of pub
| lie tranquility, may be made without much re-
ference to this object, and there is such a cons
d.rable intervening time before the choice of
electors that full and fair expression ofthe pub
lie sentiment may not take place, ormay be de-
| ieated The people are certainly less liable to
improper influence, than any other BODY ofmon.
and IN their purity, discernmeDt, and public
spirit, we must rely for the stability and perma-
nence of our republican institutions.
''When l had the honor of occupying seat
IN the legislature, was SO forcibly impressed
with considerations Of tins nature, that esteem
ed it my duty to introduce an amendment TO the
constitution, predicated on district elections by
the people. This principle was sanctioned al
| mat time, and since, by the Legislatures; but il
has.never been engratted into The constitution
/ AS II may be supposed that those states where
district elections are established, will not be in
asituatlon to express an undivided opinion, and
will therefore, be placed in worse position than
those where general choice prev als, | would
suggest the expectancy of providing in future
Tor a choice by the people, of electors by ge-
neral ticket, until an uniform rule by districts
} is constiutionay established. This will Mace
the choice OF the principal magistrates of the
nation where it ought to be---rnore completely
within the control of the sovereign authority.
And as there are now two intervening bodies.
between the people of this state and the election
OF President and Vice President, sec no rea-
son why the principle of exclusion should bt
2 applied entirely to tlIetn.n
Therefnre-Resolued, That we present In,
II thanks of this meeting to De WITT CL1NroS
D for his early efforts, in favour of the just right
Oh tbe feopie, ana mat we deem him worthy o
their confidence and support.
S. Resokced, That the nomination of Samu
ell Young, for the Chief Magistracyof this State
rs not worthy ofthc cOuntenance and confrrna
ton OF the people :-because he is not known
To possess any peculiar qualification for the du.
ties of that station because the great body OF
the people were not consulted in his election =
because the Counties represented by his poiti-
cal opponents, were not represented in the Cau-
u
because he already holds the Office of Canal
Commissioner, with salary of too thousand
oioiiarS and it Incompatible, with republican
principles and sentiments, as well as with the
spirit of the new Constitution for any one midi
vidual, particularly Governor, 20 enjoy pin
ralty of Offices, especially if they be lucrative
an objection which was urged against Mr. Clin-
ton, during his administration, although no saIa-
| nv was attached 10 his Office as Commissioner
10 such an extent, that he retired from the chair:
| prcferring station, the fame of which, was
more closely identified with his own this OBJ
| lection, then, ought to bear, with much greater
weight, against the pretentions of Mr.. Young.
! s. Resofued, That the removal of DE WIrr
CLINTON from the Board Of Canal Commission
ors by the present legislature, manifested to-
tai disregard to legislative dignity, to the no.
noUr of the state, to public sentiment and TO all
those principles ofiustice and gratitude, which
free men are proud to cherish and reward and
that this outrage on public feeling and insult to
a neritorious public servant, have excited gem
eral Indignation, and deserve unqualified repro
baton.