Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-04-01


the course of the representative whom they appoint,
The States therefore, who gave those SO votes may, m
some sense be understood thereby 60 have instructed
Then Representatives in the House to vote for the per
son on whom they were bestowed in the choice OF a
President But most clearly the representatives COM
ing from other states, which gave part OF those 90
votes, cannot be considered having been under any
obligation 10 surrender their judgments 10 those OF the
States which gave the SO votes. TO contend that they
are under such obligation, would be TO MAINTAIN that
the people of one have the right to instruct the
Representatives from another state. IL would be 10
MAINTAIN still more absurd propositions that, in case
where the representatives from state did not hold them
selves instructed and bound by the will of that state
from another state were, nevertheless, instructed and
bound by that alien will Thus, the entire vote of
North Carolina, and la gc majority of that of Mary
land, IN their respective electoral colleges given
to one o. the three returned candidates, for whom the
delegation from neither of those states voted And yet
the argument conbatted requires that the delegation
from Kentucky, who do not represent the people of
North Ia'oina Mary land should be instructed by
and give eGeC the indicated will of the people of
those two states, when their own delegation paid
tenIon to IT, Doubtless, those delegations felt them
selves authorized 10 look INTO the actual composition of
and all othe: circumstances connected with, the MAORI
ties which gave he electoral votes in their respective
states: and felt themselves justified, from view of the
whole ground To act upon their responsibility and ac
cording 10 their best judgments, disrcgadng the cleo
tOrai votes their states And the representatives
people OF different commonwealth, but forbidden to
examine into tue bv which the EXPRESSION of
That will was brought about-an examination which the
immediate representatives themselves feel it their duty
TO inake'
Is the fact, of a plurality to have no weight, Far
from IL Here "a communities. united under
common Hocernncn The eXp ression of the will of anv
them entitled to the most rcspectful attention
ought 20 be patiently heard and kindly rcearcd by
the Others but it cannot he admitted to be conclusive
a thou, If go
electors Is entitled TO great attention but that will
cannot be considered entitled TO control the will of
the lo2 electors, vino have manifested different will.
10 give IT such controlling influence, would be a sub
version oi the fundamental maxim of the Republic
that TIE majority should govern. The will OF The 90
can neither be allowed rlghtuv to control the remain
ing l62 nor any one o! the &c electoral votes II NAV
o. an argument, a persuasion, addressed ALL and to
each OF them but 1t Is binding and obligatory upon none
1t follows then, that the fact of plurality was only enc
among the various consider atoms which the House was
CARED upon 10 weigh in making up its Judgment. And
the weight oi the consideration ought TO have been re-
gulated by the extent oie plurality. As between &c.
neral jackson and Mr. Adams, the vote standing in the
90 to Sd it entitled TO less werht rs
between the General and Mr.. Crawford il was entitled
TO more the vote being as 90 TO II. The concession
may even be made that upon the supposon of an
equality OF pretensions between competing candidates
the preponleralce ought tobe given the fact of pu.
ra.isx
with these views of the relative state cf the vote
with which the three returned candidates entered the
Rouse proceeded 10 examine the other considerations
N!itch belonged 10 the question Cor SIR. Crawford
who barely entered the House with onv four votes moro
than one candidate not returned, and upon whose case
therefore, the argument derived from the fact of pin
raiity oPe!ateh with strong, though not decisive force
have ever felt much personal regard. But was "a He'd
upon to perform solemn public duty in which nv pr
Vate feelings whether CT affection ar aversion were NOT
to be iaduged, bat the good OF 10y country ONLY con
suited IL appeared 10 ne that the precarous state Of
that sentiemans health although J participated with
MS CeSt friends IN al TIER regrets and Sympa. hies on
account of IT, conclusive against him to say Dotbina
oI otheE2onSiier"tlons oi public nature which wouG
have deserved examination IL b. ppiiv in tat respect
he had oeen dIiieientl; crc LH'anced. Ie had been
III near eighteen mon hs ana although am aware that
his actual Condition fact depending upon viIancc
and that the evidence in reg TO it which hadbeen nre
senteu 10 the pubic; was MOI perfectly harmonious
III iged o' myself upon what saw and heard lie NAV
and ardenty hope, will recover; but did not fbnl, If
became me to assist IN committing the TXecutivn adj
mlnisratOn of tins great Republic o. the doubtful ram
urgency OF the restoration 10 health of a gentleman
who had been so i1ng and seriously ahiici eli More
over under al! The cuns:anccs of his uation his
election had been desirable, did not think if prac
ticabIe believed, and yet believe that if the votes
OF the Western States given to Mr. Adams had beon
conferred on Mr. Crawford the effect would have been
10 protract IN the ioJs" the decision Of The contest to
the great agitation and distraction Of the euutrv and
possibly, TO defeat an election aitogeher-the very
worst result, thaugE that couli ha2ren Hammered
10 then, that sooner later we must arrive at the
only pracca! issue of the contest before MS and that
was between Mr. Adams and General Jackson and
thought that tue earlier got there the better for
the country and for the House.
In considering tins only alternative, was not una
ware of your strong desire to have Western Presi
dent: but thought that knew enough of your patr-
otisn, and magnanimtv, displayed on SO MANY coca
sions 10 believe that you could rise above the mere
qualification of sectional PTde if the common good of
the whole required you to make the sacrifice of local
Partially. sOemnly believed il did, and this brings
to the most important consideration which belonoed
to the whole subject-tha arising out of the respective
fitness othe only two real competitors as appeared
to my best judgment. Ia speaking of Gen Jackson.
Of The delicacy and respect which are Justly
due to that distinguished citizen. 1t is far from nv
purpose to attempt to dsparage him could not do II
If were capable Of making the attempt; but shall ne
veTtheless speak of him becomes me- with truth
did not believe him competent to discharge the va
intricate, and complex duties of the Office of
{ hef Magistrate as his competitor He has displayed
great skill and bravery military commander; and
lis rcnown will endure long the meaus exist of
preserving a recollection of human transactions. But
to be qualified to discharge the duties Of President of