Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1825-05-17
should as representative, and in sccor

should as representative, and in sccor- /,
dance with what consider to be cardinal
principle OF our system, be |
governed by the ascerlained will Of a
majority Of my constituents. l have
made 10 pledge ,o Gen. Jac kson, the
individual named in that
alton, nor TO any one in his be-
half, whatev er, nor did l ever exchange
one word with him in relation TO his cleo
ton to that important station. If my
friends oil Alton supposed, when they
formerly gave me their suffrages, that
would vote in Congress for Mr.. Adams
as President against the ascertained will
OF majority of my constituents, can
only regret that they labored under such
y mistake. Such vote would be so
much at variance with my opinions OF
the high and responsible duty oil a repre-
sentative, that | could not give it. Ii
they supposed, however, that MIR. Adams
was the favorile of this state, and under
such circumstances would vote for him
in Congress, they acted under correct
impressions, at least so far as related 10
their expectations of the vote l would
give. Not being called on by the Alton
address to state my preference as an in
dividual for any one oil the candidates, |
presume it will not be expected oil me to
do so. That have, like every other in
Individual, a choice among the distD.
guished competitors for that station,
it would betray in me an inexcusa-
BILE indifference to the course OF pub
lie events to deny. But although l
feel that preference, it is not my wish to
press it on any man, as proper for his
adoption; and an, free TO say that the
virtue and ability of several of the candi-
dates are such as would in my judgment
make them safe repositories OF the chief
executive power OF the government
With most of hem have by personal
acquaintance, been able to cultivate and
cherish feelings of friendship and es,
teem."
The principle assumed by Mr.. Cook
was, that he would vote, as a representa-
tive, in accordance with the clearly ex-
pressed will of majority of his conSti-
fuenfs To have created any obligation
on Mr.. Cook, under this pledge, a ma
j ority OF his constituents, at least 0. these
voting for electors OF President and Vice
President, must have clearly EXPRESSED
their will in iayer of some one Of the can
didales. II they did SO, and Mr.. Cook
voted against that majority, be unGues-
tionably violated his pledge. lf,hey did
not, il as plainly follows that he was lei
free to vote according to the dictates of
his best judgment. fairly and discreetly
t0tued
BY he official returns of the votes gi.
ven Tor electors, it appears that the
whale number amounted to 47o9-sma-
prity OF which is 2Ss5. By the same
re'urns it appears that MIR. Adams had
1912 MIR. Clay lo47, General Jackson
(aitbon, dlsput.} 1879, and MIR. Craw.
ford Sl0 votes. Exclusive of the fore
gong, here were 629 votes given to Mr..
Iurney, consisting, as is we'll known, OF
The friends of Mr.. Crawford, Gen. Jack.
son, and Mir. Clay--he being publicly
an nnfiedsed candidate Tor elec,cr, as 10
those three, and at liberty TO vote for Ell
ther oil them.
From the official returns, therefore, it
appears that The votes given TO General
Jackson, even if Mr.. Turney's votes are
given to him. fall lar short of a majority
OF all the electoral votes. For it the
votes given to MIR. Clay and Mr.. Adams
only, be added together, they amount 10
1889, being 234 more than a majority OF
/ he whole; and it the votes given to Mr..
Crawford be added, and giving oil the
votes for Mr.. Turncy to Gen. jackson,
(although not more than one.third of
them ought to be claimed for him) the
whole number agains, the General will
be 28os, and s65 more than ma iority
Of all the votes given.
From this statement it must be mani.
Test, that Gen. Jackson had NOT the clear
~ EXPRESSED yiU OF majority Of the
voters Of Illinois in his favor; and tina,
Mr.. Cook was not, therefore, bound un.