Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-03-28

Presidents, before you, often you pleased, and
summoned them to account for what they had DONE
Every two years, every year. you might have passed
them IN review and each passed you you might have
thrust him from the line, if he had been unaithul. Ii
IS all idle all vain, that power is safe, of which you
keep the exercise 10 yourselves you cannot trust the
purest hands in the community 10 be held up to vote
for Won.
If did not fear to do injustice TO an argument to
winch, listened with much attention, am sure
and doubt not, with much pleasure, any member
OF tins House, should have said, that this part ofthe
genueinans argument, he did not appear to pursue
consistent train of thought He denounced the ancient
demooraces; and the arguments by which he supported
ms amendment, go To the of delegated power He
spoke much and Justly, of the essential virtue of the
feopie In this community, and yet SAID, that the mo-
ment an individual designated from this ylrtuous
community and by this viruous community to act in
constitutional tunCtios, he open to suspicion He
enlarged on the intelligence diused through all parts
OF the community BY the fundamentally of the Press
YET do not remember that he depended, degree
on the power of vrtuous public sentiment, and of
untranmeIed tree press, TO preserve the balance be
tween the people and their rulers though IL is my
Judgment an element of liberty inferior in value
10 none other.
And now am brought to what must deem
traordinary part of the gentleman's argument. that
winch concerns the compatibility of this House; but
the first place. would offer few words in reply. on
this subject, TO the gentleman ftom Virginia, (Nlr.
Stevenson) who last addressed the Committee
He said, with beraliy which, while l commend
other gentlemen, that he would take the eventual
election from this House not because he believed in its
compatibility but because he DESTROYS of placing
it beyond suspicion. Beyond suspicion! Sir, are we
gong then to aer-fyou please, to amend-the Con-
stitntion of the United States, until after contested
election, the purity of leading individuals shall be be-
yond suspicious and that too of society," where
the mild and mercful maxim is proclaimed and acted
upon, that 'the private character of a candidate for Of
ice, is fair game TO be hunted dow?n Sir, beyond sus
pclon Can any gentleman tell me how long il is since
an anonymous mscreant, in the papers, accused Tho
MAS JEFFERSON of having pillaged thirteen hundred
dollars think IT was out of tue public chest Has
any gentleman forgot that pathetic complaint of EoRGE
WAsHINGToN that he had been assailed in language
ht only or pickpocket," for common defauer?
Sir, beyond suspicion
"Bc thou chaste ice, pure as
Snow, thou shalt not escape calumny."
But as to the compatibility of this House hourht in
the first place, the argument which the gentlemen from
South Carolina built upon it, at with his own
system On this system he says, choose your Electors
IN Districts, because coming from the people beinp
chosen by the people, they will not betray the people
How chosen? The greater part of us are
chosen in Districts. We came from the people and
we must go back to the people, we must meet them
lace to face If the President is chosen by the people
says the gentleman from South Carolina entitled TO
condolences hes beyond SUSPICION be
cause he is thus chosen say then by the same reason
ths House is beyond suspicion. mean If the argument
OF the gentleman good and the rather as we hold our
places for two years instead of four and must sooner po
back TO the people from whence came could not
but think, therefore, that the genenan's argument
in this respect, was inconsistent with itself He saws
choose the PRESIDENT yourselves because he whom YOU
choose wall not betray you and then choose him your-
selves, for this House; Though Of your choice will be-
tray you He DEEMS at one moment that kingly DOW
err in the hands of the President safe if the peopIe
have elected him, but at the next he maintains
that very limited power our hands is unsafe tbouob
we are chosen directly by the people.
But let US look at the matter of fact 7 deny tho
1I0, ,t,1,I - al
compared TO the British Parliament and the patro
mage OF this government, with the patronage of that
Has he duly considered, that out of six hundred in
diyiduals, of which the House of Commons consists it
was asserted by Mir. now Lord GREY, in 1898 that
about 307, forming decided majority of the House.
hold their seats by the gift influence OF 81 iny du
ais: Do we hold our places here by such tenure?
Does the American Representative buy his seat and
thus get kind of equitable right sell his vote Can
he unite high, civil, and military character with his
congressional staton-Above all, is the coronet-that
bright and splendid prize which no subsequent deme-
rs can abate no revolution in politics take away and
which time and death, that conquer all things can but
partially tear from his hands, which, when from,
the possessor goes down with his name and fortune o
posterity; that bibe which even Chatham the oente
mans great exemplar of political purity, was unable
TO resist any such bride held assa our pur
Sir, cast OF: the character of politician sneak as
man, say what feel, and nothing that do not feel
! was shocked when heard the honorable gentleman
an intelligent and patriotic American citizen as know
repeating sanction, what when it was first uttered tr
ty years ago. was considered the insoIent caluDny OF
a foreign envoy and which, taken in connection with
reference TO what said by Waipole went the lepob
OF declaring. that every member of this House had his
PrIce-that his price was cheap one as a dinner
es SIR, That we were literally ready sell our con
sciences, Our constituents, our country for mess oil
Pottage Sir, if this House of Representatives is not
essentially pure, ask in the name of Heaven what
are the prospects of liberty in this world under this
dispensation' Where and when are you to have free
safe, and representative government, How are YOU
to get IT. How are you 10 keep it The gentleman
says, Iead me not into temptation" This is the RENE
dy-agant corruption: do not set to choose Presi
dent, and will not abuse the power yon give me on
that OCCASION This is indeed competitions politics.
1t does seem 10 me like childrens' play TASK me no
questions and will tell you lies" The choice of
President Is not the only not the greatest thing we have
TO do Have not peace and war; life and death pros
periiy and adversely for ourselves for postery for
all Tie nations perhaps TO come, whose fate is involved
in the success of this great example of popular institu
tons; Have we not all this in power Can we