American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1826-01-31
Volume ".


ny all that can be found at home. Fot 6f,y years
be people Of the United States have been enpae cd
~ "iecnohs, They vote IN every State to Repre-
sthatVes IN Congress, IN many for their ou Gov
eraors, and in all for less or greater numier oe
he Evil and military officers. The danger of blood
shcd IS much great in these elections where all
me Candidates are known, have a personal inter.
course with the voters, and are frequently present
win their friends and relations, than in an election
Tor PRESIDENT where the several candidates. BY their
remo'eness from the scene, and general want of
personal acquaintance, amount to little u ore than
OBJECTS OF abstract contemplation. Yet in these
domestic and State elections, no scenes of blo dsbed
lave been Witnessed no recourse 10 arms has ever
ensured the most animated contests So far from
reading violence at Presidential elections The
reverse OF that danger, in the opinion OF The com.
mtee, IS the one TO be appt ehended: apathy in
difference neglect OF the elective Fl anckise, az
more portentoua import TO the cause o liberty,
thah the greatest exec sses Of violence Already we
nave Cause 10 iee alarm at the progress oil this
and U expected danger, which is making IFS silent
and fatal app caches upon one side, while We are
discussing tht possibility OF lis approaching upon ana
other; and, upon every principle oil human action
ms pFesen danger should be epelled before an ab
seni one IS toned ". To trace this new evil TO
Its source, 70 display its present magnitude, and ty
calculate us inevitable effect, would be matter of
aselul at1 cntiOus speculation worlhy Of the public
attention, but not coming wiihin the raf re Of re-
port drawn Up upon Inc i, star ard wanted for an
Immediate occasion. But. wi hout going further
back Than to the last election, lhs most ample foof
ct the main proposition cnn be fea'ily found; for
u was one emlnently calculated to exci,e the tee
ilngs and 10 bring forth the passions OF The people
l ne candidates were numerous. popula, personal.
y k"o"n to many, trough tame known to ALL sta.
TONED ~ the three great sections of the country
ach supported by alous friends ard determined
pa,,lsens, opposed by others equally yea Gus and
Pc severing and, the canvass prolonged through
hr unexaH pied period OF lou years Yet. what
was the resuP an election 4 violence AID blood
shed! On the contrary. an alarming NEGLECT Of the
elective franchise! The people with difficulty were
GOT to the polls! 10 lew States. whs the con-
test was "ames, about one half gave In their votes;
~ many, not a fourth 10 some moi an eighth
Such was the conclusion oil an election, IN which so
much violence had been appteherded end in hici,
so many causes conspred to produce ii. II called
upon to point out the OF this amszing apathy
would be shown to arise from he nte,pos ton Of
electors between the people and the object Of their
choice. HIS inte medIate institution, intended to
br ak the force and to soften the action al the de-
mocratic element, has been suceessiul in the first
forty years OF its existence in destroying the life OF
the election itself; thus adding another to The many
proofs already existn.p, OF he truth Of The v,eat
maxim, =" That LIBERTY i RUINED NY PRov1-
49, an haNp VI oObotll EON POPULAR
ELECTIONS" The machinery ut electors, placed
between the people and he Ptesiden and above
ALL the imposition of the general ticket, has para
lyZed the spirit OF the voters, and made them loos
with indifference upon a scene in which they can
act no really efficient independent part. OF the
iew votes actually given IN the election referred tc,
large proportion cane from the least estjmable
description OF voters-the interested and unproduc.
tive classes--while The real people, they whose in
dustry constitutes the wealth OF he country whose
curses pay the taxes of the Goyeinme, and
whose ar"s fight It's battles took less interest in the
result oi this great election than they would have
iet in an ordinary canvass for county officers.
Seeing this to be the state Of things at present and
supposing the evil of il to GO increasing, the
cal people, becoming more Indifferent to the cleo
lion OF President, and the interested classes more
animated, as the game Is more ard abandoned
to their pursuit. what else be the result but that
the election OF this officer, whn Yields the efficient
power OF the Federal Government must eventually
fall into the hands Of those who want that power
welded TO the single object of personal promotion
and individual aggf andizemen?
But what is this objection, this cry Of violence
which is raised against the people Is it any thing
more than heated discussions boldhess IN speaking
and wiring, and some casual affrays between in
dividuals such as every other election produces?
Is not this the idea OF popular violence among U.S.
And shall this wholesome animation be checked,
under the notion OF preventing civil wars popu-
lar solutions Is excitement Of this kind dangerous
to Republics On the contrary Is il not necessary
o their existence! Are not talents developed new
ideas struck out. useful designs conceived great en-
terprizes achieved and liberty itself preserved by
the agitation, the collision, the active rivalry, and
animated competitions of the whole body of the
citizens? The sleep of the spirit is as dangerousto
Republics as it is suspicious to Monart HES, and it
is only 10 the latter that it should be the policy Of
The Government to reduce the people to the quie-
Jude Of machines. Instead, then, Of yielding to the
orce OF this objection, this supposed excitement of