Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-02-25

ana virtue, that vii, rise superior to Iooai
Oons' ana look exclusively to tx. promotion ns ,t
''r welfare. The Unavoidable effect of The
ssa,.' "eAe, system Is 10 render the sectional
20 winch have alluded omnipo,en, h,
entirely excluding the vote of the bjoI Minded -.
nofi.y mat would be disposed TO resist il. III.
system, by giving TO this minority its leoi,-
e weight IN the election, would tend N n,,.
u""h 'he pretensions of these political .sn;r.n,
80; only nope Tor success by enlis,inp local
a,rcr III their iavor. In this respect. nh.
e'eet OF the proposed plan would be to ada 80 ,t,
strength and harmony of the Union b., - ~ Il, 'ne
were no other objections to the general tieke, Soc
~" 'ndh those have ;hus far urged sbopIJ - - :.
es"i" ,he proposed change, in this partcuI.r 49,
OF vital Importance. There remains 10 he consi
uelee' however, an objection which is TO nv mil
conclusive against the general tic,et svs
-. Is me hinge upon which the contest
80" cen 'he TWO systems principally turns re-
guest The Particular attention of lie ,.o,;,,
ths part ofthe inquiry. !"
II DOWN, sir, as truth founded both pno,
and the nature of things, that whereof
.,'.e mass OF The population of large State
." common Tor the electors of President. III.
whoie power OF the State will be inevi,sbl,, H.
mo the hands of few leading polticians ~.
preooihihant party. In the remarks which I'LL
ei oh 'ilis SUBJECT, disclaim all allusion IN ,b
persons " no may have heretofore wie,JeJ ~;
po"u' IL Is not my intention to find faul, viii
.iNN'ah nature They have done nothing bI, ,,bat
go GIG uii'eh 10 90, by the operation of de-
.N''e system. At IS this system against which :
wage war: Neither are the People of a large ST.
~ D.%''e tor placing power in the hands of a few,
~ '""' ieW ior assuming, and WELDING it, viii,
e,Op'e' me question is, whether thev will g;r.
up ,heir influence in the election of Pre,ijen, a.,
% es'aDish some central power, clotl ed
cos,ss,Iy 10 combine, and arrange, and con-
.eifa'e .heir common efforts, for common ~,
Ject Without this combining power o,,ern 49,,
oi the hly or sixty counties in large Sta,s ,youId
peI"Pe Vo'e Tor different list of electors ,bonal
ny iiirh all desire 20 elect III, same man p,5
Ieh'' he popular will would be thus defeated
~ me irregular and distracted movements of d.
ar mss OF voters. In this state Of things.
the ,,n,,,is'' party CONSISTING of one- fifth of
"e reputation, would carry its Point against ,Le
remaining four-fifths. With the aid of cs,,c,,s
cii'hery' skiiiul party leader at the head of f.,
- 's""u regular voters, would defeat tyen.v
'''ous'no Oh me unframed multitude There can he
IA" aouo, sir' that, in the operation of sucb Iarg
,. "s must De brought to concur in a common
ooJect, under the general ticket system marry -
pine Is as efficient as military disci,I - -
operations OF war. These are not Theoretical ro
cautions OF mine. In what have uttered on III
fo'.''' nave done little more than record the ~
peiiehee OF every State that has made trial of The
? ss'em OIL winch am speaking. When this nolit-
,hro,.,,.'a lI-i''oh hfSt takes place, it naturally
" In have ~
.oiihaence OF the People, aud in all probabi,i,,,
deserve IT, Bat the viciousness of the svstern go
s.'s III lis tendency 10 nervert and charge The cha
! sc'ef OF those who control il. This is nreciseI
',ia' so'' OF power which men are most prone 10
'uuse. hen caucus system become, firmly o.
.aoiishea' there naturally grows up the most dan
eefous ana odIous of all oligarcbIes-an o,g.r.b
OF iniTisuers, and political managers 49,
feopie OF the State, under the delusive sembIanna
VI exercising their highest privilege do no,hiner
more than so through The empty and unprof,.hio
oih % raiiiylns The DEGREES of the SOVEREIGN Can
US In me remarks which / have offered. know
, am perfectly understood by the gentlemen from
&c" iorN' OF all parties They have seen and
iei, 'he operations OF the system | have been doe
criolnS, and are almost unanimouslv T boIia,,o :.
iaVor OF abolising it. That this is the se,,n,e,+
y. 'he reopie OF Rev York, have The most UNI
neq'''ocai evidence Having but recently thrown
on Tie political incubus, by Which thew have hee,
"''nos' suhocated, they have very wisely resolved
~ e''aTish system of voting for President.
winch would render i,s~recurrence certain. Th.
regent vote OF the People of New York, in favor
Vi e District system, is sufficient 10 put TO 1jebt
q whoie host of theoretical arguments against IL,
J understand that most Of tie politicjans of tic
I'a'e' ana nearly all the presses we're opposed to
'he establishment OF district system there, until q
e"'nse oil The Constitution could be effected, max
ing II Uniform throughout the Union. The oro,n5
OF opposition was not only plausible. but str3ng
II was reasonable for New York 10 refuse to divide
ner energy, In the Presidential election mill o,be
States consent TO do the same.
phl me People OF that Stale in opposition I'm
an tHese considerations, decided in favor of ,b,
e!9Iict system, trusting that the wisdom of o,ber
.o'a'es would induce them 10 follow the example.
Oh me part OF the People of n. Y this was mag
sacrlhce OF Stale power TO political prn-
c'Pie. And as far as my observation has extended.
'He eopie III all the States, that have tried Tho
general ticket system, opposed to IT, Hayinp
9"ewh that the tendency of the general ticket sys2
.e"i Is 10 put The whole elective power OF The
N'"'e mo 'he hands OF few political managers
ECU n''u'y press upon the committee the dancer
., corrupt Influence, in the disposition of tia,
eIec'iVe power. The danger of corruption is i,
P'yPV'loh 10 Inc magnitude OF lie power welded
.,, tne hmallhess OF the number who WELD it,
hriy-six electoral votes in any probab,e stata f
NE 'n'ure contests for the Presidency, would be
Sutheien to decide the fate of the election. How
vastly important wouldb the vote of such STATE
DIS New iork;and with what irresistible power
ihish an aspTaDt TO the Presidency bring the anti
cIpa'ed patronage of the Executive Office 10 bear
upon the few, By whom thst vote could be con.
,rOhed: Dir, stronger case Of temptation can
hardly be imagined.
Dd' we are told in answer 10 all this, that the dis
ic' system ought not he established, even to avoid
80 u"Heidple evils, because 1t destroys the just
power Oi the States. What interest can The Peo-
PIC OF any State have, that their votes should be mis-
IePresenied! What they desire is, that their will
,ouiu DE fairly asccr aimed, according to their SUI
ages and the idea that we impair The legitimate
power OF State, in the Presidential election, by
oVdIng mole OF voting that win give US the
reai VIII OF the People, instead Of he artificial will
Of The State, can never be admitted.
But sir, II wehave only in view he interest, the
al nod.