Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-03-07


hematicai principle is, that the People capable of
choosing three persons, of whom be President
ana are not capable of going another STEP and choosing
tue one OIL these three who is TO WELD the sceptre? III
me Rouse oil Representatives have any superior capa
CITY, you do not give them cient latitude of discre
Ton 10 exercise it To any eecual purpose. In word
inc scheme combines the disadvantages of beth modes
OF eecon aud the advantage of neither giving 10 this
House just Sufficient latitude for all the purposes
rnp on, and not enough for any good eod.
The hrst objection that shall urge sgais; the parti
cpauon OF this House the election OF the President,
is ITS tendency to DESTROY that separation Legsa
tive from The Executive Department OF the
that indispensable TO the effective responsibility othe
lauer- FROM The very nature OF Executive power,
operations unseen by the People. Acting not like
Congress, by general laws that regularly prornul
gated The PRESIDENT expends money! cunfes Offices and
regulates the distribution OF and navies-acts ST.
ler.y performed, and OF which tue People have no
precise knowledge that deriv ed from their Rerc
sentatlves here We ourselves can only the
'nen's o. Executive power dimly and impcrfectiy,
through The numbering Of documents on our ia
bic IL Is not IN be expected that thus BODY will be in
chncd TO enforce very rigorous accountability against
the President of its own creation. Instead of standing
10 the Executive in the relation OF ndepenent co-or-
dinate Department. IL becomes the partizan of his pow
er. and the apoiogist for his transg
Another effect which must certainly result from the
habual interference of this House in the election otbe
President IS the degradation vi its legislative character
Instead OF statesmen profoundly versed in the sublime
art OF rendering the Republic Furnishing and happy
the members of this House will degenerate into mere
framed IN Tie little
eue Instead of devotng ourselves the peculiar and
| appropriate duties of station the -.aknq of
laws we shall be exclusively engrossed in making Pre-
sidents.
cabals designated by the names of the several candi
dates Tor the Presidency, there viii be an end both Of
our dignity and Independence have no occasion sir
10 be ashamed oil any whose prceugions avc ens
tanned for the Presidency; but every prncn, f nv,
ture recohs at the idea of being characterized b, the
name or avery OF any man living. OF things
WIN soon occur IN winch the great politicians of the
country VIII be those who most dex ferrous at max
ing political combinations and public men vii, ioro,S
themselves TO the hucksering acts of Canine nnwer
instead OF studying the more dignGcd art of using il
wisely. 7 "
1t cannot be disguised sir that bv br;no;,c- No o,
ton OF the President into this House VIC cXpose our
ewes 10 Tue hluence OF those arts of political court
p' which the ambitious have been prone To prac
nee To say nothing ofcorruption there are few among
US, strongly as they feel intrencbeJ beul tL.;r
own dignity, who not liable to have the sernness If
'e purposes reiaXcd by con!escending smile or an
ACT Oh Executive confidence, ORA C:nncr Tbesa /,
tie arts, which in their combined nperoto, ,ope,;+
what IS usually denomnated intrigue are the means hv
winch cunning asPrants address Themselves tn the va
my "nu 'ooieS OF those, who fa! within the sphere Of
Their fascination. The People SIR cannot he rea,ca
by these arts but NC, their wise and yr,pn,,s In
sentaVes thrown mic the fatal circle fall victims To -,
influence OF winch we arc not ourselves conscious #
Is IN warn, SIR TO dsseihbe. We may s,rouj o,rse,vo
IN wise looks and d:gnlhed ex lcrior bui ,zo .r, 49,,
maps iaooripS under The fatal charm the cnchantrcs
1T Ine very moment we are Indignantly d5cainpg it,
The peculiar circumstances undo. which tho ,,ros;
DENTAL election will generally come before the Hue
OF Representatives, constitute very striking oh;ecI,
70 ''e exercise OF the power vested in this BODY
nc eecton comes here with ali! ps a certainty that
IN nine cases out OF ten it will be decided ra;rst =,
VIII ot the People. The small minores will ,ot,rII
combine against the popular fayorite They viii do
ls upon principles certain in their operation as ora
'i'atlon- he man who is conscious that ne 10 ,bo
cho,ce OF The People stands fl and iniexibie in tho
confluence OF his own strength. You cannot nrooI
nm lie disdans to negotiate. He feels his tile 10 M
strong ana confidently TePoses it. All the other
candidates naturally regard him as the obstacle ,ta
stands most IN The way OF their hopes Uruc1 b., .;i
very 'eGoeneSs, they defeat the will tie Nation ~
accomplishing this object the mode o. voting here a.
lords extraordinary facilities. We rote b., Site r.
natural course of things will throw the ,yI,oIo po.
inc combination upon the small States. single ma,n
- more easily brought into the arrangement Than
SIX IL may thus happen that less than forty men,
oe's OF ms oody Will eject the President This strcn
probability that the President will be chosen bv :. f
minority OF congress- demands the most ser ious and 81,
Tenn consideration. 800 anu ~
Under what circumstances do Won oou -; , >.
charge of the high duties of his Office, W. ia
sceptrc IN band which has energy 10 weld i, H.
na'odaoc consequence will be, that the hole natr
so VI MS aa'nhisTa ton Ill be perverted to the pur
P'e O SUSTAINING and srengt henine Us po,,ul,ri, lie
c'l'es INTO power under cir Crn5tance, tIlat r,oto
,'ic"I necessity OF acting 10 this manner iyes.nte of
| commence OF The People. he must feel that his n,
Uc9agc IS his power. This view of tho eu,; ~, -
mo TO the consideration OF the great ana c,I.I
,ocf IL
Iecuoh 10 the interference of this House in the eIe,in
~ Eo sernen 1 10 corrupt the Legislative body
seat of its vitahr 'j d" me very
but SIR we are apt TO treat the idea of our own cor
Inplo'y' as utterly visionary, ard to ask with Grave
aneclaioh OF dignity, what? do yen think member of
G0ngreSs can be corrupted Sir, speak what have
long AMI deliberately considered when saw I,af sn
man vas created, there never has been political bndg
vi e race OF the earth that would be corrupted
49, - 'ne same circhnstances Corruption steals pom
Us III thousand lnsdious forms, when we are Iesst
aware OF ITS approaches. Or all the forIos in ,vhiL =
can present itself the bribery Of Office .e most dan
8erouS' because 1t assumes the guso OF a;,Ioiisr IN m
c'"p'SH us fatal sorcery: We often asked where
INC evidence OF corruption? Have you seen MP Sir
40 you expect to see II? You had rs well OK meet
oo embodied forms of pesence and famine stalking
oeiore you, as to see the latent operations 90 fs ns;d
Gus power We may walk amidst il and breathe ito
conag'on, without being of its presence All
teaches us The irresistible power Of empta
o, "e" VICE assumes The form Of virtue. The great
enemy OF mankind could not have consurnrna.ed he in
scheme for the seduction of our first parents but
'or tne osgnIse IN which c presented himself Had he
appeared the Devil in his e..