Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-01-26


loaded with the spoil Ut plundered provinces and
conquered Kingdoms. The voters to whom he
himself, were warlike young men, vete-
ram soldiers, aud the dregs oil an overgrown and
corrupted city. Thus intiained and prepared, the |
candidate and the voters met again on the day OF |
election, ia the place, of all others, best calcu at
Ell TO produce excitement, with the means IN their I
hands of shedding blood, and an ample field for ac-
tioa they met in the Campus .Nurtius, armed ,
as II tor battle, separated into odieus and rival di
visions OF CLASSES anu centuries, and free from all
control IRON the civl magistrates. A single tent /
contained the candidates AID the judges, narrow
bridge let IN the voters, and vast field held the
assembled, ARMED, and agitated Multitude. That
violence and blooos!ied should attend such cleo
lions. was natural and inevitable Blu, what points
of resemblance be found between those and
ours: The candidate fos the American Presidency |
IS destitute OF hereditary wealth, and frequently
Impoverished by previous service in the public
affairs; lac Is unable, If lie should be willing |
to Establish personal intercourse with the voters
by accommodating, the territories OF the Union:
nothing but his reputation to rely upon; the mode
oil acting upon the public mind reversed by the |
power OF the press, which gives 10 intellect that
range over Nation, which, in the Roman times
was confined to the city; the people TO be acted
upon, "a body OF tranquil citizens and cutiyators
scattered oVes an immense surface, and voting in
small bottles, in the absence of candidates vibou,
I'LL
sand different places. The means of preserving
tanluIl!y IN these elections, Just as certain Of
'heir effect, those for producing violence wer.
certain OF theirs in the election of Roman Cons,,.
Iacre - nothing In one which can serve for M
example IN the other; and, accordingly, our cleo
SONS nave been as marked for order and trancuilli
~ as those OF the Romans were for violence and
oioodshetl. $3.50
The idea of violence in a popuIar elsc,;on co.
Iresident Id considered By the committee az an an
prehenson without foundation in reason ups,,n-
ported by examples from abroad, and contradcte,i
oy all mat can be inund OF home. For fifty years
,he people oithe Uni,ed States have been engaged
Ia elections They vote in every State, for Rep
resehta'ises IN ConSre ), in many for their own
Iovernois, and in all for less or greater number
OF the ctvl and military officers. The danger oe
oioodsheuis much greater in these elections where
all the candidates are known, have a personal in
'efcodrse whh the voters, and are frequently pre-
sent WIN their friends aud relations than in an
election tor President, here the seyera, candidates
by their remoteness from the scene, and general
want OF personal acquaintance amour, IN ,;,tI.
more Than objects OF abstract contcnpla,,on VIZ,
IN these domestic and State elections no scenes of
oiooushed nave been witnessed, recourse 10 arms
has ever ensued the most animated contest. So
Tar from dreading violence at our Presidential eJ
uons 'he reverse OF that danger in the opinion of
the committee, Is the one 10 be apprehende3
apathy Indifference a neglect of the elec,ivs
anchise oi more portentous import 10 the cause of
Aoerty, thao tue greatest eacesses of.yioicnce, AL
ready we have cause to feel alarm at the prouress
oil This new and unexpected danger, which is MAJ
ing ITS slleaiaHd fatal approaches upon one side
whiic we are discussing the possibility of its An
preaching upon another; and, upon every prnri
PIE oil human action, this present danger should he
repealed before absent one is hunted IN To
tace this new evil 10 its source, TO d.Dlav ito
present magnitude, and TO calculate its iney liable
effect, would be matter OF useful and curious snec
uatlon, worthy of the public attention. but mt
coming within the range of report, drawn up up
on the instant, and wanted for an immediate or
caslon. But, without going further back than to
inc last election the most ample proof OF the main
proposition can be readily found; for it was one
eRihehuy calculated TO excite the feelings and
10 orihs iorihs the passions of the people The
Candidates were numerous, popular, personally !
known to many, through fame known to all. sta |
'ioneu IN the three great sections OF the country
each supportedby Jealous friends, and determined
pariilans, opposed by others equally Jealous and
perseverinG. and the canvass prolonged througb
tae unexampled period of four years. Yet. VIVA,
was the result: an election OF violence and blood
sheu! On the contrary, an alarming neglect of the
elective franchise The people with difficulty
were got to the polls! In few States where the
contest was warmest, about one half gave in their
votes; IN many, not fourth; in some, not an
eighth Such was the conclusion OF an election
III which so much violence had been unprecedented
ana IN winch SO many causes conspired TO produce
H. IL called upon to point out Tie cause of this
amazing apathy it would be shewn to arise from,
the inteTposinn oil electors between the people and
the object OF their choice. This intermediate i,sti
'ution intended TO break the force, aud 10 soften
the action OF the democratic element has been suc
cessul IN the airst forty years of its existence IN
destroying the LIE OF the election itself; thus add
ing another to the many proofs already existing. of
the truth OF the great maxim, " That liberty is rn
ined by providing any kind If substitute for popu
,r elections. The machinery of electors, placed |
oe'"een tie people and the President, and above
all, the imposition OF the general ticket, has para
'ysei the spirit OF the voters ard made them look
with indifference upon a scene in which thew can
act no really efficient or independent part OF the
lew votes actually given, in the election referred
20, large proportion came from the least esti,ns
oie description OF voters the interested and I'M
Productive classes while the real people, they
whose Industry constitutes the wealth Of the conn
try, whose purses pay the taxes of the C;over,-
i"en'' and whose arms fight its battles, took less
interest In the result OF this great election than
they would have felt in an ordinary canvass for
county officers. Seeing this 10 be The state M I
things at present, and sgposing the evil TO go on
increasing, the real people, becoming more indif-
eient 10 the election OF President, and the inter
ested classes more animated as the game ia more
and more abandoned 10 their pursuit yvba, else CO..
De the result but that the election of this officer.
VINO wieIds the efficient power Of the Federal Go,
vernment, must eventually fall into the hands Of
nose VINO want that power welded TO the singl.
OBJECT OF personal promotion and individual aeqrsn-
lizement! 90 o."
But, what is this objection, this crv Of whence
which - saised agains, the people2 isit anvmoro
nan heated discussion, holiness in speaking and
writing, and some casual ARRAYS between indIviJn-
as such IS every other election produces, Is NO,