Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-03-11

Ticket system was, In an Intrinsic consideration in
ueed, OF lar greater value. Mr.. Archer said, thar
,he district system. for reasons which he should
nave occasion presently TO exhibit. Bit, neither
could the general ticket<ystem pretend to compe-
sluon with the subssting plan of the Constitution
ne suossting plan, to the superiority of an OBJ
.onal employment, of either the district or general
ticket systems, as demanded by convenience or
opn'on' aadea The higher advantage, of faculty
e OF rapid (and 1t might be temporary alteration OF
Its system, for ths purpose of timely and decisive
operation on tie election of the President This
iaeuty oil alteration liable indeed to abuse for
purpose OF faction or injustice But so wss every
o'her political authority function; though none
IN less degree than this, from the direct and inn
mediate responsibility 10 public opinion under
which the abuse must be attempted. and the mani
Jes1 charaer must disclose, whether disappointed
or successful The fact was in correspondence
WIN the speculative reasoning on the subject
ample as the opportunity for experiment had
oeen' under the operation Of the present system in
4 now many instapces had faction been alledged to
nave oeen indnlled, or njuctice been attempted by
.ns exercise OF this power? The gentleman from
Souta Carolina, with his zeal to collect the ex-
ahp'es, mad been able, well as Mr.. A. remem-
10 adducc two instances only of the practi-
cai attempt, one of them in Massachusetts and
tue other In New York. And what was the his
.oy OF their results! The frs, of these attempts
mao reacted so completely Eve were informed by
the gentleman himself) to have produced subse-
sequenuy the passage OF this very proposition of
amendment OF which he is now the advocate.
III 'ne Legislature OF Massachusetts,! In the other
case referred 10, that of the attempt of the Lep,s
iatufe oil New York, during the past year. to coerce
,ne e,ec'ora suffrage OF that State, the experience
hau peen correspondent with the result OF The ex-
pertinent In Massachusetts, Or rather the fate al
.enuant on these attempts, had been more renarka
oy eHeinpihed In the latter instance by The trans
ference OF the larger proportion, indeed nearly the
whoie mass ofthe vote, 10 which the attempt had
peeh applied, from the candidate in whose behalf
hau been enlisted. The fate OF such attempts
would be so generally correspondent, tla, the dan
ger oi theiT recurrence TO any injurious extent was
no SUBJECT Tor apprehension. The value of the
present system OF primary election could sustain.
therefore, no serious impeachment, from liability
TO an abuse so problemalical
+, the objections, then, Mr., Archer said. which
'iad 'pqs lar been urged to the subsistng mode Of
nc urinary election, appeared, on review not
osiS 70 oe pnsusained but, respected the most
imposing OF them, to rebound in placing in st,on-
ger rehei' the merit of the system it arrasned
Inc particular objection on which his friend from
3outh Carolina had insisted so much, derived from
'he want OF uniformity in the system, which he
So"ee'Vsa IL OF such essential consequence to suo-
Piy' had been obviated by himself A princina, |
ground OF the objection was found in the rendenc
~hIcb was affirmed TO beIoag the present 'syszf
eh' 10 produce an universal adoption OF the mode
OF Soiing by General Ticket. This would he
forced, II = as said, on every State independently
OF the exercise of Judgment or volition. as nee:
sary poicy OF defence, and vindication OF its lust
participation IN the election of President. Bu,
" inis suggestion were well founded as possibly il |
Hght De- then The objection TO the present mode of
e'ec''oh Oh It's wanting uniformity, furnished only
temporary ground of imputaton on il
The true point of the discussion rested undopb,-
Guy, Mr. Archer said, on the comparison between |!
the District and the present system of election = |
ana this last system had been shown to combine
WIN the proper advantages of District system
the Important addition of the exercise of an option
oe.weeh me systems, as circumstances might re-
quIe' ana the gain oil an essential power connected
win the transition from the one to the other oil
mem. hut as the advocates of the proposition oil
Amendment under Consideration were accustomed
10 place the entire force of their arguments nm tho
alleged superiority OF the District over the General
Ticket system, Mr.. a. was not unwilling 70 male
this comparison the point OF discussion. He main
Vaihea mat In relation to an Executive officer the
mode OF election by General Ticket was better
calculated than that by Districts, to afford ms,
ana sound expression of public sentiment; the oh.
Ject OF the elective function. The error of The
coh'rary opinion, grew out OF an analogy to the
character OF Representative junction. which in
TINS respect did not hold. The consideration
when rendered District system essential TO |
the just discharge OF representative office had M
OF President. The representative sustained
continuing relation TO the constituent body which
gave occasion TO continual communication and
required personal acquaintance between the parties
Detween the person rendering the electoral vote
ana me PRESIDENT, the relation determined and
complete by its rendition. Interests and views of
particular aud local character, were confided tn
the representative Office. In relation 10 the Office
nj Presldent, OF purely national anil GENERAL ron
Germ, the influence of all views and interests Of
this character were required TO be suppressed I, l
Ell suppressed the voice OF these yrISe 7ss
ests, whilst the District mode gave scope and effect
10 its expression, that the former of these modes |
TO be regarded the best. Personal acqnain-
lance moreover, on the par, of the OF the |
constituent body, which was practicable in relation
to a representative not in reference to the !
President In relation 10 this officer, the exercise
of suffrage mus, be determined by information and
opinion only. And which classes of information |
and opinion were most apt to be intelligent, and /
unperverted, and sound; those which were diffI- !
siye through the extent Of State or Hose which
were imprisoned by the limits OF District; The
modes OF public opinion were known to be in n
great degree Fictitious, dictated by those enjoying
favorable opportunities for the requirement OF To-
fuence or knowledge. This true in an espe-
cal manner, in relation 10 the election Of Presi-
dent. But which class Of advisers, Mr. Archer |
asked, Yves likely to be the s,fest; those spread
through the body Of State, operating as wa,chmcn
and checks upon each other, those connected in
the lists Of DISTRICT, with every facility andnio-
tive 10 interested conspiracy
Whatever tgight be the force imputed 20 parlizan
influence, its operation must necessarily beltss ex-
isnsive and impure in State than a district. And
why The persons exercising this influence in .
State, were TO be derived from larger surface and
1 -. Ii