Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-03-21


10 'hs duty, which it might be necessary to perform
ohce IN Tour years, and elect those best calculated
w o'scharse II: Corrupt your Legislatures Why,
or are W. TO be told, that in the primary election
OF inns high officer, TWEEN y-iour men selected in
S'a'e' as Electors are TO be free from all influence
ana suspicion, and ) ct the immediate Representa-
ives OF the same People are too venal to be trust
cd? Is there any thing which is 10 shield the
smaller body OF Electors from the bands OF power
ana corfrp ION, which will not equally protect the
ieS1Sialufe! Sir, n is In vain TO talk of corrup-
non anu intrigue in the legislatures of this Union.
IL mere are any political bodies in this country in
whom confidence may be placed. il is in the Le-
sisla,ures OF the States. 1t is to ihen that the
people should look with undminished confidence
as the guardians of their rights, and the sen.inels
oi their liberty. Corruption and intrigue in our
",a'e legislatures! Why, Sir, the Efforts of
"iachIaVei, or C&csar Borpea, both united, could
produce in such bodies conspiracy, destructive
TO any thing but themselves
ne Should Therefore, Mir $. sail. feel no HEST
'aioh IN returning the election back TO the States
ana authorizing the ultimate decision to be made
by Joint ballot of beth branches of The Legislature
should that proposition, however, not succeed, he
HouIu then vote Tor the amendment Of his friend
from L eAnSylvania, (Air. Buchanan) which rro
poses Ia send the election baCll 10 the States and
leaves the mode Of appointment, as now provided
oy me Constitution, with The State Legislatures
80 FS'i'iS, iiOWSNeG. ioT the resolution taEe
me election from the House, Mr. S,eventon said
he was not 10 be understood as EXPRESSING any,
opinion that the House were either ccrr,Int. or
coitupltie lie entertained no such opin;or ard
ue hoped he never should. lie had too high a
respect Tor The character of that body TO believe
'"a' II was Liable o any such impuation Ii ne
cou!a oe Drought tor moment to entertain an OPT
mon that tins House, which had been Justly de-
nominated the peoples and the only organ through
winch ihc ieplIUuS apl ,.shps Of H. l.
DE lHiised lHto this Government was corrupt he.
should indeed entertain very Just alarm for the Sc
curly OF cur Tree Institutions. Then would the
WhoIe Government soon become corrupt desDo-
tsn, under which no wise or good nan would
wish 10 live, and 10 which no freeman ought TO
submit. This House become corrupt whilst the
people are viriuous and free, aad the press uneter
ed! No, Sill Never So losg as the people
are true 10 themselves, and worthy OF freedom.
entertain no fears from the corruption of this
House
When the time shall arrive, NJ Chairman, that
TINS House are prepared TO barter their = brthreh
lcr mess of pottage'' or to sell the liberties of
their country, vices will have passed into the man
ners OF your people, and their liberty will not be
worth preserving Sir, when this House shall be
stamped with corruption, then indeed may The ex-
ciama'ion OF Jugurtha, he applicable TO our coun-
trymen
e" TeHahS' eir'tas, mOr periturG, 81 emptorum
SnucRias.'
Slt whilst DO not dEead cnrras.Ion, I feetit ina
i,sr'oDl ihai We should tie free from snspicioH.-
Nov admit tha&& every man tipon Ibis foor was
as viruous and-ncorrupuble as Cato, vet. so lon,
as me election shall be kept here he mus, be sub
iJecied 10 unknd suspicion, and the People will I've
dissatisfied II is immateria from what cause ,lis
Suspicion arises; 1t may be The effect of prejudice
or delusion, or both. If it was prejudice, then he
would say, that the preudices OF fretmen were
\ n ~o. n.f T. =
II had become general; anti, when once tjeIusion
has overspFead nation, the illumination of an An
gel would only render it darker, until the cause
be aseeriained, and remedy applied He theuett
that the removal of the election from the House
ard sending il back to The States, would free Us
irom every thing like suspicion and reproach.
There was, however Mr. s said, another rea-
son with him for wishing its removal Ifwekeen
1t IN this House, il is impossible that w e can dis
charge our legislative duties as we OUGHT In The
remarks whchhe was about to make upon this mart
OF the subject he intended nospersonal alIusion n
would be unworthy ofhimscf, the subject, and The
Hotse, and he utterly GIsclaimed any such inten-
Iuon' What he was about to say, was as apulica-
ca6leio himself as Others. But appeal. said he.
{ 10 any member upon this floor, (who has been
here Tor the last three yearsl care not 10 what
party he belongs, or what his opinions NAV be &c
! 10 measures or men, and demand to know, who
thef he does not believe that the legislation of b;s
/ House has beea,influenced, and very greatly too
| by IT'S being made Electoral College Has il
not mingled, both before and after The election. in
our deliberations and discussions and rendered the
7 path OF duty both rugged and faihfel, Has il NOT
been seen and felt in every avenue Of eeislation
Has it not embiitered our social s1elations. ard
produced The deepes, personal and political ex
elements; and, might not say ressninoeuts; Sir
\ thsre IS bat one answer which can be Given m
these questions If the election be retained mus,
u MOI, VIII It not, continne TO have its influence
win The most viriu0us and upright AMONGST NJ
we cannot throw off The feelings ard frairtiee
which belong TO our nature. We ave but men. ard
we must continue TO feel and act as such So lone ~
TINS power 10 elect, therefore, shall BE ken; on This
iioor, we must expect il to she'd lis influence
around US, and we owe il 10 ourselves, and our
countryto apply the remedy. Tbatreme1y is on
ly to be found, in my opinion in its removall But
Sir, viii 90 one step further, TO shield the indie
pendence and purity Of this House viii NOT
only consent TO take the election from this floor
/ but viii yoie-vith pleasure for the proposition
oil The honorable gentleman from Tennessee. ( Mr.
/ Muchcl) TO exclude from all Executive appoint-
ments fhc Members OF the Senate and OF the Home
ofRepresenalves Gut off this power of ass,ili,,,
the independence Of either branch Of the Icrisla2
ture (Which may, in time, become dangerously re-
move the election from Congress; and YOU DIsce
this House where Il oughti 10 stand in the conf
dence and ahecl6hs OF the People. DO this. erd
you place sc gate OF burning adamanlo between
the executive and This House, which never can lie
passed You throw around he independspce RI
ms House az impeneirable wal, against which
the waves OF Executive paronaee viii only dash
themselves into foam, az against rock pass that
amendment, and take the election rom This floor
and you place ths House upon thc elevated aro,,pj
which u oughto occupy. and enable it not only 10
ssharge IFS high trusts with purity and ipdererd