Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-09-22


munity. to pote at all by reason of The freehold
tenure Of the right of suffrage, which, still pre-.
walls there, as if to perpetuate the memory OF
her colonial bondage, by the preservation OF this
miserable badge OF aristocratic misrule!
J When an election is coming on there for Pre-
sidential Electors, the mode of operation is exhi-
bited thus-or perhaps it would be more corr
rect TO say, is carried on in the dark, thus:-
| The Legislature being in session, and composec
nearly oimen who have been previously brought
there by the action of the Richmond influence
upon few leading individuals, subject to Its
control, in each county, where the mass OF the
voters never dream of what is going on--a Sc
cret caucus or two is held by the prime movers,
who are perfectly conversant with the kind OF
materials upon which they have TO operate IN
the Legislatures few Of the members OF which
constitute a portion Of these nocturnal con-
claves. AT these, the individuals who are to form
the electoral organs of the peoples will, are Sc
lecled and the whole machine for elevatlng
them to the desired stations, is planned, and in
part constructed A'"Central Committee OF
Correspondence" constituting the great wheel
Of the fabric, is made out of the Richmond ma
terials; minor committees, formed Of suitable
materials, in thediferent counties, compose the
system of little wheels, on which the primary
one is to act This arrangemen;-all things
having been previously yfred to effect the main
object, without the danger of countervailing
oppostion-receives the sanction of General
Caucus of the Assembly, and the whole machine
glides into operation, as smoothly, and silently,
and as eficaciously for the purpose for which il
is intended, as its self-suhicient organizers
could possibly desire.
The general ticket" made up Of men, (not
known by one in five hundred of the persons
who vote for them) who have been previously
consulted, and have promised to vote for the ia
vorite candidate, is carried in majority, if not
all Of the counties, with ease, through the facil-
tiles afforded by he discipline which the sub
committees, and their agents, have exercised
upon the freeholders, and by means of the rdva
roce mode Of voting. To govern the vote Of
the freeholders, some terror-breathing, cabalis-
tic theme is invented, and through the instru-
mentality of a few appropriate phrases, such for
instance as State Rights, Consolidation, Splen-
did National Government, Unlimited Construc-
ton, General Welfare, &c. &c. the fears and
preiudices of the voters are reused TO the deSr-
| ed pitch Of excitcment-and to avoid boundless
taxation, and inex,ricable ruin, they support the
ticket, which, according to the cant Of their ru-
Many who might be sceptcal as to the reali-
ty of the threatened dangers, and if they could
vote without being heard, might be willing to
withhold their allegiance from the seli-constitu-
ted authorities at Head Quarters, are too timid
or too pacific, in their dipositions, to incur the
displeasure of the inquisition, under whose inn
mediate cognizance their suffrage is rendered
This is. mere sketch of Ike outlines of this
most ridiculous and contemplate system-a
minute delineation of which have not leisure
al present to exhibit It's degrading and mi
quitous operations are well known, and most
bitterly lamented by thousands of enlightened
and virtuous men, through the State, who have
for long time unsuccessfully raised their vol
ces, and exerted their talents, to effect its de-
struction, with view of building upa system
of rational freedom on It's ruins. But so many
interests are involved in the continuance of the
predominant state Of things, and so much prelu
dice must be overcome, and SO much ambition
conquered, before reformation could be intro
duced, that the genuine friends Of liberty will
have hard struggle 10 encounter before they
succeed. The tenuie Of eristing offices in the
State, with few exceptions, from the highest TO
the lowest, depends upon the prevalence of the
old regime, and ere any one Of the prominent a.
buses can be rooted out the Constitution must
be amended, and when the work of amendment
commences, il is not probable that il will stop
until there is radical Moderation of all the
defective parts of that deformed instruments
Hence every interest, even the most remote, in
any wise likely to be endangered by a reforma-
ton, is opposed to it.
In enumerating the causes which darken the
Judgment, and suppress, or overrule the will of
The people, omitted to mention the inequality
of representation, occasioned by the delegation
being regulated by mere local boundaries, with
out any regard to the amount Of population.
The consequence Of this is, that decided
majority Of the free inhabitants of the State are
virtually without any voice in legislation. A
county containing population of twenty-five
thousand souls, has but teco Representatives in
the House of Delegates, and county compris-
ing population of but three thousand, has the
same number Hence the little, old, worn out
counties contiguous to the sea-board, embrac-
ing meagre white population, and swarming
with slaves, govern the deliberations of the Lee
gisature, and consequently impart to the State
its political character.
This is the miserable condition TO which the
high-mnded Virginian, who thinks, and would
act for himself, jfhe could, is compelled to sub
nit! He feels the yoke upon his neck, and vain