Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-12-27

system, sna they must continue 20 De niade 50 ION:
as 'he aisiis and opinions OF men are subject e
riciss'tuie and change"
"Twice. only, since the orsip of our government,
mas me election OF President devoiv.d on the
!io"se OF Representatives. From neither of those
instances can an argument be drawn in support oil
'hat mode oil election. The terrible results, which
Were threatened in the former instance, and the
suspicious and heariburnings which have been
caused ny the latter, even admitting tia, the suf-
"ases oi every member was given with the ut
s'os' purity OF motive. are sufficient TO make the
'ehos OF order, OF peace, and of the perpeiuty of
our institutions, desire change in the mode OF
eiec'oh. In point OF principle, without regard
W past results, II cannot be wise to expose our
| oe"esehisuves and statesmen TO strong temp,a-
uon. Nhen the aspirant to the presidency finds
ne can attain to the summit of his ambition by pro-
curing ONCE or einolumen,, and when the Renre.
sentative can ensure 10 himself honors and richie.
oy giving single vote, strong temptation is GER
iahy oheTedt to both parties TO divide between then,
| Tue onces OF government, without regard 10 the
interests OF the people We have no right TO sun.
pose that man is made of more iniiexible siutr in
America than in Europe; and, we shah COMM,
."" error IN acting on the snpposition that he
IS here incorupiible. Ii corruption shall a, any
time, seize tie head OF our government, we NAV
expect soon to discover it in all It's members At.
| tended win symptoms of speedy dissolution
believing that It is easier TO keep men from tenn
| 'auoh 'hsn 10 deliver them from evil, and that the
sureSt way To preserve the purity of our govern,
ment, Is TO close the OF corruption. /
earnestly recommend 10 you To take measures cal.
cu!a'ed 10 procure SUCH an amendment of the con-
stulion as VIII take the election of presid.n, and
ice President in all cases, out OF the hands of
| the peoples Representatives.
| - In endeavoring 10 satisfy my mind in What Sc,
OF men i'- ultimate as well as the primary vote for
President aad Vice President can be most properly
vested can discover none more safe than the peo-
pie themselves. Whatever may be the means of
influence, which weriul candidates may possess
over the members of Congress, and lhe electors
OF President and Vice President, under the pre-
seht system, they can never corrupt the urea,
body OF the people. BY suffering them to vote
directly Tor those officers, in ,he first instance and
IN case there's no choice, referring it back to them
to determine between the two highest, the country
would forever avoid the agita,io.s which preceded
the election oil Mr. Jefferson. aud the suspicious s
examinations which have follow ed tina; of Mr. Adj
ans Surely tile additional trouble this woulI uiv
the people, would weigh notbin. with them
compared with the purity and !erpeiuity OF our free
institutions. Nor need The essential compromise
OF the constitution be in the least dislubei or the
elections be less federal in their than they
are In the first instance present 4 majority nj
those voting in each state, may be made 10 conn,
as many voies in the election as that state NOW
| has electors; thus securing the small states the
same relative strength in the first Instance tia,
they have now. And surely none of those state,
can desire TO maintain the advantage which their
Representatives now have In election by Con-
grcss, unless il be desirable 10 secure 10 their pro
minent me:.ihe means OF disposns of tbeiI votes
TO lie best advantage, and occasionally giving a
President to the ration, who is obnoxious 10 The
great majority of the people.
Believing that serious evils threaten our ins.j
tutions and our liberties from the present svst..n
and that the people may be safely trusted with The
al-mporiant privilege of selecting their own chief
magistrate, cannot but feel some solic;.uds that
Kentucky, always foremost in the promotion of
liberal principles, shall be the first to step forward
In favor OF this amendment; which, more than any
other measure, VIII tend ~ the peace OF our countr
and the stability of our harry form of government
30 essentsldo deem change, that would not
pests, in supporting the plan have suggested.
but shall be willing to concur in any ether calcu
i"'eo 10 produce the same general result, which
may be devised 10y your superior wisdom.'
SoUTH CARoLISA.-We invite Inc render,
attention TO The very imlr. ssiye extract which v G
made, In our last paper, from The Inaugural Adj
dress oil Mr.. Tay Tor, the Governor Tn.
following letter appears in the Charleston Patriot
'CoLUMBIA, December ~, 1896.
The Senate and House have been for several la :
actively engaged in Transferring business. The
In the Senate, and will likewise be discussed tn
day in the House. Mr.. J. l. Wilson spoke two
hours in support of the system; Mr. G,imke also
delivered his sentiments in isv or of il; Mr. Miller
opposed it. Finally, the Bill! was passed through
the Senate. The Bill reported, embraces no, only
CodlHCa,ion OF Statute bu, also of Common
Law. ILprcposes 10 select tl:r-e persons. with a
salary OF - 800, TO commence and complete This
great undertaking. The success of the BiIr in ttt
House OF Representative is EXTERNALLY doubtful
The Governor took the oath OF Office Yesterday,
IL twas an imposing ceremony. He read in yer,
audible voice, written communication in WHICH
the policy OF the State distinctly marked ov,
The Galleries OF The House blooued ike a Floyye,
Garden nothing was 10 be seen BIZ, beautiful AID
charming groups OF young and lovely objects; the,
gave enclIanment 10 the scene. But the mos
impressive and attractive object in the Houe wa.
the venerable Father OF the Governor elect, hi.
head was siiveFed Ger with the fros, of mani
years. but his eye spSrkled again from beneath his
aged forehead. as his Son walked up the aieIe 20
be declared Chief Magistrate of our LITTLE Republic
80 1t was flow of SOUL Charleston Paf.
Gen. Alexander Smyth (yho was requested by
many of The Fresholders Of Wyihe, in the letter
which we recently published, to serve in the pre-
sent Legislature OF VirgiDis.) has been duly return
ed, 10 fill the place of j. p. Nye deed, and yes
tsrday took his sea, in the H. OF Delegates.
NEXT GOVERNOR.
Much anxiety, we understand exists among the
people, to know who is the candidate 10 succeed
Governor 7T0up. And frequent applications
| have been made 10 us 10 ascertain what we know
on the subject. We have thought that The people
| had settled thlt matter Themselves long ago.
Nevertheless a. we have been asked, we will give
all the information we have.