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

4
To the purity oil one branch of the Government and
the Independence OF The other.
1he reference OF this question, which will call
INTO action the strongest, and some of the w orst
passions OF our nature, to a pRE-ExIsrING popY
OF MEN, assembled at the seat of Government
anu rom their character and situation, brought into
almost daily contact with the candidate on whom
they can confer the first Office in the Republic, and
who' IN turn, can hestow upon them brilliant
hohors anu rich rewards, must, from the very ma
lure oi things, expose them to the various influ-
| eaces' by which power and patronage have, in
every age, sedaced men ON the path OF duty and
tempted them to beiray the most sacred trusts
when we takein,o view the great and increasing
patronage oil The Executive and of the various De-
parinien's under his control, and perceive no w
completely it is in his power TO cause the nflu-
ence oil his Office to be felt, we must -slu, our ewes
TO Tie lights OF wisdom and experience, if we do
NOT perceive, that the period is not FAR distant,
wheh the oihce OF President will be conferred az
'he reward OF open intrigue and the deepest corrup
''oh' But Is not alone against acts of open and
pa'paoie corruption, that il becomes necessary to
s"aio. a body, even OF high-mindel men, ardent
~ engaged IN running the race of honorable a,nb-
uon' VIII always be liable 30 be deuded by the fas
s'natiohs OF Office and, though they NAV not be
Seuuced from their course BY the treasures which
may We shrown IN their way, will be induced TO
| swerve from their duty bytemptations more CONGO
NAL to honorable minds; and tina, ready casuis,1v
ny wmcn politicians so easily deceive themselves
| VIII furnish an apology for course of conduct
winch, IN private life. sichme, would scorn IN mr.
sue. All experience demonstrates, that the hes,
security oil virtue Is found in avoiding all temp,a
tons But even il the dag ger. of corrup,;oo IN the
House OF Representatives was less .I.rrn;na
IN Its magnitude, and less certain in its occurrence
'he committee would tilhappree4.d that the pre-
serVauon OF the character bo,h Of the Legislature
"u 'he LHeeu'' e, and securing to them tina, place
~ .ne puoiic confidence and esteem, without w hich
their strength will be but weakness and their wis
uon' 'oi,y' wou'c fs1uie that they should be far
removed even from unjust sus;.:sen In country
IKE ours governed by public opinion il j, of the
last Importance, that those who are appoin,ed ,o
make ana execute the laws, and who must alwars
give lone TO our National char cter should rom
ch'a,e 'he confidence of the People or at leas,
s'anu before them unmpeached: That successful
sahd'a'ie' exalted to the Chief Masetracy by the
Members OF Congress, should feel a deem sense Of
gratitude towards those 10 whom he il nd.t,ad co.
MS elevations is neither strange nor the snbec, NJ
JUST exception In the distribution of the ,;,,me,ous
ohices within his gift, it would be impossible for
nun so 10 act otherwise than exclude aItoee,ber
rom the range OF his choice men, in other respects
wen geaiihed tor the highest Offices Or TO sa;,;ect
himself, however uniustly, to the imnu,a,ion nj
being influenced by personal and uuyyor,bv ,no;ves
hu'' IL me election in the House OF Remesen,a
yves were liable TO none of these objections still
the interruption 1t will give the calm and regular
progress OF legislation, would ITSELF be an evil of
the most alarming nature. The mixing up of par,v
ieeIhe' personal animosities, and local interests.
WIN ordinary acts of legislation, would unrues,
onapy' De one OF the greatest calamities 10 which
the country could be exposed Unless those who
create the laws, like the Judges who exnound
.heii' are Tree from prejudice and passion il il
Impossible II that they can fulfill their hieh d,,-
es WIN parity and wisdom; That the acrimoni-
GUS ieeiings, and bitter animosies excited. in
contested election, in the House Of Represen,,
tives, would not subside a, its Close hu, ,r,,,I G.
Ia long course OF time, exert an influence ~, 81.
ue'neratons, and perhaps control the decisions of
e legislature, by disturbing The tranouillitv offs
course and iinsng every legislative act with MARI
views and feelings, is too certsin to admit of
douot. \" e may, indeed, tremble for the fate of
vac "ry' "hen congress shall be degraded in:
mere Electoral College, and the bish dp,ies of
the Legislature shall be cenfided to The onnos;na
'acuohs known only as the enemies or nsr,izans
OF inc administration. But this is NOT ali IN.
'op'e themselves, In such state of things will
NC 'e"p'ed 10 contribute 10 this evil, by sending
e' Them, on the eve of every Pres.
e'ee'io"' not because of the depth of their
khowiedge, the soundness of their n,;nc;nIes -.
ther peculiar fitness for legislation I'm, ON coo,,
VI 'ner political opinions, in relation TO be eyer,
candidates Tor the Presidency. Even after tho
erection was over, the evil spirit of the time mich,
continue 10 operate, and TO demand the election NJ
candidates who would be particularly devoted m
;".is0, aon'hisIaion. That the Administration
'nouiu oe insensl6ls 10 The success of these
N'1 1v IS not 10 be expected from human ma
ture Wishes must be formed and The -.
ieuse' or even suspicion of these wishes. would
Os Oh ARGENT and concentrated force TO The s,,,
poi, oi me presumed iavorite: on the other b,nt
i' '''e eenieh's OF proposition would combine against
:, merit would be out OF the question: the nnb
TIC sood no Object; degrading test woula s,,ner
Wv, WI '"e recommendations OF 81 orth and talents:
.n .ne eiec'ions OF the State officers might be
wi'n'n the vortex Of SYSTEM SO fatal 10 The
interest Of the country, and so full ofdeer.do.;ou
the voters and The candidates. ~
In government professedly founded unon o..
VIII oil the people, that tDiH when kno,yn sbo,,,J
dw''s De entitled to the most respectf,l con.ider
Ia!ion. NOW, as far as the public will can h.
I n Is decidedly opposed TO the House Of
ho,,.,s ..' as an umpire in the last resort.
between the Presidential Candidates W., .saao-,,
choice, by some BODY of e,ecto,. =
majority or even large plurality canno, he o,,n,a
upon, IN our subsequent cleo ions To ,vbor, o.
snail u be sent backs Who shall ,nal,s ,ha ,.s,
e'eeooh! we have seen that the House M n
Pieseh'a'Ves Is an unfit PLACE, and that the neonIo
'e against H. WH'the present institution of elsr.
$3.50, o.i ana snail they be retained for tia,
~ ue"Shce OF all the objections which lie
20, 80 ,ta. va 'he contrary, they will be SUBJ
Ject 10 me man objections which applv scsns, :.
We,eHis'ing body; they will be, moreover snI;ao,
" we operation OF all The undue influences ,ySich
''6" NC brought to bear upon, the Houee NJ ~
Pe'en'aWeS' without possessing the same n,e,en-
Sous 10 hish character and public confidence TLsn
'ieie % no oeuer course, than to SEND TT No, 8
noofna,, ,i's.e with the single Limitation, oil
eonnh'hg 'neT choice to the leading Candidate
Clear as the proprieiy of this co,,rs. - ,
mind OF the committee il is mo, f,aa r. VIC Z