Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-02-28

cotiu only nope for success by enlistinr local pre-
Juices IN their favor In this respect the effect OF the
proposed plan would be TO add 10 the strength and bar
nioiy OF The Union. But iftcre were no other obec-
uon to the general ticket ystcn chan these have
mus i'r urged should not regard the proposed change,
IN this particular, as of vital importancc There re
mains TO be considered, however an objection which
Is 10 my mini perfectly conclusive against the general
.che' system As IT IS the hinge upon which the
'eS' oe,"een the two systems principally turns, re
quest The particular attention OF the committee TO this
part of the inquiry.
lay it down sir, truth founded both upon expo
'1"Te' ana inc nature OF things, that wherever the
"hoie mass ct the population of large State vote in
common Tor the electors of PRESIDENT whole power
Vi inc state VIII he inevitably thrown into the hands of
&c" leading politicians, of the predominant party. In
'ne remarks which shall offer this subject, / dis
can all ailusion to the persons who may have hereto
lore welded this power Ii is not nv intention 10
una iaut with human nature. They have dove nothing
ue "na' hey were driven TO do, by the operation of
system IL is tins system ae aiust which wage
war Neither are the People OF large State 10 blame
Tor placing power in the hands of few nor that fe " for
assuming and welded IT, With People the question
Isl whether they will give up their influence in the cleo
uon OF President altogether establish some central
power, clothed with authority 10 combine ard srr,pcr
ana concentrate their common efforts for a common
hIlhout Tins combining power, every of
n.y or Sixty counties IN large State, would perhaps
'o'e ior different list of electors though they might
all desire TO elect tie man President The nonu
iar VIII would be thus defeated. BY the irregular and
'7t,ac'ee movements OF adSorganized of voters.
ing oil one ltth o the population would carry lis point
against The remaining four ffths With the aid of eau
Gus machinery, skul party leader at the head OF five
H"sahu fHtHr voters, would defeat twenty thousand
OF the unframed multitude There can be no doubt sir
at' IN The operation of such large masses as must be
Drought 10 concur IN common object under the gene.
raj ticket system, party discipline as efficient as milf
aS u'sc'piine Is IN the operations of These are
not theoretical spccuiatiois Of mine. In what have
uttered on hs point have done little more than record
me experience OF every State that has made trial oic
system OF which ain speaking. When this political
organization first takes place naturally throws nvcr
INTO The hands OF men, who have the confidence of the
fecpie, and in all probability deserve it, But the vi
coSess OF the - stem consists in its tendency TO per-
ana change the character of those who control IT,
his precisely that sort OF power which men are most
prone 10 abuse. When caucus system hecon,es fun
~ established, there naturally grows NO the most danrc
Gus ana odioas OF all olgarchies-an ogarchy m
ana political managers And the PcopIe Of
e 9laIc under the delasIve sembaucc of exercising
their highest privilege, do nothing more an 90 through
Inc empty and Improbable form OF ratif,ins the de-
cees oil Tie sovereign Caucus. In the remarks which
nave offered, know am perfectly understood by the
eehHeinrn from New York, Of all parties. They have
seen and eit the operations OF the system have been
1eSc'i"hg ana are almost unanimously, believe, in
favor OF aboshng 1t. That this is the sentiment
IcoPie OIL New York, we have the most nneoui, ocaI
evidence Having but recently thrown off t,r noIi,;
cal incubus by which they have been almost sugratcd
they have very wisely resolved 10 establish s, stem
OF voting for President which would render lie rrcur
renee certain. The recent vote of the PeonIa of NJ
York in favor of the District system is sufficient to nut
10 'gh' "hoc host OF theoretical arguments against
" understand that most OF The politicians Of the State
anu nearly all the presses opposed 10 the e,tah
sfnent OF district system there until chance of tIo
constitution could be effected, making il uniform
throughout The unlou. The ground of Opposition was
nor only plausible, but strong Ii was reasonable t
new York TO refuse 10 divide her energy in the Pres
dental election, until other States consent TO do tho
same ~
But the People of that State in opposition 10 oil tboso
OrlCIf .ttr,r1- In a
trusting that the wisdom of other States would rduce
mem 10 follow the example On tie part of the pcnula
Oh NE" ORR Tins was magDann sacrifice of State
power 10 political principle And far as nv obser
sa'oh has extended, the People all the States that
have tried The general ticket system are o,noscl 10 q
Having Se"n that the tendency OF the general ticker
y S'c" IS 10 put lhe whole elective power of the Stale
INTO Tie hands OF few political managers, need hard
y press upon the committee the danger of corrupt j.,
uence, IN the disposition of that elective poVer To
danger OF corruption Is III proportion the marntude
oil The power welded and the smaness of the ma nbcr
who weld IT. Thriysix electoral votes in ans proba
ole STATE OF the future contests for tie Presidency
would be sufficient 20 decide the fate of the cIecfon
iow vastly important would be The vote Of such STATE
rs n ew orh and with what irresistible power Mol an
asPiran TO the Presidency bring the antcipated noro
age OF tire Executive Office to bear upon the f,uy nv
whom that vote could be controlled Sir sf,opgcr
case OF temptation can hardly be imagined.
6ut we are tod IN to all this that the district
system ought not TO be esta bshcd even TO avoid tI,aa
the States. What interest the People of any State
have That their votes should be rnisrep1csened3 What
lhey desire IS That their will should be fairly ascertain
cd according 10 their snragcs; and the idea tlai we
impair The legitimate power ola State in the PrcsIen
uai election by providing mode of voting that viii
give US he real VIII OF the People instead of the arti.
cal VIII OF the State, can never be admitted.
But SIR 1t we have only in view the interest The true
ana permanent interest," of the predominant pa,tes il,
me states Ut woudbe The part Of wisdom to give TO INK,
voice OF the Stale ninorcs, their fair and proper WEIGHT
10 hc e'ecuon' The party which has tie ascendcncy
this year, may By revolution Of the wheel of roIi,;,
fortune fall from their high supremacy by the next It
IS, therefore, worth while TO inquire whether is exor
dent Tor party, even upon the most selfish prncpoq
10 exercise temporary tyranny OF or the minority viii
certain prospect OF becoming Themselves at no dis
at PERIOD INC victims OF that very tyranny II IS no
doubt from enlarged considerations Of tbiS li,d ~,
tne state OF New York has acted in the recent esta.
ol'hment OF the district system In that State. so
rapid mas been the succession Of political revolutions
bat almost every party has been Up and dowp at least
pau dozen times Each having its turn been in the
minority all have learned that tie policy to be