Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-09-22

nnaist Of -
iIneuioers; .! of ihese voteI for Adams II TO-
Jackson, and 81 for Crawford one m.uh:. -
w. o'ine" Oh Virginia, absent from sickness.
.et VIII De seen upon examination that m. 800
oi o., o. members decided the election
| Ihe o New England states % ,o,.
New ork, majority for Adams ?
maryland, do.
Kentucky, do.
Ohio, Do
louisiana, do.
LIMOS, has only one member
Missouri, DO.
81
e,nn hese Na,ements. and belieye they will b..
'u"u correct, afford abundant matter for doa
nec.ion to every politician, to every citizsn =. -
u states TO every friend throupbou, ,j
mere see the candidate SECOND choice
we people according to the electoral vote esc~
eee PRESIDENT by congress. We see that ont of
e,ee'ors' only "a, not one third voted for that
candidate, and III, more than double the ,,,,ta~
voted Tor o;hers--,hat in the hons. IS -.'
yves o. members voted for him and Io5 -.
ni' ana that The votes of 81 members. about o,,
iour'h OF the whole, decided the cues,jon VI.
sec also me members from several states vo,i,,,
.O1,eIy 70 the will OF the people as expressed sc
'o'"i eiec'ions; we see the power of three.
"tes vested In three Individuals and we coo g.
e'' Tue Vote OF any one Of whom could have
ice" changed by single member: and tbrs 49,,
sec 'ne whoie result depending on the will 90
p Vi an individual; and The election Of. tho
president OF The United States actually d-c;dad H.
single man. "Se'ueu ny
ye. MT Adams was duly elected pres!dent.
according TO the forms of the constitution al -
such 1t Is our duty TO respect him. 81 - ESQ %
he measures OF his administration fairly and 10
partially, Tor so we all would have wished o,bs-,
~ aFe JuuSeu Tie measures of the man OF our mrs,
elw' hSd The lot to fl the presidential char
iaen upon lin. ~-"
Dp. shail this state of things continue? Shall
we nave no fixed and permanent mode of eIon
ting the president and vice president Inv H.
PIE IN iuture, without resortng to congress J'hs..
are questions 10 be decided by YOU tb,ousb yorr
epee''"'iVes In congress- that there is sometime
wrong IN the system Is evident, but how il is t1
oe remedIed requires small share of wisdom
~ ana ioiitical sagacity, much calm and
cooi reflection, patient inv es,igaon and cautious
elaboration "N '"H''ous-
- ,he district system was adopted in every stat.
ana the rule liked that the person having the
number OF electoral votes should be president and
we person having the next greatest number. vice
pfes,'eh''- 'his would prevent a second election
y '"e People, and also prevent its devolying upon
congress. ms mode would also answer under the
general ticket system, If that system was made
universal. va" '''"-e
Inc Intervention OF electors according TO the
' Pi"e"ee is almost useless electors sre
generally pledged to vote for a particular csrr
e"'e, ana The people might well vote direcl,y-
Tor lie person themselves.
Electors might be useful if in tho ars,. s 49,
choice being made in he FIRST instance. thew Woo
all 10 assemble in the college at some central nIa
dhu eject president and vice president: and :
eie''ois were what they ought TO tie, men of an
proved worth, and moral and political interritr
we u"ght generally expect to get a good piesden,-
- we Gia no gel our first, we would generally get
r. nF L
lions might be Influenced by Improper motives
out where Is The body that may not be .imila,iv
ihhuehced The members of congress have =,
many inducements TO act correctly as any Other
Dody upon whom the eIeclion could dcvolve br.
me minority IN congress now elect II e presf-
dent. f'e''
The grand Object ought 20 he to place fine s,ec-
non III lie hands of the people, without aIlowjnr
II to deyolve upon any otler BODY: To ,nake IT,
people Tie 1rs and the last and the ONLY tribuns,
Ohe saIutary amendment might be made in te
Chliro states law on the subject of the election Of
president, without altering the constitution yrbicn
would be, 10 require all the electors to be chosen
Oh ,he same day throughout The u S. and TO meet
al the seat OF their respective governments in te,
days or Two weeks thereafter This would nreye,t
int'Igue and management, and the electors in ons
stare would no. know how those in another voted
un IL the election was over
Ahe result Of the Iate presidential election thouet
apparently strange, II TO my mind easily accOuntes
ioI' 1t was produced by The powerful influence Of
the small states upon lie system the voice of tie
majority OF the people not having been distinctly
expressed IN the electoral electiol the voice OF tie
minority Of the people and of the minority Of tic
members OF congress prevail q, for they were uni
ted The voice Of Pennsylvania the voice of vi
g'n", and OF the southern states q, ere not head
Tor they were divided Does this prove tie cor.
rnp'ion OF congress To me il is rather a COZ.
vincing proof OF their purity and independence.
= OF what DO we witness there A majority at
tached to any one man No. QIrte lie reyefse
The people were divided and we see their repre,
sentatiyes DIVIDED also divided among thee can
didates and they would have been d yided amoeg
four, az was The case with tie people, could four
have been presented 10 the house OF Representatives
and so great a number, 20 large nni,fity voting,
tor others in pfelerence TO Mr. Adams is strong
proof OF THEN manly independence, and q sure to-,
ken that bis administration will not be without a
sufficient and strong opposition.
And is well tia; this result has taken place in
tine Of peace and domestic quiet, and it is very
fortunate that there were no great political piincj-
pies involved IN the contest, which was more sboyt
" men, than about d" measures" such A result
will not often happen again That II will not hap
pen at tbs next election we have every reason 10
believe congress have ample time 10 amend the
constitution before that time, and even II they do.
not act upon the sub sct the probability is that the
will only be two candidate. and thus The uecr 10