Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-02-02
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1927,
FLOR the Phenix Gazette.l
RAYARD.-No 3.


Congress from the State Of Del0,oare
S,R: IN the retrospect which, IN this place, 1t
becomes necessary for me to take, /, is not my
wish 10 enter into any animadsersion on the
measures pursued by the friends OF Mr.. Craw-
ford, acting as party; yet II seems absolutely
necessary to my purpose, that | should occa-
siopAlly refer to them. in order 20 give salts
factory view Of The whole ground, which pro-
pose to examine The measures which they
r. solved TO pursue preparatory TO the Presiden-
tial election, as we'll al Washington as else
where, are all well known 10 you; because you
were in their entire confidence, and assisted
with your counsel in all their important plans
and determinations; and although you did not
attend their Congressional caucus, 1t was not
be- ause YOU were not considered worthy; II was
to save appearances; your absence was stroke
Of policy which appeared to be rendered neces-
sary, IN order that i, might be said, the caucus
consisted exclusively of republicans. OF all
the errors committed bv Mr. Crawford and his
friends, previous TO the Presiden lal election,
the one in relation 10 the State OF New ork,
always appeared TO me the most palpable; and,
in my humble opinion, exhibited weakness, al
most approaching 10 infatua'ion And what
rendered il pee uiarly so, was, that it was COM
mi,,ed at Washington, during the session OF
Congress, when the sole resources OF the party
were brough, into requisition; and on subject
which did then, aud still think, their good
sense ought to have pointed out very differ
ent course, especially at SO critical period
Ii was, indeed, capital mistake Besides be-
ing wron, in principle, il was, under the exist
ing circumstances, extreme bad policy,-as has
been demonstrated by the final result in that
STATE. II has cast deep shade over all con-
cerneG, both as it respects their claims to be-
ing honest statesmen and adroit politicians
You, sir, stand in no need of being reminded,
that the foundation of all political institutions
is, tina, he public will shall declare the law by
which the community shall be governed; and
tha, ali the acts, both over General and State
Governments, should conform thereto, or, at
all events, look in that dire etion; unless where
there is some constitutional injunctions to the
contrary. On the subject of what was public
opinion in New-York, at that time, as to the
ma .ler in hich the electors Of President and
Vice President ought to be chosen, the indiea-
,ion, were too strong to be misunderstood by
anv on. in the least acquainted with the charac-
ter of the people Of that STATE. Under this
state Of things, both honesty and good policy
should have united in gratifying the people
with the exercise Of their legitimate right of
choosing the electors. need not here tell you,
that il was owing to the influence Of arrange
ments al Washington that this right was no,
accorded TO them: YOU know the fact and you
also now know, that this, more than any other
single political cause, served to damp Mr..
Crawford's prospects during the progress Of
the election; and after its termination, weaken
ed the sympathy Of many in all parts Of the
Union, and caused them to look upon his defral
and subsequent retirement TO private life, with
feelings very different from what they would
have aeen impressed with, had it not been for
this act Of his prominent supporters; and which
Was presumed to have originally received MS
appreciation. To party claiming to be the
"bons and muscle of The old republican party
nothing could have been more fatal Than the
fact, that they had determined that seventeen
men in the Senate OF New-York, should con.
trout, and hold in check, the wishes OF more
than 500 900 freemen Iteffectually destroyed
al claim to exclusive republicanism; and pla.
ced the principal actors on ground which, IN
The public mind, too much assimilated itself 10
tina, occupied by canvassers for Office in vii
lages corporation; and, in public estimation,
went far towards destroying that disin,eres,ed-
ness which they think ought always TO attach
20 the acts Of men who aspire to take charge of
the political concerns of nation. But drop,
for the present, this part Of my subject. as
surs YOU, sir, derive no pleasure from thus
communicating to you, wna, understand to be
the opinion Of the public regarding The mis-.
takes and opinions Of men; for the characters