Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1827-08-25


ed at Fowler's Garden, near Lexington XIV.
sist Of July. 1927.
lMr L. is the brother in law Of Mr.. Ad.
ans, and is among the most distinguished
men in Keniucky.)
II has been insisted, again and again. tina,
Il the people fail 10 make choice in the
hrst instance, their control over~the election
ceases. and the choice belongs to Congress.
they have any concern in the matter.
"hea brought before Congress, il is prorer
10 understand how, AL through what chan
neis their controlling influence is to be exer.
ted. -
Every days experience and observation.
'end TO demonstrate the necessity of frequent
recurrence TO fundamental principles. TO re-
vive and re-establish them in The public
mind. ADD to prevent the few from wrestling
the sovereign power from he hands of the
many. The principles Of self government,
Tue right OF The people 4" govern themselves.
Is the Fundamental law of our republic'
lhey do not exercise the powers of govern.
menf IN proper person, hut for convenience.
ny agency La what way is their SOVEREIGN
" or right ofseif government exercised or
'lispIayedP Certainly in maxine. cso;ce ~
their agents; and if they are governed INV
men. not oftheir choice, they ca1no, he s,,i
to govern. The title TO exercise pover hsr.
must be derived from the consent Of The SOW.
ereIGn. 1fmen are invested with power ac.
corning 10 the forms of the constitution. bv
the agents OF the people. against their will.
~ IS the duty oil the people. to preserve their
control over the choice of public agents. 10
show their Interpretation at the polIs. In
an elective government, like ours, this RIGHT
OF choice constitutes the very essence, the
vital principle of self government. Those
who contend that Congress have the rirht.
without Central. 10 make "a President. ou@bt
to recollcet. that this is more than is claimed
by the King Of England. lie has the pow
er Of appointing his ministers. but he con-
suits pabiie opinion in making the choice,
ana removes them in obedience to the pnblic
VIII. What was the crime of Aaron Burr.
Tor which he fell politically never TO rise A.
gaius 1t was the belief or susnicion. that
he intrigued or cnunived at the effort to
make him President, instead of Mr. Jeffar.
son, who was believed TO be the choice IF
The nation. Burr had as many votes for
president as Mr.. Jefferson. in the electoral
coiieGes-for. as the constitution then stooJ.
two persons were voted for as President
: The vote was equal, the election deyoIypd
on Congress and Burr could have been
made President according to the forms of
the constitution. Why did the attempt to
make him President, create such an aIar.
ming sensation in the natiopP Because
Bnrr's election would have been considered
an outrage upon the spirit ofthe government.
ana the feelings and sentiments of the REQ
pie Suppose the Kentucky delegation.
then believing that Barr would make the
oest PRESIDENT. had consulted their own o
pIhiuDs. instead Of the III Of the state. baI
voted for Mr.. Burr. would thew no, have
been exeerated rs nnfaithful seryaptsr If
II wonld have been wrong then. can IL he
r'shtnow ? The celebrated writer To whom
have referred, in treating Of republican
government, says. that IL is fundamen-
tai maxim IN such government that the
people should choose their ministers. and
tiat they are not properly theirs unless thnv
do. That IT is necessary for The peoa,e 10
choose them to have proper confidence
That the people may not be capable Of adj
the government themselves. hat
are able to discern merit. and TO choose pro-
per minister's" And all experience has
proved in every country where the people
have the privilege Of expressing their opin.
ions and feelings, that it is necessary to the
tranquility OF The state, and Ire successful
administration OF The government. that those
whN manage The public affairs, should como
into powe' with the public appreciation.
That may not be charged with incopsis-
teney, or with advancing opinions merely
TO find fault, will now state. what is we'll
known to some gentlemen present. that
when candidate few years ago decia-
red that If the election Of President devnI.
we'd on Congress, would vote for EIr. CLAW.
1t the people were for him :; aud | should
certainly have doue so, although lie would
not have been my choice. IL would have
been 10 eXsuse for me TO say, that in NV
opinion, another was preferable 20 MIR. Clay
In This elective government. the people
must he indn,Sed with their opinion. nofiop
or whim. Or you piease)-and however
wrong they may be occasionally on these
subjects. a.! time has proved that the many.
in general, make a better choice than The
few because more honest and disinterestcd
The man Choaen hy the many, is ant 10 be
more faithful to tie many, Than the man
chosen by the few.
The members Of Congress from Kentucky
iefl here ~ November, before il was known
certainly, tina; Mr.. Clay was excluded from
the house. The Legislature did not pass
iheT resolution requesting our members 10
vote fur General Jackson. until the last Of
December. when they declared !, as their
opinion. almost unanimously, that The PEG
pie OF Kentucky were for Jsekson.-The
friends Of General Jackson. Mr.. Crawford
and most Of Mr.. Clay's friends united in the
declaration. that General Jackson was the
eboice OF the state. These resolutions de
elaring. the sentiment of the state. and re-.
ques;iBg our members 10 vote for General
Jackson were foru rdPd tn our reDresenta