Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-04-06
COMMUNICATION.
Jackson Meeting in Culpeper, Virginia.

orusry last, and circulated hroug bout the county
Culperer, a very numerous ss-emblsge of tn
treehoiders of that county conv ened at the court
house, on the 18th day of March, 1927, 10 TAX
INTO consideration the measures proper to b.
adopted at the ensuing election of President of thu
United S'aie,: PHILIP SLAUGHTER, Esq. wa,
called tn the Chair, and WILLIAM SLAUGHTER
Jun. was appointed Secretary.
The Hon. Richard III. Field, after few pre-
fatory remarks. presented preamble in the form
oil an address, TO the citizens of the county, ac
eompsni.d by series OF r-solu,ions, as follows
:. 10 the People IF CGiPeper County:
! In 1873, you will be called upon TO vote in
directly TOR the next President of the II. States
and as the election, in conformity to former usage
may be taken into consideration by the members
oil your State Legislature next winter, with view
OF recommending 10 you twenty-iour persons for
the office of electors, we beg leave in anticipa-
hon oil your approaching county election, to in
vie your serious att nton TO the subject, and 20
suggest TO you few OF the prominent sdera-
tons which vii govern US In voting scr the next
President, such we humbly conceive, when
duly estimated by you, will have similar influence
upon your minds
BY whom should the President of the United
States be elected? is the first question TO be con-
sidered He is the highest anu most important
oihcer known 10 the Constitution--invested with
great power and extensive patronage dispensing
great degree the destinies of the republic. He
should therefore, of all the officers of the Govern
ment be most indeble ed to the people for this high
and responsible office. Such is the spirit Of that
Constitution which we inherited from fathers,
aud which he IL sworn TO support. Such is the
concuiring opinion of the patriots and Statesmen
OF the land-such is ours-and such too, we hope,
Is your opinion upon this vital question, affecting
our rights, interests, peace, s security, citizens
H..
true legitimate elective principle il must neces-
sarily follow, that he who has been, O. may be
elected President OF the United States, by the con-
trIvances OF lew men In power, IN opposition 10
the expressed and ascertained will of the m Iority
ofthe people Of the Union, is neither more nor
less. in plain language, than a usurper. Let US,
tellow-cltizens, now inquire how the present u
cumbent came into that office? In doing this, il
is not our purpose to indulge in the incorporate
language OF acrimony. We must Ire permitted,
however, to use such appropriate terms may BE-
necessary to convey the idea we wish to repre-
sent. If the conduct OF the party implicated be
reprehensible and he III fault, the modification OF
having the truth told upon him, lies at bis own
door. Now tn the guestion-Was Mr.. Adams
elected President by the people of The United
States? We say he not. The people, throush
thrir electors, gave two hundred and 81 votes; OF
which General Jackson received 80, Mr.. Adams
81, MIR. Crawford II, and Mr. Clay 81. Gen.
jackson received iiiteen votes more than either
of his competitors and If the ordinary custom of
election by plurality Of votes had been observ ed
on that occasion, General Jackson would have
been duly elected President. The Constitution,
however, required that the President should have
majority OF the whole number of electoral votes,
which, as neither OF the candidates had received
there consequently 10 formal election by III.
people. Ii obvious hat MIR. Adams was
the choice OF the peop.e for, if the thirty
seven votes OF Mr. Clay had been dnsfer06Ic,
and assigned to MIR. Adams, this gentleman would
iii have been ten votes short OF the consliiu-
tional majority. 1t now deyolved upon the
House OF Representatives 10 choose the President
from the three gentlemen who had received The
largest number Of votes by the electoral ilege.;
the Rep esenistives voting by States, each State
having one vote only. That Ge,. Jackson was the
choice of vast majority OF the people was well
known-and having that majority, the spirit OF
the Constitution and the genius oil the Govern
Inent required that the Representatives should
yield ther personal preferences 10 the force OF
the public will, and exalt him who was the peo-
pies man, TO tina. high otiice. How did they
act? How did they execute this sacred trust
Did they respect the right of instruction.? Did
they submit 10 the viii OF the people,? Did they
remember thai they derived their warrant of ai-
,hori'y from the hands OF the people and Were
their servants and trusiees? All these questions
20 their shame be II written, must be vered in
the negative How then did they act? As il
they had been spoken into existence by the great
Author OF light az if their authority bad been
delegated to them by the Same high power to
whom MIR. Adams makes a pious alUsion in
bis first message TO Congress that power which
is recognized in the tabled Constitution OF Great
Britaim--lIxe uno which would some great states
man fam render the power by which
the King of England, hts nobility, and their pose
teTi,y claim the right OF ruling the people oil that
county TO the Iemotest gene5s'ion. Thus Or
dained, and thus constituted, hey resolved NOT to
d" cast away the bonniies of Providence and doom
] themselves to perpetual inieriofiiy; nor siuDber
in Incidence, folding up their and proclaninc
10 the world that they were p-lsled By the will OF
their constituents" These were vulgar nolions
democratic dogmas that the lofty Pride and
noble spirit Of Mr.. Adams, d" returning light Tor
light, - had taught them to depise; which ne IN
tended publicly 10 Tenoupce and repudise, and
which he dill not forget to do " upon The first
castor OF addr es.ing the Legislature of the Union"
They hid nober part TO act to recall TO the seat
of his father the long lost heir Of The house OF
! Israel They determined 70 turn The bOuntIes
Of Providence" to The best accountable the
rulers of old over few things, 10 increase the
talents which had been committed TO their charge,
and present to she people OF The Union, A NEW
| BOUNTY in the person OF J. 2. Adams ~ their
next P1eslden'. In ages to come this early i'm p
notation of n, RICH OF the people upon the altar
OF ambition will not be believed 20 have happened.
1t is nevertheless less strange than true, 1t was
bs mnority.ol the Representatives of the people
/ that John q. Adams made President OF the
/ United Sisies oi America-was subsequently in.
stalled into that Office and is now, though he
had been lesitimaiely elected by the voice OF the
people, exercising al It's high and honorable lunc
tons There were present IN the House of Re-