Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-08-21


on Congiess; and Burr could have been made Pres
sideht according TO the forms of the constitution.
why did the attempt 10 make him President, cree
ATE such an alarming sensation in the nation! Be-
cause burr's election would have been considered
an outrage upon the spirit of the government
and the feelings and sentiments of The PEOPLE
suppose the Kentucky delegation, then believing
that Bun would make the best President, had con-
suited their own opinions, instead of the will OF the
state, and voted for MIR. Burr, would they not
nave been eXecTaled as unaithful servants? If it
would have been wrong then can il be right now ?
he celebrated writer 10 whom have referred in
treating OF republican government, SAYS that il
- fundamental may N In sucl government, that
me people should choose their ministers and that
tney are not properly theirs unless they do
lat 1t IS necessary for the people 10 choose
them to haye proper confidence That the
peoiie may not be capable of administering
the government themselves, but are allie to discern
merit, and 10 choose proper minister's - nd all
experience has proved, in every country where the
People have he privilege OF expressing their opi.
nions and feelings, that il is necessary 10 the Ean-
guilty OF the slate, and the successful administ,a-
uon OK the government, that those who manage the
pubic affairs, should come into power with The
public approbstion
That may not be charged with inconsistency, or
WIN advancing opinions merely to find fault, will
now state, what is well known TO some eentlemea
present That when candidate a few years ago, L
NS'o'Su uiat IL lhe eiectlon OF PRESIDENT deVOlYed
on Congress- would vote for Mr.. Clay, if the
people were ioi him; and should certainly have
cone so, although he would not have been nv
choice. 1t weuld have been no excuse for me 10
say that In my opinion, another was preferable 10
MT Gay. In this elective government, the peo-
Ie 'nus' Dc iOdulsed with their opinion, notion or
Whim' az you please and however wrong thew
may be occasionally these subjects, all time has
proved, that the Inany, in the general, make
be'ter choice than the few; becasse more honest
ana dislaterssted.. The man chosen by the many,
Is APP TO be more faithful the many than the man
chosen by The few.
The members of Congress from Kentucky. LEI.
here in November before it was known certainly
mat Mr.. Clay was excluded from the house, The
Legislature dij not PGs- their resolution requesting
our members 10 vote for Gen. Jackson, until the
!l' oil December, when they declared it as their o.
Plhion, almost unanimously, that the peopIe OF
Aentucky, were for Gen. Jackson The friends of
Gen. Jackson, Mr.. Crawford, and most of MIR
Clay friends united in the declaration, that Gen.
Jackson was the choice of the Stale These re-,
solutions declaring the sentiment of The State and
requesting our members to vote for Gen Jackson
were forwarded 10 our representatives. and fur
n!saed them with the best evidence possible TO lad
on the subject. Whether il was their duty 10 have
regarded THIS request instruction. It will be nv
business iurihssio enquire That it is as general
rule, the duty OF represen taiye to regard the will
OF his constituents, even legislative subjects is
generally admitted, and that he is more esueeialry
bound 10 do so in case Of election must be eyi-
dent from what have ell sa1y sd, aUced: but soma
additional views may tend 10 render the question
more clear. The better understand This subject T.
VIII I've pro, eT 10 adverl TO al provisions of the
constitution of the United States. II proviJry
that each state shall appoint as the Legislature
may direct number of electors, equal 10 the
whole number OF senators and representatives 10
which the state may be entitled in Congress- That
n OhiaIns r. Uaiorty NJ
the Hou-e OF Representatives shall choose from,
the Ih'ee highest on the list; bat in choosing the
p, eslden', the votes sh,l be taken by states tito
repre- -en'atves from each State having one vote.
and majority Of all the Safes sh.ll be necessary
to choiee. Ii is worthy Of remark that the vvor3
- State" is uniformly used in relation 10 the egsc-.
ton OF President. In other case under the
constitution, does either house OF Congress vote By
States Although each sta,e has an equal reDre
seBtaiion in The Senate, yet the Senators do uoe
vote by States. Zach Senator has one vote an5
ali questions decided by the constitutional ma
jorty. The House of Representative, in m,
choce OF q PRECEDENT, exhibit asseuiblsge Of so
veIeisnies, COnssess did under the articles of
confederation, The delegation from each state re-
presenting its sovereignty. Each state in the ola
Congress had vote. In the articles of confstI.
rA'i0n, Is contained the f.llo.yng provision: {. In
determining qjes,ions in the United S;a'es ia Con
gfess asseu led, each state shall have one vote ,,
provision in the Federal Constitution in relation
TO the Presidential election. la the old CcnGSess
as IN the House Of Representatives, in the case ~
a Pfe-idenuai election, the delegates repre,enie5
the states from which they were sent, in their cor
ro;a'e sovereign character; nor was the rioht T.,
ins Tuct The delegates ia the old Congress by Tho
I'egi-llures Of The States ever denied or douhtoJ
The Legs aiue OF each ate, COMPOSED of tie
representatives OF the people, Represented i,s 20
Vs.@gn'y and was the org or medium of tbe
reign vii, according 70 tie theory and prar
tice under the articles OF confederation. when iba
election devolyes upon tie House Of Repres6ota.
tvs=, the choice IS 20 be made by msioritv ~
siates And u the delegates In the old ConOyess
voting by s"es, were bound BY the in4tructioss Of
tue l-gisiures, upon what ground can il be dep7zJ
o. thecsse ri Presidential election and espectIT,
by those who contend for lie general riebi of ~
sfnciion! II Is not only apparent from The con
stGt'on isei, That 10 the eycliual election bv ,I
House OF HePreseht'iver, II wa, intended 10 lie
made by 'hs states DO their sovereign capacity; but
thls construction is supported by the cornineots,ies
ON that part OF the contribution before lis sJn,i,
lie small states objected, that in the choice b,
q ec'ors' Tie large states hsn the advantage IL
e"ded 10 aconpfomiss, by giving 10 Tie snali stsiea
an equai vote 90 the event Of a failure 10 elect q,
The hrst instance. And the reasoas for nski,g
the Representatives, instead Of the Senators. de
agents OF the Siates, are obvious--ths;r n,,nbe,,
and the shorter periods for whic, they are elsc,st
made them les liable TO be tempered with ana f,
nished he'ier security for. the observe. 60 ~ a.
puniic WI. b7i Whe her the eight 10 instrplt Es
longs 10 the Legislature or their resol,,i,, -. ~
clsraiion, Is only to be coo.i,leseI % als - 80
will oi TIE people, is not very material /, lie
sent contest ltis, however. urged. that H. ,,,
~ eseniaiives are only re.pon .jl, q, ,b-r ,es,.,
i've Districts aud are not tepress,,.,iys. -