Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-09-14

when they know their constituents prefer Jackson.
wrons the people more than the agent " bo sbould
Withhold the vote; for the agent would only pre-
vent the vote from being given to Jack son, while
'he representative would give il against him.
Mr. Clay was once the great advocate of tho
lriSat OF instruction, and expressed his readiness
as a tepre-en alive always TO obey the will of the
PEOPLE, no matter how he asceriained il. 1t was
this principle which made him favorite Of The
/ 'so'e asa conducted 30 bis elevation. IL is NOR.
tiyins to see him now violating and con, GINNING a
| principle which he held sacred, and in his
circular, haunting the legislature with the asser.
lion, 'ha. he. as member of Congress, had as
much right TO instruct them as they had to instruct
him. He might at least have considered their al
most unanimous declai alton end request, a. e,me
evidence OF the will of the people whom they re-
presented. But, fear, principle then ac-
tua'ed his conduct, ard he was not anxious, 10
| know the VIII OF the people.
I In the efforts TO re.elect Mr. Adams Tie min,
cipie OF rotation in Office is violated Experience
proves The soundness of this principle and the me-
cessi'y OF reducing it to practice. The usaees of
government, Wien ripenej into precedent; control
It's operations almost as eieciually as the consti
tuition i'self In limiting the presidential term.
the constitution contemplated submitting the choice
OF president periodically to the people. By a.
sase, every President thinks himself entitled
! 10 an election for second term and when
me people attempt TO effect different arrangement.
all The power and patronage Of the government
are used by the incumbent 10 secure his rec
lection: 1t Is time the people should take this mat
ter IN hand, and BY usage, if not by an amend
meni oil the cons tuition, render the pre.lent in
! eligible Tor a second term
| Before the late election BY Co,p.ess. I, ~,
understood that MIR. Adams, Mr.. Cisv and ,bei,
friends were IN favor of such an amendment of
the constitution would take the election of ,ic
president out of the hands of the House of Repre
sen'auves and vest Il in the people, for the rur-
pose o! preventing in future not only all corrun-
o
pie bad right to expect from assurance. tH,r
nad been given by their friends through the public
prints, that bath of them would exert the in
nuehce OF ther high stations effect this amend
ment. lmmedlueiy after his election Mr. a.
Dams seems TO have felt the obligation of ,hese as
suTsnces In It's full force; for in his answer TO tile
! committee OF the House of Representatives tbac
apprizsd him OF his election he expressed mis- an
propalon OF the proposed change in the follow
ing language: {" Could my refusal TO accent Of nc
iiesuehcy give an Immediate opportunity 10 the
people to form and express, with nearer aunroarh
10 unaEimiiy, the ohiert of their preference
should not hesitate - decline the acceptancs of
'aat eminent charge and submit the decision OF
'his ncnen'ous question again 10 their determine
nation, assigning as his only reason for not doing
So " maj the constItuiion itself had not SO disro
seq oil ihe contingency, W icb would arise in the
event of his reiusa''
Yet, Notwithstanding the pledge thus given after
his election, whilst the prev ious assurance of nj.
| III,
IN iinated in his messages the necessity of surf, a
Change; but, on the contrary, when this measnrs
was afterwards propoeed in Congress. nearly all
MS II ends including, believe all hose from New
Hhs'ahd' aiIayed themselves against it. I'he
course OF Mr.. Gays friends, both in CONGRESS- e..
kentucky, has indicated bis chance in manner
no Tess equivccai Judge Clark, the peraonsI and
poliIcal hiend CT Mr.. Clay who succeeded him
IN TINS district, and acts in accordance with Bi.
v'ews' voted against the proposed amendment n,
~. Pc argN nj ,fs
his public discussions before the. peep,e
Bat there is much greater cause Of alarm il =
aoeTne inculcaied i'om quarter where i, was
isAst TO be expected In the late canvass for the
presidency, II is well known, that Mr. Clay and
his friends exhibited greater hostility IN NJ A.
dams th7n any oIher Of the candidates. Msnv
grounds oi Objection were urged, local personal
| ana general. Ii was stated that the Pres;dant
ought 10 be taken from The West; that Mr.. Ad,ms
wss and always had been unfriendly TO wes.er,
interests; mat ne opposed the acquisition OF Lou
'Siana that he attempted 10 barter 10 the British
the navigation OF the Mississippi al Client. m,
rom his educaiion his habits his tenpee ana
his long residence in the Courts OF Princes he was
uhh' tor the station OF Republican Chief Mssis-
"a,e but VI was generally urged with ~ eat force
ana much effect, that il wss high time 10 break M
Vie cabinet succession, lest the practice OF choos
ing the Secretary Of Stae 10 be President. sho,Tt
Decome SO inveterste 10 enable the P,esidenf
always to appoint his successor OF this tI,ctc
ie'iaihs Tue most conclusive testimcnisIs
the circular address Of Mr.. Clay's friends in Obio
II was asserted Z" tina, was the first object of m
friends OF Mr. Clay TO keep from the Presidentis,
chair one OF the Cabinet" That Circular e,,h,
dying MIR. Clay's sentiments and spe king those 81
all hrs riends, deprecstes the struggle for che
PRESIDENCY between the different Secretaries sa
fTauSht with lntaTe EVIL To The nation disfracrn-
the harmony o! her councils, endangerinc The inte
gritty oil her public iunctionsres, and leonardo no
hsf peace and reputation. II forc,bly ponr;raysi
me bad ELECTS Of Keeping the seme influence In of
nee by aTegBlar and ia ed eiccessioD depsrtino
from the mtNim that rotation in office IL essentsf
10 The pteserys'ion e The republic These sr,f
IKE considerations determined many Of our ,no.t
rejecting citizens, tina, member of Nj nj IN
foe's Cabinet, and especially his 5ecTeery STATE
ought TO be selected a. his successor This ,ls
termination was formed without reeerenre 20 the
talents or characters OF the incumbent in fbee S
ecuiive oihees but with view 20 assert and main
tain great principle Of free government. This
sentiment was inbibed by the peope Of The West
generally, and b. none more sTiently than the Re
publican citizens Of Kentucky.
At length the opportunity 10 break The rahinet
succession arrives. Mr. Clay IL excluded frfsn
competition in the house OF representatives.; bat
Gen Jackson enters that body viih fnsiori,yu
yer Mr.. Adams and Mr.. Crawford. Jscsro,
was al that Mr.. Clay aud his friends had sTrc,rd
10 desire; be . citizen Of the W.s, Attach,
81 70 our interests and idrn re v,fh us in JesI-
ingi 'sd absye sli,be wss not member Of the
cabinet.
Under ihsse circoms'saess. .Bfr. C7ay SoiSe
far sHr. .gfansl
] VII not indulge in lie painful sfeciiop- s~A;rs,