Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-08-28
From the (Pa.) Village Record.]
WCOME LET US REASON TOGETHER"


anpeals should be to reason. Republican Gov
eminent is founded upon the opinion. that man
IS a rational being, capable OF understanding
what is Just, and possessing moral hrmness e.
nouph 10 pursue the right path, when known.
Despors and the apologsts for desposism, say,
"No.--Man is slave TO passion. And where
passion takes the rein, reason pants afterin vain
pursuit Demagogues mislead. Taking adj
vantage of excited passions, bad men, who have
every thing TO gain by revolution and change,
and nothing 10 lose, throw the country, under
a popular government, into commotion: anar>
civ succeeds the wealthy s industrious become
prev 10 unprincipled rapacity, until wearied
with robbery and crime-opPression and mus
tice, the people seek repose under the proec.
ton of some Military Chieftain, in the calm oil
Despotism.'' II is melancholy truth, that
those who reason thus, are sustained by the ex-
perience Of every free nation that has ever exist
ed. The experiment is trying again, certainly
under more favorable auspices, whether the
people are capable Of self government. | am
firm believer in the doctrine that they are: and
This belief rests on the persuasion that they will
reason coolly and soberly in respect to public
concerns-thai although, momenta-ily excited
TO error, they will yet, in conclusion, when CALI
ed uuon TO act, decide as reason and prudence
shall dictate.
Under this impression, entertaining the most
perfect respect for The intelligence aud repuoli-
can virtue of my iellow.citizens, propose TO
discuss the point limited at in the opening OF
this essay.
That point is ,his-whelher General Jackson
having 90 electoral votes, and Mr.. Adams 81,
there was an obligation on The House oil Repre-
sentatives to elect the former!
II involves the question, whether General
Jackson had any right, more than Mr. Adams,
to be chosen.
Whether any wrong was done 10 him-lo the
people--or to the Constitution, by his not be-
ing selected.
Two things have recently occurred 10 lead me
10 take up This subject. A gentleman mentions
ed 10 me last week, that several In his neighnor-
hood did not approve OF Gen. Jackson's con-
duct-lhat they had no objection to the mea-
sures of the Administration which they thought
in the main, very prudent; but they were hon.
estIy impre ssed with the opinion, that wrong
had been done to the General-that he having
the largest number Of electoral votes, was emu
tied to the offiLe. and therefore on that ground,
they were induced 10 vote Tor hlr.i.
In the late proceedings OF the meeting al
Mrs. Manscn's, the same idea is dwelt upon, as
ifentitled to some consideration.
LIE, US then meet the question fairiy.-lt Is
OF deep interest to us. The people, the poor
men and the rich-every one who taNors Se-
publican government, is interested 10 preserve
pure the principles OF Republicanism. If wrong
has been done, let US examine 1t. Aye, and
will 90 hand in hand with you, not only to cen
sure, oui TO punish the wrong doer.
The People have formed a Constitution. Il
is an emanation for their sovereign will. IL
speaks their carefully considered, we'll weighed
opinions, and is the result OF their most dehoe-
rate and solemn consideration. Every WORD,
every provision, every clause Is theirs. 10
suppose the Constitution is imperfect, or wrong
in that part which relates 10 the ultimate
choice of President, is TO pay no compliment
10 ourselves or to republican government II
there was ever Constitution well considered
and deliberately adopted, it was ours. Despots
and aristocrats would delight to hear US de-
CRYING the deliberate work Of our own hands, as
GROSSLY imperfect. Should experience show
the existence of any error, we have power 10
correct il. But while the instrument continues
the charter Of our rights and liberties, every
man is interested in preserving II, IN all It's
parts, whole, pure, vigorous, unimPafed.
Is this correct? | do not think among rea'
sonable reasoning men, there can be any diher'
ence ofopinion upon this head.
What is the Constitution now! limo person
have majority Of electoral votes Z" then from
the persons having the highest numbers not
exceeding three Of the lis, Of those voted Tor as
President, the House of Representatives shall
choose, Immediately by ballot, the President
but in choosing the President, the vote shall be
taken by states, the representatives from each
state having one vote.
Tie People then have ordained that the
House of Representatives shall choose from the
three highest-they are perfectly free to choose!
Perfectly free? Are they not bounc to vote foI
him who has most electoral voices! NO. NAG
that been the will Of the people, they would
have SAID al once, he who has plurality shall
be the President; tina, would have been conclus'
iye-,here the mater would have ended. The
House of Representatives would have had no,
ching TO do with it No responsibility would
have rested on them. Such was not the will
of the People; and doubtless Tor wise reasons
The House Of Represen'au'e then Is per,
a. rbooSa smaup The three highest!