Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1829-12-15

and pomoting the happiness Of the citizens,
will crown, with complete success, their
long and arduous efforts in the cause of self
government, and enable US to salute them as
friendly rivals in all that is truly great and
glorious.
The recent invasion of Mexico, and the
effect thereby produced upon her domestick
policy, must have controlling influence
upon the great question of South American
emancipation. We have seen the fell spirit
| of civil dissention rebuked, and, perhaps,
forever stiHed in that republick, by the love
of independence. If it be true, as appearan-
ces strongly indicate, that the spirit Of indie
pendence is the master spirit, and ifa cor
responding sentiment prevails in the other
! States, this devotion to liberty cannot be
without proper effect upon the councils OF
the mother country. The adoption, by
Spain. Of paciick policy towards her
former colonies-an event consoling to hu-
mainly, and blessing to the world, in which
she herself cannot fail largely to participate
may be most reasonably expected.
| The claims of our citizens upon the South
American Governments, generally, are in a
train of settlement while the principal part
Of those upon Brazil have been adjusted, and
decree in council, ordering bonds to be is
| sued by the Minister of the Treasury for
their amount, has received the sanction Of
his Imperial Majesty. This event, t6geth-
er with the exchange of the raei6cations OF
the Treaty negotiated and concludedin 1928
! happily terminates all serious causes of dit,
ference with that Power.
Measures have been taken to place our
commercial relations with Peru upon bet
ter footing than that upon which they have
hitherto rested and if met by proper dis
position on the part of that Government
important benefits may be secured to both
countries.
Deeply interested as we are in the pros
perity of our sister republicks, and more
particularly in that of our immediate neigh
bour, it would be most gratifying to me,
were permitted to say that the treatment
which we have received at her hands has
been as universally friendly as the early and
constant solicitude manifested by the U.
States for her success, gave us a right TO
expect. But it becomes my duty to inform,
you that prejudices, long INDUCED by a
portion of the inhabitants of Mexico against
the Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plen-
ipotentiary Of the U. States, have had an
unfortunate influence upon the affairs of the
two countries, and have diminished that nse-
fulness to his own which was justly to be
expected from his talents and zeal. To this
cause, in a great degree, is to be imputed
the failure ofscveral measures equally inter-
esting to both parties but particularly that
of the Mexican Government to ratify a
Treaty negotiated and concluded in its own
capital and under its own eye. Under these
circumstances, it appeared expedient to
to give to Mr.. Poinsett the option either to
return or not, as, in his Judgment the inter-
est of his country might require, and in
structions to that end were prepared; but,
before they could be despatched, commu.
nication was received from the Govern
ment of Mexico, through its Charge d. At
flares here requesting the recall of our
Minister. This was promptly complied
with, and q representative of rank cores
ponding with that of the Mexican diplomat
lex agent near this Government was appoint
ed. Our conduct towards that repub-
lick has been uniformly Of the most
friendly character. and having thus remov-
ed the only alleged obstacle to harmonious
intercourse,I cannot but hope that an advan-
tageous change will occur in our affairs.
In justice to Mr.. Poinsett, it is proper to
say, that my immediate compliance with the
application for his recall and the appoint
ment of successor, are not to be ascribed
to any evidence that the imputaton of an
improper interference by him, in the local
pollticks of Mexico, was well founded nor
to want of confidence in his talents or in
tegrity; and to add, that the truth of
that charge has never been affirmed by
the Federal Government of Mexico, in
Its communications with this.
l consider it one of the most urgent of
my duties to bring to your attention the
pfoprlety of amending that part Of our Con-
stitutlon which relates to the election of
President and Vice President. Our sys-
tenn Of government was, by its trainers
deemed an experiment; and they, therefore,
consistently provided mode of remedying
its defects
10 the Peple belongs the right of clecting
their Chief Magistrate; it was never de-
signed that their choice should in any case
be defeated, either by the Intervention of
electoral colleges. or by the agency con-
6ded, under certain contingencies. to the
House of Representatives. Experience
proves, that, in proportion as agents to exc
cute the will of the People are multiplied,
there is danger of their wishes being frus-
trated. Some may be unfaithful; all are IL
able to err. So far, therefore, as the Peo-
pie can, with convenience, speak, it is safer
for them to express their own will.
The number of aspirants to the Presiden-
cy, and the diversity of the iaterssts which
may influence their claims, leave little rea-
son to expect choice in the first instance !;
and, in that event, the election must devolve
on the House of Representatives, where, it
is obvious, the will of the People may not
be always ascertained. or if ascertained may
not be regarded. From the mode of voting
by States the choice is to be made by TWEEN
ty-four votes; and it may often occur that
one Of these may be controlled by an indi-
vidual Representative. Honours and offices
are at the disposal of the successful candi-
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