Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-09-22
TO THE EDrroas OF THE W.rc


elections, or partiality in the conducting officers:
when at the same time, by the general ticket SYSTEM
Tue voices n Whole districts and powerful mnoritics
o. the people are suppressed aud the majority itself
WITHOUT pretending to enlighten it, often conroued
Il there Is any principle connected with our insti-
t"tiohs, which 1t Is agreed all hands, both by re-
formers and ant-reforlnefs ought To be surren-
dered 1t Is the principle OF elections bv the pcople
yet notwithstanding the universally of consent to
the proposition it is undoubtedly when the gene
raj Ticket IS the mode that the people do not elect
ana cannot elect their REPRESENTATIVES II is true
they may vote for piece Of paper with long list of
names upon IT. one list of may have more votes
o II thah ahother' and may therefore, according to
orih De Invested with legal rights and oficdl power
Out the people do not elect it, they are STRANGERS to
MOST OF the names upon & where there is no acouo-
tahce there can be no election Who, would ask
are tie electors OF comprehensive ticket coInuo-
sea OF names from the counties of Brooke Lee North
ahhPton, ana every county i'll the State: That it
asses through the forms of election, and The people
vote lot IL, Is true, but their vote guided by ac
qaintance and approbation for they are STRANGERS 10
almost every name upon it. The sefcreaed mana
gers VINO make Jap the ticket the real electors
lhey alone exercise the privilege of selection The
True and only rule consistent with the REPRESENTATION
principle, Is to confine elections to counties pre
c,hcts or districts within which the people NAV
choose their agents. and where they NAV be Guided
i" 'heir choice by appreciation resulting from their
own acquaintance. In elections like these, the peo-
PIE take their representatives from amongst them
selves; they know them, they act upon their
own lights, they are their own judges of their own
agents. But under the general ticket system the
people know not the candidates, Judge neither of
inelr lualhcatlons or Integrity and therefor. care
very Httle about the result and unless wrought into
nigh degree of excitement by the factonsts of the
DAY, out few OF them attend elections at ALL Reno
yea out Oh sight, and beyond the acquaintance of the
people, the support OF influential newspaper is
worth more to candidate than any aid he can possi-
py obtain from the votes in their individual separate
characteristic therefore, who to his side the
feadlng presses OF the state, almost morally certain
OF his election. In this way, faction and individual
interest takes the place of truth and the people are
robbed OF the only attribute of sovereignty which j,
Is possible for them to perform and with all the out
wardshow of original power, they become the mere
tools OF faction. But it is my purpose TO discuss
the proposition believe, before Republican peo-
pic 1t Is enough to state 1t. Either the law which
pnses bribery IN elections and every other qua rd to
be found IN statute books against impure elections
IS wrong and farce, the general ticket system
by which votes influenced suppressed is wrong.
That the general ticket system brides nobody is true;
but there be difference either in principle or eff
feet between mode OF action by which votes are
suppressed and bribery itself.
That the right of suffrage will be extended pre-
Is already settled by public opinion but unless
the Convention put down the general ticket system.
~ extension of suffrage, shall only increase the
number OF victims to combinations. Firmly
and hxedly as am in favor of extending the right of
suffrage, yet regard constitutional prohibition of
The general ticket mode of election subject Of su
peror magnitude even to that. BY extension of SUI
frage, portion OF the people admitted to the exer-
else OF rights long denied them-by of the &C.
neral ticket, the rights of all the voters, both freehold
ton of men, with the aid of unprinciped press,
neither known TO the law responsible to it.
am aware that some there are who esteem the
general ticket as necessary to concentrate majority,
ana prevent elections being carried by plural.
ty OF voters There be perhaps 10 proposition
upon which there will be universal consent. Ifthere
could be, would presume proposition which has for
Its object to put down engine by which faction not
only bears down powerful minories but actually
mouds the majority to suit its own views ought
to be every where agreed to. All therefore that
can ask, is to bring it fairly before the public and
that be fairly and candidy considered not that il
be summary disposed, elections by general tick
ct. Let each member of the community and the
Convention say, whether he considers elections safer
IN the hands OF sensible and patriotic people with all
the advantages of acquaintance with the candidates
or In the hands of caucus combinations; or which is
most consistent with the elective principle, caucus
majority forced by the of the general ticket or
plurality ofindepcDdent, unfetered and honest free
men There arc some too, who approve the general
ticket from the particular reason that by concentra-
ting the vote of The State it increases our importance
IN elections of President and Vice President. This
IS well enough If the voters belong TO caucus rnana-
gers but if they freemen; and have the right OF
thinking and acting for themselves all power so rain
ed Is at the expense of principle 1t power gained
IN the only free elective government earth by for.
chilly shutting the mouths of the voters or part of
Them But who gains the power That il passes to
the credit OF the State true; but the power gained
IS the peoples loss, for it is gained 10y the people
bot over the people, by management TO eau
Gus managers, and remains TO be again exertcd on
have been led to contemplation of this subicc,
chiefly from the expectation, that under the new Co
vernment, our Governors and perhaps many Other
State officers may be elected by the people, as think
they ought to be. In multiplying popular elections
II is all important to keep down faction far pos
sible. Entire success in this great object, know i.
unatiainable; but ] am sure the Convention car
do much in furtherance of it. ! feel confident that
have done but little Justice to the subject or to my
self, IN the imperfect view have taken Of it. 1t il
wonderful to me that other has not brought it Il
notice. Nothing can be of superior Importance in
republican community, to pure elections; nothing cal
DC more uncongenial with pure elections thaD the &c
neral ticket; and in the absence of constitutions
prohibition against that mode Of action, he must lool
but very little way ahead who does not see that mos
ruIl LII Ill.