Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1829-12-10

Ihe clHifps oil our Ciizfns upon Wv oo"'"
American Governments, generally, are :"
train Of settlement siile The principal par Of
those upon Brazil have been adjusted, and a
Decree ~ Council. ordering bonds TO be issued
bf lhr Minister Of the ffsasny for iheir amount,
has received the sanction Of hrs Imperial Ma
lesiy. This event, together with the exchange
Of HE ~, 6cnlons ol The Treaty. nego'in'ed
aud concluded. IA 1878, happily terminates All
serious causes oi difference with thai Power.
h,asnfes have bern taken 10 place our com
mriciHl relations with Peru upon better loot
ing Ibau that upon which they have hitherto
rested and II m" >, a proper disposition on
the pat OF hat Government. important benefits
may be secured Ia both countries.
Deeply interested rs We are IN the pTnspehy
Of our sister republics, and more particularly
ia that oi our immediate ueghbor, II would be
most gratifying 10 me, were permitted TO say
that the treatment which v. have received NJ
her hands, ha, been rs universally friendly ~
the earN aud constant solleliuds manifested by
the United States for her success, gave us a
tight 10 expect But II becomes mS duty to
iniorm you that projndiees, Iong lndnlged ~ n
portion 81 the inhabtai4 OF MeilCo against the
Envoy Extraordinary aud Minister Pienipo
ientihty 81 the Unisd States, have had an unior'
tnnatr uhueuce upon the affairs oi tue two
countries ard have diminished that usefulness
10 his own which was Justly TO be expected
! from his talents aud zeal. To this cause IN a
Z ear degree, i,,o he imputed tue failure of
several measures equally interesting to both
par les but particularly that oil tie Mexican
Government to raiiiy Treaty negotiated and
conc ludcd ~ lis own capital and under its own
eye. Under these circumstances, II appeared
eIpcJient to give 10 M. Poinsrlt The option
either 10 return OF not, rs, III bis Jndgnen the
inter 81 Of his country m,sht rfqarr, aud IN
s'rucions 10 thai eud were prepared but, he
| lore they could he despb ched, Il communica
| lion wa received from the Government OF
| Mexico, through is Charge d Ahares here,
/ qucsiiug the recall Of our Minister This
! "as promptly Cumpned WITH aud Nrptescn-
| isIsr Of u rank corresponding wIth lint OF the
! MeACau diplomatic AGENT uear tins Govern
nent was appointed. Our conduct towards
! that Ii'public ha1 brrn tun51olu y OF the mos
| friendly Character and having thus removed
| the only alleged obstacle To harmonious inter
course, ! cannot but nope that an advantageous
change will occur IN our afaus.
la Justice 10 Nh Polusefl IL is proper TO say
tha, my immediate compliance With the Hppn
Gallon TOT his recall, and The APPOINTMENT of a
successor, ara not to be Hscribed 10 any evidence
that the Inpualiun Of an Improper nterler-
| ence by hun, IN the luca podps oi VI xicu'
| was well founded nor TO II want OF confidence
III his talents or integrity aud 10 add. that Vie
truth 81 that charge has never been affirmed hy
| ihc Federal Government Of Mexico, in It's com
| muniCaiiouA with This.
| consider il on Of the most urgent Of my
nies 10 bring TOY our attention the proprety
| OF amending that put OF our Constitution
which relates 10 the election OF President ard
wee President. Our system Of gov rumcnt
| whs, by It's trainers, deemed an experiment
| aud they, therefore, consistently provided a
mode OF remedy ing its defects.
| To the People belongs the right of eectmg
their ChIei Magistrate il was never designed
That their choice should, in any cnse. he dc.
ieatod, either 10y he Intervention OF electoral
| "lleges, or by the agency cooGied, under
Certain contingencies. TO the House Of Repre-
.eniaIives. Experience proves, that, in pro-
! po ION as agen's 10 eNecuts the will OF the
! People are nrltphtG, there is danger OF their
wishes beng frustrated Some may be I'm.
faithful all are liable 10 err. SO lar therefore,
as III" People can, with convenience, speak, il
is saier for them TO express their own will.
l he numosr of asplaots 10 the Prcsldrcy
aud the dive, sily ofthe interests winch may IN.
faence their claims, ieaye little reason To ex-
pec choice IN the ii 81 inslauce and, IN that
event, the election must devolve on the House
of Representatives, where, it Is observed, the
ed, ~. II aSrertalned. may not he regarded.
tfo'L the mode ul Young by States, the choice
Is 10 be Nv 'nty iouI votes and II may of.
ten occur, that one OF these may be control ed
hs a ind vldual Rep. esentaliye. Hon. rs and
oihces are nj the disposal of the successful can
dldate Repeated balIo ing may make u APP
parent that single individual holds The cast
IN his hand May he net be tempted to name
his reward Bat even without corruption
supp sIug the pro1ilt OF the Repre- sentative to
b. proof against The powerful motives by
which he mAy be assailrd, tue Hiil of the Poo
pie Is It'll constantly liable l. be misIepresen
ted. One may err ltom ignorance of the " sh.
es OF ms constituents ; another, from cOuvIc
ton that II is his duty TO be governed by his
own judgement of the fitness OF h. Candidates
finally, although all were in1exibly honest
a laccura.e ely informed OF the WIS Is OF HEN
con' ,tnenn--tet, under the present mode Of
election, n minority may often elect the Presi
dent and when this happens, II may rcasouA
bly, be expected thar efforts will be made on
the part oilhe majority, TO recniy this nJuti
Gus operation of their institutions Blu al
though nv evil Of his character should result
from such perNersion OF the hIst principle
OF our system-thdt The majority is TO gorern--
1t must lie very certain that "A Ptesldru 81, cted
by minority, cannot e0j ~ the confidence ne
etSsdiy 10 lue successful discharge OF ms uu
ties.
, In this, ms in all other matters of public
concern, policy requires that rs few imprd
mems Ms possible should exist TO The free opera
ton Of the public vi Let us. then, endeavo,
50 TO amend onr system That the Office of
Chief Magistrate mas MOI be conferred upon
any citizen hut in pursuance Of ii fair expires
sion OF The will of the majority.
= wonld therefore recommend such an amend
ment OF the Constitution as may remove al
Intermediate agency in The election Of Presi
dent and Vice President. The mode may be
so regulated as 10 preserve to each State lis
present relative weight IN the election and n
failure IN the first attempt may be provided
for, by combining the second To choice be
tween the Two highest Candidates. In Con
nexion with snch an amendment, il woulc
seem advisable TO limit the srftice OF the Chie
Magistrate to single term, OF either four oil
l. slx years. IL however il should not be adop.