Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1829-12-17

Decree in Council, ordering bonds to bs
issued BY the Minister of the Treasury FOR
their amount, has received the sanction oil
his Imperial Majesty. The event, together
| with the exchange of the ratification of the
Fresty negotiated and concluded in IS2s.
hlppiiy terminates all serious cause Of differ.
ence with that Power
Measures have been taken to place our
commercial relations with Peru upon better
iootins Than that upon which they have hith-
erto rested; and, If met By proper disposi-
| uoa On tne part OF that Government. impor-
fant benefits may be secured to both coun-
| tries.
! Deeply interested as we are in the nrosne-
| rity otour sister republics. and more y, rt;ru-
larry "a that Of our immediate neirhbor. II
would be most gratifying 10 me. were nor,
United to say, that the treatment which we
nave received at her hands has been as mi
ycrsaliy friendly as the early and constant So
iicit'ide manifested by the United States Tor
her success gave Us i right to expect But
/ " becomes my dnty to inform you that pre
JUDGES, long INDUCED by portion Of the in
habitaiIts of-Mexico against the Envoy EY
traordinary aud Minister plenipoteniiary III
the United States, have had an unfort,,n,t T.
influence upon the affairs ofthe two conntr,,s.
and have diminished that usefulness O. his
own which was justly to be expeeted from,
his talents and Zeal. To this cause. IN a treat
degree, is to be imputed the failure Of sever
al measures equally interesting to both par
ties; but particularly that Of the Mexican Co
vernment to rahfy a treaty negotiated and
concluded m its own capital and under its
own eye Under these circumstances, il APP
peared expedient to give to Mr.. Pointsett he
opton eitber 20 return or not, as, in his jud,s-
he int 81 nfh
quirc; and instructions to that end were nrc.
pared, but, before they could be DESPATCHED
communication was received from the Co.
vernment OF Mexico, through its Charge
Aftaires here, requesting the recall of our
Minister This was promptly complied with;
and a representative OF rank corresponding
with that of the Mexican Diplomatic Agent
near TINS Government was appointed. Our
conduct towards that Republic has been uni
iormiy OF the most friendly character. and.
having thus removed The only allcdged obsta-
Gle to harmonious intercourse. | cannot but
hope that an advantageous change viii occur
inour affairs.
In Justice to Mr. Pointsett, it is proper 10
say. that my immediate compliance with the
application for his recall, andthe appointment
oil successor, are not to be ascribcd to any
evidence that the imputation Of az improper
interference by him, in the local politics Of
Mexico, was well founded; nor to want Of
confidence IN his talents or integrity: and to
add, uiat the truth Of that charge ha, never
been affirmed by the Federal Government Of
Mexico, IN its communications with this.
consider it one Of the most urgent OF nv.
duties to bring to your attention the propriety
Of amending that part Of our Constitution
which relates to the election of President and
wee President Our system Of government
was, ny Its trainers, deemed an experiment,
aud they, therefore, consistently provided
mode OF remedying its defects
10 the people belongs the right Of electing
their Chief Magistrate; it was never designed
that their choice should, in any case. be de-
fcated, either By the Intervention of electoral
colleges, or by the agency confided, under
certain contingencies, to the House of Repre.
sentatives. Experience proves, that, in pro-
portion as agents to execute the will of the
People are multiplied, there is danger Of their
wishes being frustrated. Some may be UNI
faithful all are liable to err SO far, there
fore, as the People can, with convenience,
speak, it is safer for them to exr,ress Their o,y
viii
The number of aspirants to the Presiden-
cy, and the diversity of the interests which
may influence their claims, leave little reason
4 to expect choice in the first instance: and.
IN that event, the election must deyolye ON
i the House of Representatives, where. II is OBJ
1 yious, the will of the People NAV not be al
ways ascertained; or, if ascertained. may not
be regarded From the mode of voting by
States, the choice is to be made by twenty
four votes; and it may often occur, that one
OF these may be controlled by an individual
representative. Honors and Offices are at the
disposal the successful candidate Repeat
ed bailottings may make il apparent that a
single individualFholds the cast ia his hand.
May ne not be tempted to name his reward
But even without corruption-suppostn the
problty of the Representative to be proof a.
ganst the powerful motives by which ne may
be assaiied-the will of the People is still
constantly liable to be misrcpresented One
may err from ignorance of the wishes OF his
constituents, another from conviction that
II IS his duty to be governed by his own judg-
ment OF the fitness of the candidate: finally,
although all were innexibly honest-all accll-
rately informed Of the wishes Of their consiit-
uents-yet. under the present mode of cleo
ton, minority may often elect the Presi-
dent; and when this happens, il may reason
ably be expected that efforts viii be made on
the part of the majority TO rectiiy this injuri-
Gus operation of their institutions. Butaltho'
no evil of this character should result from
such peryersion of the frstprinciple Of our
/ system-that the majority is to gover7s--it must
be very certain that President elected by a
minority cannot enjoy the confidence neces-
sary 10 the successful discharge OF his duties
In this, as in all other matters of pubic
concern, policy requires that as few impede