Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1830-12-10

OIL such motives would nave prevented thu
adoption OF the Constitution under which
we nave SO long lived, and under the benIyn
influence OF which our beloved country ba,
80 signally prospered. The fiamers of that
sacred instrument had greater difficulties to
overcomo, and they did overcome them. The
patriotism OF the people, directed by a deop
oohsic'ioh OF the Importance of the Union
Pioaoceo mutual concession and reciprocal
Io!oearance' Strict right was melged 10 a
spiris ut compromise, and tho result has con.
81 Grated their disinterested devotion to the
general veal. Unless the American people
nave degenerated, the same result can DO a.
gam enected, whenever experience points
out the necessity of u resort 10 the same
means to uphold the fabric which their "a
theirs have reared. 1t is beyond the power OF
man TO make u system of government like
ours, or any other, operate with precise @.
quaiity upon states situated like those which
compose TINS confederacy; nor is inequality
Always INJUSTICE Every State caunot ex-
pect TO shape tho measures of the General
Government to suit its W particular inter.
ests. The causes which prevent it are seat
cd I'm the nature of things, and cannot be ell.
tireiy counteracted by human means. Mu.
tuai ioroearanCe, therefore, becomes a duty
obligatory upon all ami we may, | am con-
hdent, count OH a cheerful compliance with
TINS high injunction on The part of our con-
s'ituents- IL Is not TO be supposed that they
VIII object to make such comparatively in
considerable sacrifices Tor the preservation
VI rights ana privileges which, other less ia.
voreu portions ut the world have i'm vain wa
ded through seas OF blood to acquire
Our course Is a safe one, II il be but faithfully adhe.
roo 10. acquiescence in the consiitutiunally express.
Gu WIZ oil the majority, aud The exercise of that will
IN "A spirit OF moderation Justice and brotI,erIy kind.
ness, VIII constitute u cement which would forever
preserve our Union. Those who cherish and ineulcale
sentihehts ike these, render a most essential service
20 uneir country wlhlst those who seek to weaken
.hen iiinuehcc, are, however conscientious and praise.
y" III, en- tnem mleh'ions, m effect its worst enemies.
,me Intelligence aud influence of the country, in
s'ea" oi attempting To iomcnt sectional preludices. Ia
De nlaue sops.rvient 10 party warfare, were, in eoud
ia'lh' aPiIicd 10 the eradication of causes of local dis.
content, by The Improvement of our institut,ons. and
ny iuciiitatlhg their adoption 10 the condition of the
LINES, th's TASK would prove one OF less ditficulty.-
uay we moi nope that the obvious interests of our
coihmon country, aud the dictates of AN enlightened
pn,ioilsni, wlii, IA the end, lead tile public mind IN
Alter all, the nature of the subject does not admit
oih p!ah wholly Tree from objection. hat which has
,Ta, Ic cn" tine oeen IN operation is, perhaps, the worst
q" eouiu exist ana every advance that can be made
10 ITS Improvement is a matter eminently worthy of
your most deliberate auentiun.
IA very possible that one better calculated To effect
tme opJec,s IN view may yet he devised. ifso, it is To
De hoped that those who dIsapprove of the past, and
u'ssen. rom what Is proposed for the future, will feel
~ thcn uuty 10 direct their attention To u, Us they
must be sensible that, unless some fixed rule for the
acuon OF The Federal Government in this respect is
established, the course now attempted 10 be arrested
wiz De again resorted To. Aity mode which is cal.
cuiated 10 give the greatest degree Of EFFECT and harmo-
" 10 legislation upon the subjcct-which shall
oest serve u Keep the movements Of the Federal Go
Vernhnent within the sphere intended by those who
modelled and thase who adopted it-which shall lead
W .He eAtihSuislment of the national debt IN the slor-
test period, and impose the liphtest burdens upou omr
constituents, shall receive from Inc u cordial and firm
support.
Among the objects of great national concern, [ can.
~. ohit To press again upon your attention that part
oi the Constitution which regulates the election of
President and vice PRESIDENT. The NECESSITY for its
aihchuhieht u made so clear To my mind by the OBJ
serratiop of IT'S evils, and by the many able discus
siohs Wiich they have elected ON the floor of Con.
sless ant Elsewhere that l should be wanting In my
uuty were ! 10 Withhold another expression of my
uccp soiicItude upon the subject. Our system, fortu-
d;a;.ry CONCENTRATES a recurrence To first principles;
untoilhg IN inns respect from all that have preceded il,
ana securing IT, l trust, equally against the decay aud
tne coinihotions which have marked the prouress of
other governments. Our fellow citizens, too, who, in
proportion 10 their love of liberty, keep n steady eve
upon me means OF sustaining it, do no. require to he
Ieni'hueu oil the duty they owe 10 themselves to reme-
ny essential detects III 50 vital n part OF their sys.
tenn. WINE they are sensible that every evil attend
MI upon It's operation Is not necessarily indicative of
u oiu orBanizatlon, but may proceed from Temporary
CAUSES, yet the habituaI presence, or even single i'm.
stance OIL evils which can be clearly traced To AN or
ganic deieci, will not, 1 trust, be overlooked through
q w a''uplious Veneration for the work of their an
cestors. The Constitution was an experiment commit
ted To Inc virtue and intelligence of the great mass of
our countrymen, in whose ranks the trainers n II
themselves We're 10 perform the part Of patriotic OBJ
seIVatioh ana scrutiny and il they have passed from
!ne stage Oh existence with an increased confidence in
ns senerai Huaptation TO our condition., we should
learu from authority so high the duty of fortifying the
points u II winch time proves TO be exposed, rather
a aas . 9 aeterred from approaching them by the sug-
sestiohsoi lear, or The dictates Ofmisplaced reverence.
a provision which does not secure To the people a
airecl choice OF their Chief Magistrate, but has a ten.
ochcy To defeat their will, presented To my mind such
an inconsistency with the general spirit OF our instltu.
lions, tlat ! was induced to suggest for your consid.
eaa.Iomthe substitute which appeared To me at the
| same Time the most IIk,Iy IN c.rrart tI. a",I ,nI -
meet tne views of our constituents. The most mature
ienection since, has added strength To the belief that
tue pest interests of our country require the speedy
aooptoh OF some plan calculated to effect this end. A
contingency which sometimes places il i'm the power
Oh single member of the House of Representatives To
acCiue aheiecilon OF so high and solemn a character,
Is UNJUST 10 the people, and becomes, when il occurs,
a source of embarrassment To the individuals thus
brought into power, and a cause of distrust of the re.
preventative body. Liable as the confederacy is, from
us great extent, to parties founded upon sectional in.
teIests' ana 10 a corresponding multiplication Of can
uluates ior me Presidency, the tendency of the consti-
tutional reference to the House of Representatives, is,
10 devoive the election upon thai body in almost ev-
cry instance, and, whatever choice may then be made
among the candidates thus presented tothem, TO swell
tne lnnuence OF particular interests to Il degree incon
s,slent WIN the general good. The consequences of
this feature of the Constitution appear far more threat
ening 10 tie peace and integrity of the Union than any
which i can conceive rs likely to result from the sim.
pie legislative action of the Federal Government.
y was a leading object with the trainers of The Con-
,h ta"t'o 10 Keep as separate as possible the action of
the Legislative and Executive branches of the Gov
oinhneht' Il secure TINS object, nothing Is more es-
seht'al IMAM to preserve tie former from the tempta-
lions or private. interest, and, therefore, so to direct
the patronage ofthe latter as not TO permit such temp.
tations to be offered. Experience abundantly demon
strates that every precantion III this respect is a valua-
Bile safeguard %ofliberty, and uhe which my reflections
upon the tendencies of our system induce me to think
should be made still stronger. II was for tins reason
that, IN connection with an amendment ofihe Consti-
tuiion, removing all intermediate agency in the choice
oil the P%resident, l mmen some restrictions
upon the reeligibility of that officer, and upon the ten.
ure of offices generally. The reason still exists; and
l. renew the recoInme ndation with an increased conf
dence that its adoption will strengthen those checks
by whlchthe Constitution designed to secure the in
dependence of each department of the Government,
and promote the healibful and equitable administration
OF all the trusts which il has created. The agent most
likely 10 CONTRA, enc this design of the Constitution is
the Chief Magistrate. In order, particularly, that his
appointment may, as far as possible, be paced beyond
the reach of any improper influences in order that
he may approach The solemn responsibilities of the
highest office in the gift of n free people
TO any other course than the strict line of constitu.
tional duty ; aud that the securities for this iDdepen-
dence may be rendered as strong as the nature OF pow
or and the weakness of its pcssessor, will admit, |
cannot too earnestly invite your attention to the pro-
pTiety OF promoting such an amendment Of the CoTi,ti.
tuition as will render him ineligible after one term of