Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-03-27


cy which they have heretofore land, in my opinion,
rightiully had in the election of those high and inn
portant officers, it is duty to resist that evil, and
To guard them against such innovation their
rights. Mr. Speaker here permit me TO say, that has
now become clear the light ofday, that the same
members iii this house and in the Senate, who OPP
posed the amendment of the gentleman from Bruins
wick, have defeated, and will defeat, any nomination
OF Vice President, and thereby leave the electors
totally irresponsible, and at liberty to vote for whom
soevor they plcase--and that, too, without any
knowledge of the wishes ofthose they intended
to represent. For, how is an clector, for instance,
who lives in Brooke, know the wishes of the pco-
pic in Norfolk, in my county either? And the
same uncertainty applies with equal force all parts
ofthe State. Butno so, ifyou nominate candidates
for President and Vice Prcsident-ior that nomi-
nation if confirmed 10y the people, (as have before
shown,) is positive and itndcndblc INSTRUCTION,
which the electors cannot, and will not disregard.
And, Sir, all that the proposed amendment is intend
ed to accomplish is, to provide another mode by which
the people mag, it they think proper, instruct their
electors Tor whom vote. Is this unreasonable? Or,
do gentlemen who oppose nomination of Vice
President, in the mode heretofore pracsed, really
wish to deprive the people Of all concern in mat
ter so very important TO their interest the election
OF Vice President is, particularly at this time? But
we are told by the gentleman from Prince William,
and the gentleman from Petersburg, that they are
willing TO leave this matter to the people. Let us
examine the mode in which they and the Senate
wish 10 leave it TO the people, and see if cannot
shew, that instead of leaving it to them they are
as far as legislative cnactmens he made effect
that object-depriuing the people Of all agency inthc
NATTER except only so far the mere labor of APP
! pointing men Electors, whom the great body of
the people never saw, and of whom in many ni-
Stances they had heard before YOU put their
names upon the Electoral ticket. II YOU reject the
amendment. the Electors will know how many votes
were given for them Electors; but they will not
know ioom the people wish elected President and
wee President. But we told that the ticket man.
without this amendment, contain the names of the
persons TO be voted for President and Vice Prcsi-
dent-and that such has ALWAYS been the practice
all of which admit. This has been done, not rs an
instruction to the Electors, but for another reason
and that reason was that the people knew nothing
about the Electors, did they tcho they were
so that they assured that, ifcected they would
vote Tor certain individuals TO fill the high stations
alluded to- Those who use this argument know as
well do, that although, without that amendment the
people may write on their tickets if they please, the
names OF the individuals whom they prefer Presi-
dent and Vice President, yet that the law under
which they vote requires the commissioners who sll-
perintend the election, TO the number of votes
given for each elector, and certify that fact atone TO
the Governor-and further, TO take the tickets given
in by the people, and seal up the same Thus seal
cd up, one of the commissioners is take care of
them for the next six months, and not suffer them
he opened, unless in the presence Of two or more of
the commissioners.
All that is asked for, or intended by this amend
ment Is, that II the people lcish al, they may de-
sgnate on their ticket, distinctly the names of
the individuals upon whom they desire their Elec-
tors TO bestow their sufiiages,-and that if they
40 so designate then the commissioners who con-
duct the election shall certify that fact 10 the Cover
nor along with the nunsbcr of votes given for each
Elector; that the Electors, when assembled in
Richmond, to give the vote of the State NAV see
whom 1t IS that the people wish them 10 vote for
both as President and Vice President But we are
told, You must let it be certified TO the Electors
ctom 1t is that the people elected as pice Pre-
sldent, because, say our opponents, if you do, the
people will vote, some for person, and some
Tor another, and be divided amongst themselves
that the vote of Virginia will be lost. | confess
do not see the force of this objection; and to mo
scenlsa little strange that gentlemen should that
argument, who i'll another breath, tell you that they
are i'll favor Of ieaUing that matter TO The people, when
at the same time they must know that il they reject
the amendment, they i'll doing, depriUe the people
of all sort of control in the business. You give
them the mere appointment of Electors without re-
servingto them any means by which these Electors
arc to know their wishes Can gentlemen be serious
or do they wish to deceive the people, when they
say they wish TO leave the whole matter with the
voters and i'll the next say, that if YOU pro-
vide the only mode i'll which the popular will can be
uncquivocably ascerianed you thereby run the risk
of losing the vote of Virginia? But probably those
who use this argument, think, if you provide the
means by which the great body of the people can
express their wishes the subject they will instruct
the Electoral College vote against the flvorite
candidate of the gentlemen for the Vice Presiden-
cyand i'll that sense, they think the vote of Virginia
VIII De t0St III that Is what they mean, ask them
If The majority OF the people have unqualified
right TO dispose of the vote of this State in any way
they think proper? And if this be admitted, then
ask if it is not our duty, in providing for holding an
election by the people. so TO provide permit them
TO make their will fully and fiiy known should they
think properto express it? Let ii be borne in mind
that the amendment of my friend from Brunswick
only goes thus arior il says expressly that The peo-
pie may endorse their tickets the names of their
avorite candidates-and if they should so Instruct
their Electors, then the commissioners ShalL make
out list of tho votes given, and transmit it to the
Executive as evidence of the public will. Can
any thing be more reasonable? Ii will hardly he
denied, that if the representative cai, know the
will of those who delegate him, and fails to in
form hmsefo of it, he is cuIpabe as if he distinct
~ kne,cit, and refused TO obey it. If then the loss
of Virginia TO their ftyore, be what gentlemen
mean when they say "LeaUe the matter 10 The peopLe"
ask to be informed ,ohat is they do mean5 am
left to infer their meaning, inasmuch as they have
not thought proper to explain themselves OH that
point.
cannot see ho,o the people generally are TO be
consulted, unless be in ofthe modes contend
cd for by me; and yet they tell me, you must not
adopt either, lest you do, the vote of virginia will
be tOst But, MIR. Speaker, | think it more thnn
probable, the true secret of all this seeming mvste-
terry, is, that when they say people, they mean few
managers Of Pdrty-a few politicians and editors of
newspapers who must be permitted to feel the pub
lie puseand that finally their dict,tn, is TO be taken
for the wW Of The people. Are gentlemen afraid
that the honest voters may commit themselves at the
polls, and not leave their sufagcs TO be transferable
stock in the political market?