Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-10-11
@eCifieal.

tee to The people Of pirginid.
AT meeting Of the Jackson y Barbour Cen
trail Committee of Correspondence. held at Char
louisville on Monday the LIST October. 1859
TIE letters of Messrs. Dade, Loyal, Cargiii, Ma
son, Jones of Gloucester, Jones OF Nottoway.
Williamson, Beal. Austin. Martin, Horner. Mel.
son. blackwell, HarwOod. Gibson. Logan, Bland
and Roane, in reply to the communication, which
was addressed by this committee to all the cleo
tors nominated by the Legislative Caucus. were,
read 1t appeared that no answers had been OBJ
tanned from Messrs. Opie, Carr. Mcmillan and
Russell. The communication Of this Committee
to the electors, was also read.
From this correspondence. ii appeared, that
simple inquiry had been respectfully submitted
to the electors to ascertain whether they would
consider themselves bound (if elected) to vote in
the Electoral College, for Vice President, IN
obedience to the will Of majority OF the people
Of Virginia. as that will might be clearly express
ed at the polls;-and that all the electors from
whom answers hal been received Except Messrs.
Mason, Nelson, aud Martin) had either positive
" declined to give such pledge, or had yieldedit
in terms so ambiguous and equivocal, as to war
rant no reasonable hope, that they would regard
the pupular will in this instance. as imposing any
Obligation on them, in bestowing the vote OF the
State.
Dangerous as this committee regard the princi-
pie, which assumes, that in representative re-
public, the delegate IS not strictly bound by the
will of the constituent body;-they fear that
doctrine still more dangerous and subversive OF
popular rights is disclosed by many Of the cleo.
tors on this OCCASION. 1t is, that he who may be
elected by the people, for the sole purpose of
choosing The mos, important officers Of our go.
yernment, is not only at liberty to disregard the
declared will Of that people, whom he was intend
ed to represent. but that he to is look elsewhere
for an authority or a discretion which is para
mount TO theirs.
II the people are really supreme; If they are
the natural proprietors of all political power, none
can be legi,imately exercised without their sane
ton: certainly not against their express thorty.
Itfrequently happens in cases OF ordinary ex.
pediency, that the representative is left free to
consult sound discretion, in exercising those
powers with which he is invested by his consttu-
ents. But that discretion exists, only because
the people have not thought proper to prescribe
rule Of action in such cases. II the people are
indeed competent to prescribe rule for their
public agents, aud they do pr scribe it,. this
committee are unable to CONCEIVE from what
source those agents can derive the right or the
discretion to disregard it, Our plan Of govern
mept assumes sta basis, the axiom, that the peo-
pie are capable of under standing and confronting
their own political affairs. II this truth be not
conceded, then are all our institutions founded
in error. If II is not las il cannot be) denied
we would ask why the people are not as cOmpe.
tent as the electors, to estimate the consequences
Of their own acts? lit is dangerous to liberty
or party, that the election Of a Vice President
should deyolve on the Senate of the United States
surely the electors might permit the people to
judge Of that for themselves.
: We have learned, for the first time in Virginia.
that there does exist somewhere, political pow
er whose mandates above the controul Of the
people. As this high prerogatve is claimed for
a Caucus. whose authority has been heretofore
regarded as not extending beyond mere recon-
mendation, this committee feel themselves promp-
! ted By sense Of duty which outweighs all con.
siderations Of party, to enter their solemn pro-
test.against so dangerous falacy.
Experience and history demonstrate, that
while the burdens Of Government are borne By
| the many, its emouments and honors are too apt
to be regarded as the peculiar property OF the
few. Is there not reason TO apprehend, that a
system Of tactics has already commenced in Vir.
snia, which docs not leave to the people the hum.
BILE privilege Of ratifying the bargains. which their
o6edient servants may choose to make for them!
Let facts answer.
i About twelve months past, when no candidate
for the office of Vice President had been selected
by the friends Of the present administration any
where, and when it was positively declared by the
presses supposed to be in the immediate conf.
dence Of Mr. Van Buren,, that he would not be a
candidate, and that '.thev would not support
him"-the eyes Of the public were attracted tn
Judge Barbour, by those virtues and abilities. for
which as a citizen and statesman. he has been
so justly distinguished His friends felt con-
strained on the important occasion of the pend
ing election OF Vice President. to act in stric,
conformity with those principles. which they. in
common with majority Of their fellow. citizens
in Virginia had always professed. From the be-
ginning. they attempted-they desired no more,
than that the people should be Ief. free 10 declare
their own wishes as to his success or defeat
While Judge Barbour has been. and still is, iden-
tilted with that party. (once known as the repub.
llcan) who have ai.0ays striven to perpetuate the
liberties and the Union of the States, by pre-.
serving the constituton-kis friends were con-
tent to rest his claims to the confidence of his