Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-09-06

the matter2 Need we unveil the agitating and in
glorious contest which subssted in 1901 in the case
oil Jefferson and Burr? or, refer TO the still
more modern, and almost equally remarkable, cleo
ton of John Quincy Adams ?.We shall not 60
INTO all the details OF these painful transactions
The People know them-and the People must
know how to profit by them. We refer to
them, TO point out what field is spread out
for management, intrigue, land we dare TO say)
corruption"--and to show how easy it is for a
very few votes in the House to control the cleo
ton of President, in defiance Of the wishes Of
the People.-Mr. Burr is VIGOROUSLY known
have received one single Electoral vote which was
intended to make him the President of the Repub-
lic-and yet scarcely was there ever made more
desperate or daring struggle to foist any
into office, over the very heads of the People.-As
Tor MIR. Adnls, though he had minority of the
Electoral votes yet is notorious that il was in the
power OF very few members to confer upon him
the office, to which he promoted. We will not
pourtray the scenes which followed.-But they are
sufficient To disgust all the nice and Jealous sensibil
Ties OF n free people. Are we not then fully borne out
IN our determined opposition to this mode of cleo
ton' Were we not fully justified i'm declaring that
the effort to smnggle the election into the House,
and take it out of the hands of the people, is in
suit to their understandings: Does il not substan-
TALLY amount to the declaration, that they are I'M
worthy oil confidence and incapable of self govern
ment?
But, IN the Bird place-There is another objection,
winch appeals irresstby to best and strongest
Interests Each State has equal voice in the Diet.
The largest is upon level with the smallest Suite
sldent, than Delaware Rhode Island. How far
ns IS coniormable to the great principle of Repub
lies that the majority ought govern, we will not
now discuss The objections are sufficiently stated
IN the several extracts, which about to attach
TO these remarks. These ideas are not new to us.
They are not coined for immediate circulation. We
have exhibited the same view of the subject for "a
yenrs-irom the year 1906 down to the present time
find therefore zoe take our preliminary proposition
mat we are against any election by the III. of Re-
presentatives-and will adopt every fair, honorable
ana constitutional method for arrestng such a mea-
sure. But what method can he adopted? This
brings us TO
SECOND PRoposIrIoN
we propose-and it is for the good sense of
the people to- Judge of our motives and our mea-
snres-to bring the election still nearer to the
people. And how is this to be effected? Again.
we must go back to columns and show what
me method was, which was advocated 10 years ago.
WIN tins view we submit the mendment proposed
by John Taylor of Caroline to the Senate of the IT,
states in 1923. We also lay before them the hum
Die support we then gave to this proposition And
we repeat mat IN case there be no election the
irs ballot OF the Electors hope to see the cleo
non sent back TO the people, for the selection
I'd DE made out OF the two highest candidates The
amendment failed in 1893, partly perhaps because i,
was not pressed with sufficient zeal and par,lv per
haps of the opposition it met with from the smaller
states. 1t has not been revived since, because the
two last contests have been narrowed down to two
cnndidates-Jackson and Adams-and Jackson and
CIay-Dut now, when we have shoals of candidates
or nominees, likely 20 enter the arena: when wa
have seen not less than five citizens from one Stale
entered for the office; and how many Richmondsfrom
the other States to i'm the field we know not: il
becomes all men, who think we do upon the uiti-
mate election by the H. of Representatives TO be on
inc alert we submit this proposition from q sim
cere sense OF It's importance-and shall press il
WIN all the zeal IN our power. We call on every
friend of republican government to unite i'm its SIM
port. .NoD IS The time to push it. II this winter
passes over IN vain il will be vain to attempt IL for
me ensuing election Hence it is, that we now take
/ fF.n.f It
10 make Tins arrangement for the next election-as
is to engage in The discussion about the candidates
themselves So far from being premature, this is
indeed the very time 10 discuss it.
| But, as It's adoption may again be defeated nv the
comDiiatIon among the smaller States or by TINT
horror of innovation to which Col Taylor aludes in
MS speech, we must go on TO chalk out the course
we mean to pursue. II may be imposed upon us as
an inevitable alternative. But sooner than see ano
ti'er election by the House of Representatives. ws
SHALL unqnesiionably adopt it. This brings us to
The THIRD PRoPosITIoN
III AN election by the House be NOT superseded d,
sending PACK the polls to the people, the Republican
rarty VIII he reduced TO the necessy IN, case NOR,
man t'co candidates run,l of coming to some concert
"iio''s themselves, and 10 such previous nomna-
tIon as may ensure its success Tins ,bev nav
erect choice by the first College of Electors which
meets to give the votes Of the People This concert
must he brought about by Convention of the Re-
I"uNcah rary, organised as it should be, upon lust
rePuniican principles. Such Convention we look
Inc liberty OF suggesting years since ms anneary
ny the following Extracts. 1t was TO take the Ia
vi me inelhod OF Caucusses which had been pracs
ed by The Republican Party in the DAYS of Madison
ana Mohroe-Dut which is liable to the most serious
objections Ii is in fact at this time Justly Obsolete.
Ana must be superseded by n more popular indie
pendent, ana better organized method of nomino
lion. we lay these reflections freely before orr
coumrymen-and are prepared to act them our
we dIsclaitn, then, for the present. National
convention. We 60 for an amendment upon some
principle like John Taylor's amendment We On
a. al events, against an ultimate election by the
III. Oh h--ahd u the Constitution be not amend
ed, we 40 not see how any other concert is to bo
adopted Tor efiecting election mt the first balIot
IMAM ny frank and open nomination of a fair free
and properly constituted Convention of the Peonle
themselves. P
Most OF these ideas are confirmed md develoned
IN The following series of extracts from the Ennui
rer which might he multiplied indeed almost mi IN
pnttunt-They show what we have Thought unon
ms great and complicated subiect-wbat we think
OF IL this tne-and "your oratorsn beg leove To
nuke theSe extracts "a part of their bill"
EXTRACTS
AL From The Enq,tyer of Ocfober 1905
reply 10 the .dddress Of Tie Monroe Committee.
AS to the consequences of such schisn, Won ssn,,
men, can speak OF II with much more pbosonbc nhle.n,
Than can. "This charge about scbsm il G, en-. 81
mere defusI0H, as II relates TO the
Z" II seems that he ONLY effect of the dipision NAV
ne 70 'ow the election into the hands OF the States in
Congress assembled" Why, gentlemen This ia the com
pe'es' oehe'y uat you could play off upon the under
s'"nongs OF NE people Al the very nome t when YOU
nave sced your idVorte system TO the most ebasy
evils which could present itself 10 your when
tl,.f