Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-03-12

To Thomas b. Hooe, Doctor Jesse EaoeU Adju-
tant Basil Braapner, Capt. John w Willamls,
and COL joint Hooe, Candidates for seat IN
the nert General Assembly Of Virginia, for
the County Of Prince William.
GENTLEMEN:--The doctrine of the general
welfare, or that which is synonymous" that the
discretion of majority in Congress, expressed
in the shape of law, is binding and is legiti-
mate and just measure of constitutional autho-
rity," seems now to be pretty generally explod-
ed. Recent experience has proven that it tends
to produce the widest most mischievous and
extravagant, and ruinous acts of legislaton;
and is now and has been made use Of on the
part of the Executive, as pretext for acts OF
the most palpable usurpation, not to say UNI
qualified despotism resort, then, to prnc-
pie seems to be the only means left to the peo-
pie for bringing back the General Government
to its just limited and constitutional spere Of ac
ton: and inasmuch as the State Legislatures by
their direct action in one particular Ito w.t. the
election ofthe Senate ofthe U.States, exercise a
power giving impress and political character to
that digniied and coordinate part of our Co.
vernment, and do also in various ways and de-
grees operate upon public sentiment, SO as ulti-
matey to have a decisive bearing and control
in the election of Chief Magistrate,-it there
fore becomes the people, in the present dis
tracted and alarming state of public affairs to
ascertain with precision the sentiments of all
and every gentleman who may choose to pre-
sent himself to them as candidate for a seat
in that body. As one Of the people then, Gen
temen, permit the writer to PROFOUND the fol-
lowing interrogations, and most respectfully to
desire your several frank, candid, and unequi-
vocal answers, through the same medium that
they are addressed to you:-1st. Do you ap-
prove Of the doctrines contained in the late
Proclamation of the President as asserting cor
rectly the powers delegated in the Constitution
to the Executive separately, and to the EXecu-
tive and Legislative departments of the Govern
ment conjontly2-and do you approve Of the
following sentiment expressed in that part of
the said paper which treats of the origin of our
Constitution or organic law, and which is ex-
pressed substantially as follows: Whether the
Constitution originated, or had its origin, in a
compact between or among sovereign states,
or in any other manner, is immaterial; it's
character is still the same."2 I'd. Do you
approve, justify, or sustain, on constitutional
grounds, (expediency is out of the question
we 60 for principle,) the Act of the last Con-
gress, commonly denominated the Force
Biln? Sd. Do you approve of the act and
manner of doing it, by President Jackson, of
removing the public deposites from the United
States Bank?-do you, or do you not regard it
as violation of public faith, and highland
ed usurpation? 4th Would you, if elected, aid,
by your influence and vote, to return w. c..
Riyes to the Senate of the U. States-or would
YOU oppose it by the same influence and means?
9Th, and finally. Would you use the influence,
positive and relative of your station if elected,
TO promote the pretensions of Mr.. Van Buren, to
the Presidency or would you use the same in
fuence to oppose and prevent it, Virginia be-
ing firm on the subject ofre-c hartering the Bank
of the United States, / put no interrogatory
touching that subject FRANCHISE,
On the confines Of Terrapin Forrest,
PRINCE WILLIAM, MARCH 7, 1884.