Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1835-05-14


Where the incumbent thinks proper 10 influence
Tho choice Of his snrces.or any uspirnnt for the
presidential Office has otherwise acquired the means
of controlling tins Immense official infntnee ~ his
behalf, It Is obvious tlnt the whole power Of the
government may be cast with DECISIVE effect into
The scales of popular election The hopes of those
who desire Offices wit In the gut of the President ~
well MS the fears of those who hold them under h,.
appointment, are brought to bear with concerted
lotee ON the election and thus IN the United STATE
rs III England the government may be nunyed and
organised throughout It's various branches and de.
pendenclcs, ctlectuay against the people.
The influence of such "A scheme may he enhor-
ccd by the very nrdce, wh,oh naturally re-
sorted 10 by those who attempt II bold innovation
ON popular government. Such Innovations are al
why's prncscd under Tho guIso OF some name or
object whlch Is desergedly dear to the people The
name of Rcpubhcan-of Democratic Republican
has been of en- assumed IN England, IN France and
IN the United 5 a'es, hy lho4c who sought 10 e4lnh.
sh monarchy II somc form or other on the luins OF
republican institutions. Thus waslha fate of rhc
Roman people finally sealed by those " ho lot oniy
poesscl to love the people much hut WHO acted N
then nnmc and hy Their authoDDy To the saeeess OF
any scheme lor the subvcfslon of our FREQ lnstitu
tlans, It /, essential dat The great principles which
naturally distinguished the Original patles of our
country should b. aludinnsy obuefaed, while the
names only OF such patflfs should be preserved fof
ehecl hla, Ia ttty treat rXttn', has h en- dnur
- lac nncirnt Line oi dlaunc ion between the Fed.
cral mud Republican paflles Of the United Slntes
scarcely serve even At tins day to discriminate bc.
tween the opposite and tcconcileuhlc principles Of
these parties. lie wna farmlrly esteemed a R,do
falisi, who maintained the policy of adding pow
10 TIC government III safne OF other OF IT. de.
parments-ond he Republican, who maintained
Ibp qltiy ,f HI ~. i.
aud keeping IT IN the hands Of the people BIZ,
now, We hnd those who claim to bo tho exclusive
RePubllcnns and who infect grent horror Of the
name of Foderaiist, nomaluy mnininining higher
hhd more unlimited powers IN all The Departments
oil the government, thnn vera ever claimed 10y
tho fcdGnl codeis. While the doctrines Of this
seltsylod Icpubloan parly do not aaaerl the fatal
hereslcs Of passive Obedience they nevertheless M,
proach The confines OF Executive infulll6ny so
nearly, that little remains by which many of them
enn DC distinguished from the European adyocatca
of regal pIcrogative
Amidst the hortd scenes of anarchy and al,nqN;
winch stained tie soil OF FraNrG,Xt' van resor,cd
-, wmi1h, Willie II se,med to give n eli 10 the pop
ulnr will actually md absolutely coptrolIed that
will. THIS was the establishment ii euhs, 4"
eabaIs caucuses, composed Of few individuals,
selected from the choice pnrzans Of those who MS
pred 10 lend aud dictate public opinion. The same
plan has been faithfully copird 10y all who have
attempted TO manage the people under cover Of their
own authority, for tomo selfish purposes. 1t has
long since been prnelised with fatal success IN New
York, ana S ne ohcr Sialcs Of the Union, whence
II threatens to d.lIuso It's influence over our own
State and The coniederacy. LIS Immediate and oh
vlous effects 10 subject the pcoPIolo as eecipn
drill, through the agency 81 party iacoluns, nv II
they were trained corps Of military recruits The
selection OF the AZ nts whc pretend 10 speak for the
people IN these cabnls caucuscs, IS always cnrc
uly entrusted Ia the conf hicnds OF those
for whose benefit they gotten M, and M may be
expected III ~ sufe to gave effect 10 tho will "i
their supcrlors, II possible 1t ~ ur2ed however,
by way of apology for this anti republican nsngr,
which tends TO concentrate power IN few hands IA
thef IhHn 10 distribute II among the manY, TINT n
caucus thu, selected Inns only tho power 10 recon
mend candidates measures for the appreciation OF
The people 1t Is Sufficient an0wer 10 this npolo
ey that such recommendations have generally the
force Of absolute authority with the parly which
has been sufficiently oreanZod 10 receive or ndm't
them at all and they rnroy rcsorted 10 except
where the iccis of pady discipline have list been
vigorously fixed here can he lllle doubt tim: such
system is calculated to tfansftr power from the peo.
pie nnd vest it in the hands of ode nan, or few
men mound him. There IL every conceivable dIf
ference between these self created nnfa, and those
popular assemblies Which nre cony' ned from the
whole mnss ofclllzens, for the purpose Of free, I'M
restrained and public consultation The dangers
of the caucus system are greatly magnlhed when It
IS connected directly with the influence of govern
| mcpt through the agencies Of men holding public
Offices. The government itself thus gnins n pow
! elful accession 10 ifs legitimate nufhoufy md ~
enabled 10 t. como The instrument Of controlling ~ n
preni meas ne the elections Of the people
II WINS by SLOW AMI gradual advances that the
Prrlnfiin armies acquired the power OF appointing
or depos,ug the Roman Empcrors.--'Ibey were not
originally top strong for the people but when
such combinations Of men dependent tn govern
meni become once thoroughly organized their
force IS not To be successfully resisted by rcn-
SON or by tic great ulbller Of civil right, the ,sht
Of suiiragc.
The series of public events which have H. inspired
N osc country during The lat few wears, ein havr
left iilG doubt on the miud 81 any impartial on ~
did observer, 'haten individual has been long since
sci tod Il, tine CHOSEN cuntllnr Of those now ~
power for the Presidency. Ihor mn Il Martin
Van Butrn Of = " York ludcf ~. nj oi other
objections wh.rh induce u 10 d pfeeHfe las dec
lign W should deem II a ycty dnnecteps precedent
f,r any nam to be elevated to the Pres my by the
means and udaenets which mc employed 10 elect
Ar. Var Buren,. Tn powers Of thd oiheh once
acquired by such means, and excited rs fhey DOUBT
IS, nay, whea acquired % prout3e inc election OF
rs Gvotlc, would clIeelnauy con4eu or gny'rn-
mepi iuto uu cecayr, pe,baps an h-roiaaiy mon.
arehy. The power Of the people 10 controlling the
eeci ~ Of thg prs.loent, # one lost can nes'r be
rega'rdcd. II IS virtually lost, when TIC lncnm-
bent of tba, Office through the ostfumo tally OF lhc
government. shall. possess hcpo"cr to eontfol the
elections.
We regard Mr. YIN Buren, ma aireaJy announ-