Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-05-08

the next Presidential election, against Judge White 10y
large majority my ears upon the result
'R6hdoIPh Cornty sends "a friend in the person of
MIR Mirtcncy. who is elected.
believe VIM. A. Harrison, Of Harrison County has
received the largest vote given in the Stac-eter for
Congress, Senate, or Assembly"
ACCOMACK.
CoSoREss.-Mr. Coke withdrew from the canvass
Wiscs majority in the district 3l4
House, or DELEeArEs--John p. Drummond and
Southcy Grinalds (Whigs) reelected without OPPOSE
ton.
nm =, FOR TIE ENQUIRER.
-, POLITICAL CoNvENTiCLEs.-No.I
The right OF the People together and consult
each other upon the affairs of the Pubc-to nominate
candidates for popular appontmcnts petition the Co
vernmen ON subjects touching the good, or to
demonstrate against what ght be deemed injurious TO
the pubic wca-eNiscd in this country anterior TO the
Revolutions derived from our British ancestors and
cnrr,shGd US great, primary oad elementary pOcai
rgM-the seeanchor of all hope for effective resist
ance to arbitrary powcrand rhf ever held insepara-
bic from Freedom itself la obedience to this inacna-
bic right the representative branches of the Colonial
Legislatures maintained the privilege freely and pub
lcy to discuss the affairs of the counry-o express the
wishes OF their Constituents their Sovercign-to re.
Soive upon the propriety of any Of Govern
inent affecting their mtercstand TO inspire their con-
stucns with confidence, that by union and concert of
action, they could uphold their interests AGAINST
INC lnvasons and expressions of the British Crown The
manly resolution of the Legislative bodies to maintain re-
spect tor the popular WILL and the determination of
inc People themselves to enforce their rights and
interests, were manifested very many important
occasions before the Revolution But there was moi
single year from l764 when Lord Grenvilles project
LOT imposing internal taxes America carried I'M
til The end of the Revolution, in l7S2 in which numc.
ous P"Ctc deetingS, CoRcent0nS, CaucusSes or other
POtiticdL CenronticieS not held for ascerainn,
public opinion nominating officers for doing some.
thing TO promote and advance the cause of freedom Inv
uniting the people. Soessental these institutions
or they are the elementary Institutions of libcrty that
itwil hardly be coniendcd at this day. that American
Independence could have been declared or maintained
without them Indeed, they potent in The cansa
OF the people against traud and yoacer that T are on,
urey prohibited IN most arbitrary governments rh..
pterogatlye OF the King of Great Britain, in proroa0mz
and dissolving the reprcsen tatve assemblies a. pleasure
is the only check to the Democratic spirit of OF e
tors; who under the influence of public meetings &c
could not fail in few years, TO unite n sufficient
strength and confidence TO sweep down the Throne
and the .4rStocraey But, the power of the KInp TO
dSlsSiv Inc representative bodies WILL and to order
new elections To be made at irregular periods of time
can always be exercised in such manner as to throw
the corruptions of the Crown, and the weight of the
Aristocracy, in the luxuriant fields of Democo
cy, there TO poison and crush its growth Happily for
America, the widespread Atlantic protected our people
somewhat from these evils The germs oliberty, which
we inherited from our Saxon ancestors only 'erew up
and flonrshed the more by every attempt ON the mari Of
The Grown and the Aristocracy bring into discredt
e iee ana spontaneous expressions of popular will
Even before the time of Lord Grenville scheme of taxa
ton, conventions of Representatives from the Colonies
to consult and resolve upon American affairs were known
and respected II is very true that the party most ia
yoraDc TO the Monarchca and Arsocraic branches of
the British Government, always despised and condemn
ed them, even to the close of the Revolution
1t is IN the recollection Of person. that after the
Revolution there was very strong party the United
States in favor of what they called stTon0 @onrn.cn,
one that was capable of resisting The popular willard
otpursng the Dictates alone of the persons governing
But this scSetpe&9s defeated in the Convention which
formed the Federal Constitution. The party however
remained firm 10 their purpose They lost no opporlr-
NIFTY to give strength and power TO the Federal Cover,
mcn In the organization of the Judiciary of the L.
SSs, they gained much But there was no direct at
l22S.. 20 hush the public voice into silence, until
I'll XII ~ Q. his country had retired from the Co
l3 sA-sfee,4ors. Of yvSScr -r-,,,ve
llpf t,stfh
dlsingeir,ioasess by the act Of Co,.ggess 1t
ed The Sed'hon 7ct which, together with The Alien lc
OF me same year created much alarm for the safety of
our liberties The Sedon Act vested power in the Pre-
sident OF the u States, TO carry prosecutions through
out the Union, against the citizens for PUBLISHING any
WriunSs calculated TO bring the President or either
House OF Congress 'into contempt or dsrcpuie and
to have them punished by fine and imprisonment By
thc Amen Act he had power to priSon or send beyond
the limits of the u. s., all such persons as he iob vo
70 DC Ge"s dangerous to the peace G0gerameai of he
Ceuea e"feS These powers alarming and dange1ous
W exercised IN the most udicous manner) i'm the hands
OF wicked President, rendered the Executive Uenar
ment little less than arbitrary in its character Where
were the public functonares, citizens at large who
wnen met together, dare express and publish their
opinions OF, this usurpation in of adequate con
tempt ana ndignaton without mourning the displeas,,rc
oil thc PRESIDENT and being liable to prosecution for
what they called ga libel bring the President and
Congress 'into contempt diSrepuc; and TINS he liza
bic to fine of not than two omSand A0irs and
imprisonment for not more than taco YeQrS9 Or the
PRESIDENT might adjudge any person for ntrrmeddiing
with political publcatid 20 he aliens dangerous to the
this reason, order them TO leave the country or be
Imprisoned. The Fcdcralists were so determined 10
put down Meetings, Conventions Caucusses &c or at
least prevent the publication of theis deliberations that
the privilege of publishing free and public debates of the
Legislative Assemblies and Executive Departments of
the several states, not excepted of the provisions
OF the Scditon Act iic Republican members of the
Legislature OF Virginia, dixie unterrfed freemen
determined to maintain at all hazards their ancient Drjv
eges and the liberty ofhe People, declared by law that
the freedom OF debate should not be abridged by tho
provisions OF the Sedon Act and that no prosecufion
should be had against any member of the Assotnbv for
any thing said or published in either house Few per
sons can now doubt that the prime object of these lava
was to resist public Meetings Conventions Caucusses o
other political Convcntclcs and to hush the voice &c ,c
people into silence. Yet had we thousands of citizens
hlgminded, honorable, worthy, and powerful citizens
VINO maintained the proprety and necessity of this act SO
powerful was the Federal Party the Legislature hat
IL required the greatest unanimity and excrtions ON the
part OF the Republicans To procure declaration that
the Alien aud Sedition Acts unconstitutional They
however did so; and appealed God and their country
Tor the recttude OF their motives The People of viz
gina sustained them, and the year the Renublicau
doctrine affirmed by Mir. Madison Rcport
IL became necessary for the Republicans thrurh
out The United States TO resort to these ee0eugrU Sf
tiOas of lbcrty, (ncetngs conventions cancusscs O
power 10 their principles. The Federal party cxercd
al their energy and power TO unite their pazans In
Massachusetts, they changed the electoral law from, dis
rct system to the general ticket system with view of
carrying the whole State ia favor Of their candidate for
f Ia