Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-08-11
Rssss4a4sUAHI.
ADDRESS.
ADDRESS.
To Tie Democratic Republicans of The United States


the purpose of asccrtaning and representing the wishes
OF the Republican party, and giving it effect i'm the
suing Presidential Election. This Convention was col
lectcd from various parts Of Union was both pu
merous and respectable Among other duties it was
pleased to assign to the important of addressing
our RePublican brethren upon the present interesting
crisis of our political affairs aud enforcing upon them
the manner we might deem BEST the urgent necessity of
harmony and union, in the approaching contest The
subject upon which it has thus been made our duty To
address you not only which deserves be attcn-
lively considered, but is, in opinion intimately
nectrd With the existence of the Republican party of
the Union, and the efficacy of popular elections Feel
ing as we do the importance and dccacy of the
which has Thus been confded to US, shall proceed to
discharge Il IN the manner deem the respectful
to you, and the best calculated TO the wishes and
appreciation OF those by whose authority act.
The high and exalted station of President of such
Nation, the power and patronage of the Office, and the
number of competitors, wo according genius of
Institutions viii always aspire To the station can
not fail to subject the People of the United States TO all
those agatons which have all ages marked the pro-
gress OF every elective Government ON earth Indeed
ambitious struggles for political power of this character
with all the bad passions they necessarily engender were
not only regarded by political Fathers Of the
most formidable evils which threaten free Institutions
but probably the severest trial to which they would be
exposed Hence the obligation and duty which they so
strongly lnculcatsd upon the people of guarding against
and mitigating those evils by vigilance moderation and
canton
The interesting question of, Who is o be our next
dcrcd in connection with all its probable
may justly be regarded of the most important
which has been aitaed in country In issue are
principles but the whole of national policy
Nay, more, will comprehe nd in its result only the
judgment OF the present, but direction of the future
course OF the administration Of National
and that too by the highest authority of the
Republic, the sovereignty of the People Such contest
at such time cannot l to produce the political
and party cxcemcnts and the aentvely the sub
ect shall be consdered the deeper viii become the con-
vlcon OF It's Importance the necessity of vigilance
and caution the part People IL must moreover
fellow citizens, be very apparent that in a country
like ours o such vast extent and diversified interests il
car ham il.s,
any citizen will possess such eminent qualifications
and popularity, all others command tie votes of
decided majority of the Peoples and consequently the
pest manner oil concentrating the popular will and CIV
ing effect in relation TO the Candidates those high
Offices, will not only attract large share of public at
tenton, but VIII be regarded by the whole Nation as a
subject oil absorbing interest. Such has already
the case, IN relation TO the approaching election The
evils which must flow from filing Offices much sought
alter and of such vast responsibility with men " no are
neither the first nor second choice of majority are
greatly aggravated by the defects of Constitution
which devolves the election diydua has re-
ceiyed majority of the electoral votes upon the House
OF Representatives.. 1t prevent the mischiefs
winch might result from having Chief Ma gistrnte thus
imposed upon the Nation contrary wishes that the
Democracy Of the Union following the example of their
republican fathersO have lately united in NalionIl
Convention and agreed TO present their country can
a.daies Tor the two high Executive Offices of the Co
vernment
In the early history of our Confederation com
mon dangers produced concert of action and i'm the
two hrst elections of President the pre- merits
our political system. For long, mertorious and WELL
tried services the Chief Magisiracy was bestowed upon
''s INDUSTRIOUS cltlZen unsough and unsolicited, by the
unanimous voice of his country So too, the third
election, which was, doubt, essentially Influenced
by the opinions and administration of that great and
goon man, ana his associates IL materially felt
at the fourth election, however, the defect was made
evident In the strongest colours Then was displayed
one avenue at least through which ambition and Party
might successfully triumph the People will; and
although the particular point from which the dancer
rose was immediately seized on, and guarded by sub
sequent amendments of the Constitutions the radical de-
feet which enabled President to be elected Gin case
OF no popular choice) by the Representatives of
small minority of the People left wholly untouched
he contest which then took place. violent as it was
alarming, was fruitful however of the soundest admo.
milton to the leaders of the Republican Party at the
head OF which stood the great apostle Liberty Iho1a
as JBeTSon 10 avert The mischies and Danger of an
election by the House of Representatives and TO secure
UNITY OF action amongst the Republican Party, they
undertook to devise means to- concentrates in ali future
elections the votes OF that portion Of the People who
adopted their creed, upon single candidate For that
purpose recourse first had to Congressional caueses
nc system was then resored to, and justified one
OF necessity Its avowed, and real object was to secure
the election Of Republican Chief Magistrate and pre-
vent such collision might transfer the choice TO the
House OF Representatives Ii was in this wav and
through the agency Of the Republican members of
Congress, making nominations, in Caucus assembled
that Mr.. JeBerSOn, Mr. .Hadison and M Monroe, yere
presented Candidates the American People
aud were elected, and rc.eeeicd, by large naiori,
ties of the popular suhrages Thus far one of the
great Objects OF the Constitution IAN electoby the peo
pie ~ their primary colleges0 believed TO We Guard
ca ana secured Bot Tins system attacked
thrown IN the memorable contest of 1925; and the
failure by the Republican Party that occasion TO elect
is candidate, followed by the election of Chief
Magistrate by the House Of Representatives, in utter dis
regard OF the popular will, aud under circumstances
which produced the deepest excitement Indeed so
strongly Impressed the @isting rushed individual VII
was The object Of that choice OF the Importance of an
election by the People Of their President that in his
answer TO the Joint Committee who announced To him
ms he esshred; "Ibat could his refusal to
aeeepe trust defcgaisd 10 him gco an iiamediac opor
ttny IL me Pc0e, 10 firm and eIprcSs trih nearer an.
pToaeh TO HHamHn"y he inject Of their pTsferegcs he
Shond not hfs'ate to decline Mo acceptance IF Tie emil
nem ehnrgf, md sutHu the momsDfops question again
10 Me'T- deter'H,nafioH What less than the deem
est conviction Of the danger Of R8 election by the
House OF Representatives instead Of the Pe0ple could
such Language What stronger aVouehmeAt Of the i'm.
Porancc OF clear expression Of the popular will and
tins defect IN our Constitution, could have been % ven
Than THIS: TINS election, however, aud the state of
things to which IT gave rise roased the PEOPLE
ana The elements Of the old Republican PaTfy rail- ed
around General jackson the individual in whose per
son popular rights and power TO be vindcsed Az
ter very violent and cmbtered contest they
ed m placing him IN the Presidential Chair OF fbe
election Of lS24-5, and the scenes which then &C.
cured u IS not ncedul, would IA be proper here
70 speak. They form prominent and interesting
part OF the history Of those times of Republic and
VIII long be regarded by every friend Of Representative
Government, as political beae0n rather than precc-
dcnfy Ihis election, however did more; il satisfied
the friends Of Popular Sovereignty, Of the necessity Of
again fcsorng t. mode, Tor The purpose Of ccur-
ing THIS important election 10 The People and psevepf
ing the recurrence Of those Of intrigue and aIol
uon which were presented that occasion and mas
be expected invariably to be presented on an election of
the President by the House Of Representatives In the
r.rFfr 81 Ill.