State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-10-11

was elected by so small popular vote as
the Elector from Annapolis, and yet he is
one of those claiming the right TO dictate
TO majority of the college, because he
and his associates, as they say, represent
the larger part of the i0hite population of
the state. Now which of the counties has
not more than double the population of
that city? They maintain that the under
| signed do not represent the people of their
respective counties, and should not there
| fore, select Senators from such counties,
except at their nomination. If this doc
trine be sound, what reason can be assigned
why any elector has the right TO vote upon
his own judgment and conscience for any
other Senator of the whole fifteen than the
one who may be selected from his own
particular county? Why is it that we are
not as much the representatives of the peo-
pie of Baltimore, as are the Electors, from
Caroline county, or as much entitled 10
choose Senator for Frederick county as
are the Electors from Queen Anne's We
find these four gentlemen, part of THE
NINETEEN, representing the smaller coun-
ties and elected by fewer popular votes
than many of the undersigned, and yet they
are of the number who claim TO dictate
terms to us, upon the gratultous assumption
that they represent the larger portion of
the population of the state. 1t is impossi-
bic, not to perceive the gross injustice of
such pretensions. What public reason can
exist, why greater power should be allowed
to them than TO the majority of the College?
Or what propriety is there in considering
them the especial representatives of the
more populous part of the State? Is it be-
cause there is some magic influence i'll be-
! inn t1t f,,rt ,a oil nf Mr. Nln
Buren, to the Presidency of the United
States? Will mere party name invest
electors, chosen under their own State Con-
sttution, with powers utterly subversive Of
the very Constitution, which, if they quail
ity, they swear to support? Have his par
tizans the uncontrolled right to violate
clearly defined constitutional duties, TO de-
stroy long established forms of government,
if it is believed his election will be thereby
promoted? The honest friends OF that
candidate, and doubtless he has many such,
may hereafter deeply deplore the excuses
into which, in times of high political ex
element, some partlZans seek TO involve
them. The question now i'll Maryland is
infinitely above all mere questions OF Pres
dential preference. 1t is question of con-
stitutional freedom. If the State govern
ment is to fall by the means now taken to
overthrow it, the calamity will he felt long
after the names of Harrison, White and
Van Buren, shall have been forgotten. We
never can acquiesce i'll the demands of the
nineteen unqualified electors. Our rights
and powers are known to, and derived
from the Constitution alone. The whole
body of electors represent the people Of
the whole state, elected from separate dis.
tricts, on a particular day, and in pre-
scribed form.
They are not elected 10 subserve the
views of any political division of the peo-
pie of any county or city from which they
may respectively come, but bound by the
most solemn obligations TO their country
and their God, to he faithful and true ale
glance bear to the State of Maryland, by
supporting her Constitution AS ii is, they
are not invested, nor was it designed that
they should be invested with any power
10 render nugatory single one of its pro-
visions.
If they have right to disregard any one
article, they may with equal proprlety re-
fuse TO acknowledge the whole. If any
nineteen of :hem refuse to elect Senate
because the majority will not violate their
own plain and palpable duties, by permit
ting them TO select majority of the Senate,
a"ey ,uS, w,, M mI ,or3o e ao',n dpUn
'ha pt" Ghnre 6ar 'C nns,;;,', Hv
y. .iuL We :, "a. ,,I ~ 81 DO pnJu IT,
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may u,sili" NC 'a'n Ti,I'Ih mG,"a "
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