Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-02-19

minority for that Of the rlty; IN fact. 10 treat cleo
lions nui1s and substitute the acts of reckless aud
rrufeate officers for The voice Of the ma ory. We
have Of the States of the Union brought to the
b'Ink of revolution by alleged Efforts Of this kind and
in other States Witnessed alarming attempts to defeat The
vucr OF the orty in elections This state OF things
would indeed seem To indicate alarming lnxiiy Of
political morality, and 10 require the exercise OF appro
pirate remedies, by constitutional egsauon Whether.
II uur il is 10 b. attributed to the action of the iunc
uUnares Of the Stale Federal Government. or The Off
GERS q! Corporations If associated wealth, which have
been brought by lndscrect legislation, into too intimate
c"Dne1on with both, and whose influence insnuatrs
itself INTO all The business Of active enterprise and the
ordInGry Of society other causes,
not The legitimate province of the committee TO inquire.
Those whnarc charged with attempts In corrupt the pu
riy and destroy The freedom al elections very TO
make charges OF The kind against others, in The
vain hope = cupang Themselves or at rast drawing
off public attention from their acts, by incu patng
others. Neither accusations from such quarters, nor the
assertions of disappointed oicehrn'ers reckless
p1rrisan editors pea!ng forth The res party,
safely be made the foundation of such legislation des
roys the Of unques onable rights tor the Of
| preventing their abuse.
In the struggles Of parties for power, il is believed by
the committee that II may well BE- doubted whether the
patronage 0t office is To be deemed advantage, mas
much wnle there he but incumbent Of an Oi
fee the number Of those no stimulated Ia partisan
activity hy the hope of gaining II as reward for extra
ordinary rxerIons is unn ed, to say nothing OF those
! who may he parlysed by dsappoInnent dsatlrcted
by REJECTION Public sentiment exercises salulary and
controlling Influence the conduct of public fame
lionares; and while ii properly witches their conduct
with -aousy and scruniz"s their actions rigidly. it To
eraes almost unboundrd liberty Of speech in those who
seeking Office. We cannot eyes in any d.
rclion without psrcelvng the evidence Of the fact TINT,
every Office uudrr the fedrra Government the
Presidency. the numerical proportion Of those who seek
Office y partisan activity al least three 10 against
The pGesrssnrs T3e office seekers have unlimited
freedom ri speech and of action, denird 10 the incum
bent the circumstances Of his position and are al IL
brriy attack the motives and conduct OF the latter and
indulge in professions Of patriotic ardor and dsinerest
edurss. restrained by ether limits than tn" elastic
du'y OF their friends aud party That the possession
Of patronage does not insure is retention. is proved by
ire1uf instances both the Federal and Stale Govern
The committee believe that, in those places where the
Federal officers enumerated IN the bill most numer
uus will be lolnd that the elections frequently
result against than favor of the Administration; aud
proves either that they do not bring he great pow
derived from the Federal Government Ia influence
elections That they them against the party which
conferred Those powers tia, dingcr IS 10 be appre
h-ndrd Of their destroying the freedom and purity Of
ei-c,Inn. II Is hrcvrd that ma rrliy 81! those
who woud be affected by this bill hostile 10 the views
OF policy opposed 10 the political principles Of the
present Administrators; and If the sentiments Of those
who found possession Ot office in thu ten miles
square any test. the m, jhy would he very great
But the and conclusive answer tn all Such aiega-
umnS, bringing the patronage and power oil the Genr
raj Government hostility {" The freedom and purity "t
elections be found in the fact that such acts are
every WHERE in all lhr States punishable by State laws
and the committee not aware oil any prosecution,
even, f.. such offences
Its asn worthy n special remark that those States
wrTe the most clamnr has been raised and the most
alarm has ben expressed on tins subject the State urc
ioHarss opposed 10 the Administration, and as they
have The power, their duty Ia punish such offences
The Committee therefore constrained 10 believe tina;
there Just iundalnn for such accusation. an'!
look upon Of the RrgltIuHs hich those who
struggling gam The pnrr that they affect to think
making stimulate their pariisans md decry Their
Oppnnrn's But whether III" mischief actually exists or
not. The committee proceed Ia consider the puicy aud
c"nstIiu"naly al the remedy which proposed by ne
bi referred 10 them.
The otlDc, o The bill is To render what is lawful and
praisewnrrhy. and in strict conformity with both the let
ter and spirit Of Insrnons Iu all citizens, crImn1
in a particular class who have been hUnnred by the can
frnrc ui The people Of the whole STATES II is not IL
punish crime nium in Sc but 10 create new crime Il
is not L. punish bribery and cprrupou the robbery Of the
ballot box, the suppression forging ot returns, ar
u.urpntinn neglect Of official duty giving effect L"
the will Of the manriy in elections. the improper use
q official power, hut Tie OF persuasion or disS"a
SION Of Hcrmtddng In conir" influence voters by
that ATE Law im and night IN others Every ci'
riz,u ought qualify himself by study rsalInn
and every other of acquiring knowledge. In un
drrsand the theory and principles oi Institutions and
ascertain the best mcdr OF administering them IN tht
rue split, 10 promote the greatest good OF lir
greatest number aud render himself capable of dis
charging any trust that may be conferred on nm by ms
IelIow-cIzens II well his inherent hight rs his
duiy discuss and prnmuc freely the measures "i any
and the character and conduct OF these
VITO support oppose IL, well To control them by The
censorship q" pubic opinion as 10 subject them 10 The test
of The Constitution. la doing so he may win the con
fuence Of his fellow citizens by his declared opinions,
ur r.ny become Identified with great principle
which concIliaes their support All tins innocent ara
praspwurhy. If the mmiive is the acquisition Ut q"
lice because promotes The public good Can be wise.
or sven Just punish a crime, when citizen atians
office hat was patriotic and praise worthy he hp was
seeking il; Yet why should oice-seeklng and Office
holding thus BE- separated by arbitrary enactmens which
brslow honos and confidence upon the aud penalty
and ienominy Upon The other for doing the same nc
How il possible for any ri the officers enumerated IN
this bill freely discuss public and measures in P
vale circles public assemblies in lie newspapers or
even in the unrrseved confidence Of social intercourse
when an eIeclnr is present, before during after
election, without snhi"cnG himself to the swe'p'ng
penalties Of this hili II u'equal While set OF
iuncionarrs "i the Federal Government and oil those
Of the State Governments. and all the officers n The corr
rOraoDs u assncIaFd wealth left with unrrstrict
ed ircpd" c SPEECH and of The press this bill puts gays
and FILTERS upon few prescribed men, IN respect Ia pub
lie men and public measures why This dIscrimina'
ton Are the prescribed officers more corrupt or La
be 10 cprruptirr. than other office holders: Is II 10
guard against the c"uuping Influence and patronage
nf the Federal Administration: II so, The effect "f
the bill would be sill more objectionable, as IN &c
grading them hy taking from them the rights CON-
mon t. all others. it you'd prepare them to become
The willing instruments II corruption or ambilnD.-
This bill would create caste among Office holders, DE-.
Tivirg ihir authority from the high source, the
people, and requiring h' same high qualifications I" d'-
charge their duties Those enumerated would he d..
GRADED by The very acceptance Of !icc and cut OH from
all IDENTIFY OF feeling inie resi- and sympathy with their
fuw.cirizens hy The voluntary mutlla"n of the very
manhood "f crz'nship 1t converts those officers into
nmrs. II en!'rcrs Temporary oulIh"ry OF the dear.
est and inesIimable rights OF citizenship with
penalty suspended their heads during the CONT.
nuarce Of ncp, which may be cut by word, message,
writing look and doom them to become out.
casis- political lsprrs, 10 perpetual Incapacy TO h"in
Office They wpuid tr dishon"rod by the very act OF
su,rendering such rights for the nercenary m"t,Ves OF
pcruna-y gain and rewards Of Office, and thereby pro-
claim themselves slaves. and Inc fit instruments "f oH
;nr savs of others They would find the bad ges "i sIa