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


The Committee he J"diri"ry 10 ~h'rh 'cns rGtfrr'd
"a Bill tp prsrsrt Tie interference d ctrisn Federal
ojccrs in elections, rrp0n:
hat they have examined the bill referred 10 them
with HE aud attention which he Importance OF :te
subject drnands The Object OF the bill proposed IN The
title and preamble s prevent the grr at powers given
10 the officers nf the Federal Government and Other per
employed us service, from being used for the IN
urnciGg cit cIloGs which ought To be free and moor
~ pi and It's scnpe very broad and comprehensive.
propusrs that after the fret day of April nex
marshal or d. putty MARSHAL TO postmaster or deputy
postmaster receiver register "f land othce or any
OF their deputies clerks survfy" general oi pubic
lands any "hls deputies assistants cole c'or sur
vry0 naval ocer, wrl2her gaLgPr appraiser "r other
officer person whatsoever concerned "yed IN The
cha rnng collecting levying, managing The customs
any part branch thereof engineer officer gen
employed conCeinrd in the execution superD,t nd
cnce o Of the public works, shall by word message
writing III any other manner whatsoever, endeavor
persuade any eecinr Ia give dss"aCc any ecC"T
from giving h.+ for the choice of any person TO be
Electors Ui President Vice President Of the s, OF
for The choice Of any person to be Senator or Repesen
lave in the Congress Of the s., for the choice ofany
person he Governor Lieut. Governor Of any State
or of aar person 10 be representative member o the
Legislative department OF any State OF this Union or "'
the choi,e Of any person TO serve IN any public Office
rsabi.sE-d Ivy the law OF any Of The said States; n"r
shall any such officer person intermediate IN any o
the pIrc,rCns ab"ve mentioned. or use any means with
uent To ueuCe control the same. othpr~ Use Than
by giving AIS vote, nnd' The prnaIly OF live hun
drrd dollars mneiy hrre" 10 he ini"rnPr and the
other nory lhereoi thu United States In be rec"vereG
with costs Of hy any ihf shall tor the
same l.y action If debt G rriu,, in any of the dis
rct or circuit Of the United states: and very per-
son con !clrd # such rtirnce shall thereby become dis
aIrd aud incapable ot ever hearing or executing any
rtlcr or place Of trust whatsoever ur"rr the United
States
LII 4 we and sauary rulr, well Tor tie exPoun
ders as the makers Of he law consider the old law,
lke mischitf, and Tie remedy The committee believe
that it is beg nj Ill question that under the Constitution"
and r!. EXISTING q" The United States every citizen
has the tc eight Of freely examining public characters
aud res. aud 81 free communion anGrg The people
thereon by w"Id GesSaIe, or writing "f IN any "'he
manner b. may udg" proper This right Is not only as
serted in h. cpirbarrd RI Tll"ns &" III" NHgInh Lee
~, Iaurc III the sessiun Of l1-. and nf lID l-O ~
h. L,nriug to- the general principles at free government.
II tie particular UrganIzaiinn and positive PROVE
srnns the Federal Constitution hat DECLARED :" be "ihe
only fircn!a gua dan OF every ether right The ionn
daiinn Of representative government is based upon the
uIeinrrcp Of the citizen, aHC Ia insure that Inrel
renee IS bo;h The r'gl and the duty Of every one"
freely 10 discuss and communicate, both publicly ard
pivai.y such matters he may suppose will advance
tie ruhc interest inlnrm HE public mind One ct
he most salvary and tirclua agents 10 promote such
interest ,ilghtrnfd pubic opinion. 10 v"iVe
such opinion. and To give form aud Gftcinn 10 The r."
neral course national policy, and Ihe future drsrin''
Of alt cIIz"n, whether Entrusted with public nf
hCr Ike 1DiGirg ann ac'lE" lHurerl
and no titlzen hhrry to withdraw himsr from this
huh hiltY. usrpnTnbly connected with Repnb-
lcnn ins,rIurluus One ri the celebrated law ma
kers Of ri the ancient RepUhlcs. DECLARED every CT
iizn niaus ko refused 10 lake part in The affairs Of
his Country, md the word idint. derived from the Ian
rnarc Of that Republic b-ars through all time tins nm
ress Of their institutions denuIng who was deSi.
iuia Of III" s,i,i; intelligence requisite for The dis
CHARGE of IhiS hichrsl duty of crtIzrn
The plrcrrvp right is not conferred By the CCcSm-
icn of the L s. but b-!"rgs 10 representative govern
mrnt and springs from lis very nature and The very
p.srrce al that right under nur institutions, IL the fIa
uf elec,ng !hr members OF the General and Stale (ro
yerrmvD,s The value and The advantages OF this right
50 far az respects the public De pend upon the know
| DE Of public measures, and OF the qualifications OF
candGas for public trust, and consequently, upon In.
equal and unrestricted freedom OF discussing their co
pirorivc merits ard dement's The citizen who. by the
choice of h> fellows, distinguish, IT, being selected
10 perform "cra duties and trusts not thereby eIeva
ted above them. degraded below Them. Tie parts
uuh rights o citizenship. but remains an equal among
EQUALS still connected with them by the strong and en-
during lrgampu's al muinaty OF rights and privileges
Under our Constitution the people. rot the Government
possess the sovereignty and tie d"urs Of office can be
us ned nnIy by Tia, po.crlul charm of the public voice,
and no degrading sacrifice Ot any OF the privileges 0i CT
t,zpnshir or any separation from the community cf
rights feelings, and Interests. which bind the people 10
the GOVERNMENT, Is required.
The object ot our institutions is the protection OF the
equal rights and privileges oil a-hc &. ~ wei as Inc
many. Tie spirit ol dtsp"tisn IS WideIy cIHefen'
prpcied upon destruction of the rights ot man, lis
main object is 10 project the few against the many
Hence the pncy Of separating rs officers from all sym
ca;hy Of cling aud intrPs with the many by attaching
10 ,firr attractive Distinctions ard sPducve rrivi
I.css Lic create distinct class and elevate them
obnvc the mass hy degrading them by unnatural mu
rilaIo,,s below their fellow man, prepare them |" De
cnue Fl, instruments of arbitrary power. Drspots VII"
.urrnupd their thrones with enuchS and mucS act upon
The latter p,Incrp'r and mperd By the instinct Of
al md nDn no u rp a
ub.t il uriusiiy acquired Happily, institutions
resting upon The jus, foundation OF popular rights, nell
Their demand nor wi! admit OF the muaiIon OF The per-
snr or the privileges Of citizenship as prerequisite for
office Under The existing laws. citizen at Stale does
moi by accepting any OF the Offices under the Federal
Government, forfeit any OF the rights and Pr'VIrges
which belong To him a citizen "f Stale; and all
con,1o over the privileges and lnmnn'lIrs OF the CHI
-ars in The several Stat is expressly Withheld from
the action nr the Federal Gnvr rnmcnt and lett with the
Slaiss bv The ciI"n OF the fourth article OF Inc
Constitution The committee believe that tie State and
Federal Governments under our system are CO ordinate
d,rarlmrnls Of sIrEr and integral "h"!f; mat me
compac, between the States unIles them IN single
Government as TO their relations with each other, ana
@ It'll E,reirr nations and Ia certain articles ParCu-
lariv sppc.ir each retaining 20 sr the "her t9hS 81
iudp pendrnt Government, agreeing TO appoint I'D ch-
junction for the administration OF Inc f"sPfa ufahh'
and each rrlainny lis original right OF appointing Tor
administering its domestic branch, separate Sc OF rnc
lirnares. legislative executive, Gnd Jdoic'iI ihF;e
twn sels If ices each independent ct The "h'r' con-
srn,e Whole Of government for each separately The
unsrIs given To orc. specifically made Federal c1efc''
ed over ,, whole the resIduary powers 'ca're" 20 e
O. her cmufrrd 10 lie particular state -
The committee have thus stated their VIEWS "i The
exsinr Iaw in regard to the rights of The Federal unc-
tiyarirs upon when the bill referred t" ihrn IL pro-
roseA /, oueiaIe What, then. is The mischief which
his hill i. DESIGNED Ia prevent: 1t assumes that The
rrea, even to the officers of the Federal Govern
mrnr ard oilers employed in thtir service may he
used for the influencing Of elections and corruPilns
their freedom and purity.
Tha, plccnrs ongh; To be pure snd ncorup is prin
cpp admitted by all and M language can be too strong
10 express The abhoencr i, by The committee against
any a,,er,r. 10 destroy his frred"m ard purity. lie
10 is gully cf either. by bibng or co'tup'ns v"'rrs
v;,,iirr le ballot box or setting al nsught lis VOICE,
G,r,rr ar suppressing returns. dsobryIng the laws
enacted for securing any elective right. is gully of rea
,rsns Republican institutions and ought 10 be
r,rded hy al! as a dangerous foe To liberty.