Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-08-08

Il W NV pSopNo " ~ " u u y bHt t'tlte fiu :
as one consolidated Republic. But this is not the the
ory or the fact OF the Constitution. The Constitution
neither so intends nor provides II does, indeed, place
the election OF President and Vice President upon The
popular principle. This popular principle, however,
as we have seen, is to operate Sc purateiy in each State
according to the direction of the Legislature thereof.
A nd never, so far as it has come to the knowledge oil
this writer, has any State or Legislature presumed 10
interiors with The regulations in another State. NO
State or Legislature has yet presumed to dictate or
TO pronounce any particular plan, the only proper and
constitutional mode. Whether the electors shall have
been so appointed by general ticket as TO vote IN their
college with unanimity, rejecting the will ct the ma
joriiy and merging that of The minority; or, whether
they shall have been elected by districts, each reflect
ing the will of the majority of the district and merg
ing that of the minority, and differing or not among
been appointed by the Legislature, itself reflect
ing the will Of the majority of that body, and merg-
ing that of the ninorly-in whatever mode the
electors have been appointed in the several States,
the validity Of their acts has not been contested but
tho electoral vote Of each State has been received and
counted, without reference to The mode of appointment,
aud whether given with unanimiiy or division. Shall
less regard be- paid 10 the boundaries which define the
several States, and divide their separate primary action
shall less latitude be allowed TO the People Of each
State IN Their own voluntary, unconstraned depu,a-
tons to a General Convention Shall the People Of
each State have less freedom of option and Of action
in a recommendation than in an election?
1t in every State the District system of appointing
electors prevailed; if such mode of appointment was
required by the terms ofthe compact of the Union; fthe
Legislative power of the United States had, under au
thority of any provision of the Constitution, prescribed
a uniform district system of electors TO Nil the States,
then with great propriety and consistency might il be
urged upon the people Of The several States TO pursue the
same uniform mode of sending delegates 10 n convention
to select candidates. But until such uniformity cnn
be established in relation to the actual election, with
no shadow of analogy, with no piauslbiliiy of argument,
with no consistency of reasoning, can such uniformity
be required in the appointments of delegates, much less
dictated as 4 sine qua non.
Suppose, with you in the Enquirer oil 18th uliiTo,
that eight out of fifteen, say nine out of Sc venteen,
should send delegates by bare majorities friendly to the
nomination Of A, and that the other eight districts by
large niajorities send delegates friendly TO u. The
large majorites in the eight districts, united with
the heavy minorites in the nine districts, ne sup
{ posed 10 constitute a very decided majority in the
State yet A, with a helpless minority, is 10 re-
celve the vote of the major part of the delegation IN
E favor Of his nomination, which. perhaps, may be there
by spcurad. Gould it be hoped, ought it TO be desired,
TO cons,rain this great majority, thus thwarled IN their
E will, and siung with injustice, 10 sustain n general TIC
I ket in favor Of A? Is IL not a mockery TO MAINTAIN the
: fairness, Of a district system which may produce such e
result in the nomination., when conirasted with The
subsequent election by general ticket: Were IL not
for a desire 10 avoid all h%arshness of remark, WITH truth
' il might be declared, that IN the supposed ease Inc ma
jorty would be first defrauded of the fair expression OF
s their preference, and thus reduced to the necessity, by
8 a solemn record of their votes, To approve and sustain
their manifest wrong. John Taylor remarked, TINT
n elections were designed TO enable majorities 10 control
i minorIties. The Democracy Of Virginia ale yet Tree 10
!. act for themselves-they may consult and discuss with
. freedom and with friendship but, they acknowledge
no paramount authority in the regulation oil their own
d coucerns-and the minority will hardly be induced TO
i commit an act of political suicide.
:, If we are to have dis,rict. representation, each district
: giving a separate and independent vote, in he selection
of candidates. then in the name Of all that - tar; aud
u equal and consistent, let US have the sane mode al noc
ton. If the district system Is right IN The noniHafi0n,
and is necessary for the protection of minorities, a for
tori is il right and necessary in the election. II IN The
y same party, with the same principles to uphold, and the
same system OF measures 10 establish, diviied only IN pre-
ferences for men, minorities are 10 be- protected at the ex
pense Of majorities, with what greater reason ought a
n minority constituting a distinct political party 10 be pro-
9 iected? Ask our Democratic friends, who are so urgent
for the per capita district system as a protection 10 The
minority in a mere matter Of nomination, If il il not
right and proper that We should also ADOPT the district
II system, in the actual election as a protection also TO the
minority? Surely they ought to be wiling that the
Wings in Virginia should have an opportunity Of sue
J ceeding in the appointment OF one or two electors
y The State is divided into two great rival political par.
Z ties. II, in any case, q minority is 10 be recognized as
, having political rights, and a just clalmto adisirioutIve
share of power and influence, then here, IN the division
Of parties in Virginia, is a most proper and urgento ccn
sion for the application Of the doctrine. Will any OF
those Democratic advocates Of the minority principle
= come out openly and advocate the abandonment of our
general ticket system, and o return to the district sys.
u tenn, No; they will not. At least, it is supposed tina,
no sturdy Democrat in Virginia will be found recreant
10 the feeling of % and 30, when The Republican
y party, in a triumphant majority, repealed this hateful
u minority. principle, and would not conced de even the
; Loudoun district 10 Adams and Federalism. None such
" will be found in Virginia. If any, they would be
haunted by the ghosts of Madison and Taylor, and OF
. The other departed Republican members OF The Gene
raj Assembly of 99-lS00. The survivors of that Illus
trious band of patriots, would cry out, shame upon
! them, and they would stand rebuked and disowned by
the great mass of the Democracy. None will advocate
a return to the district system Of electors, MS a matter
OF eqnal right and just protection to a political mino.
> rity-and yet, until they do, it is Impossible to avoid
y the suspicion, that such a claim for minority of the
same party, in a voluntary appointment Of delegates to
e a Convention. is a mere prelence of principle, 10 cloak
an undue advantage sought over their own polilica
: friends. |
An attentive perusal of the debate in the Senate of
r the United States, upon the amendment of the Con-
y stitution, in relation the election Of President and Vice
President, a careful study and consideration of the doc
trines maintained in that debate by John Taylor, and
other prominent Republicans calm review of all the
I arguments which ha We been advanced, and an impartial
survey of the different positions which have been de-
Tended, do appear TO conduct to the following conclu.
d sions
J. l.. That in the election of President. and Vice
$ III President, the Democratic Party ought SO TO unite and
g co operate as to ensure the SUCCESS Of The popular prin.
cipls, and prevent the election from devolving either
upon the House or the Senate.
2. That for this purpose, consultation, harmony, con-
cert, among the Democracy OF the several States, ante
n cedent TO the election, is requisite.
3. Thatthe best mode of accomplishing this purpose,
is through the medium of National Convention. com.
posed of delegates from the Democratic party in the
a several States.
n a. That the persons nominated by such Convention,
ought TO receive the general support of the Democratic
d party, who shonld support only such electors as would
: be pledged, if elected, 10 vote in the Electoral College
e Tor the nominees.
S. That an acquiescence in such nomination, is no
abandonment OF political right or surrender of the free.
f dom Of opinion-but is a voluntary consent TO sup
port individuals for Office, from The convictions of rea-
: son, and from a patriotic sense of duty-because it is
wiser and more patriotic to yield a mere personal pre-
ference, and thereby promote harmony and ensure sue
cess, than to leopard our principles, and hazard defeat,
by an obst nate attachment to men.
{ 6. That the Democratic party, in the several States,
: oughtto have a distinct, fair, and equa! representation
n in the Convention; which will be best secured bv &C.
e cording to each State the same weight, the same voice
e and influence, in the nominations 10 be made and in the
other proceedings TO be had in the Convention, which
nj il ~ p n aach hy Nh. Cnnrt;t,,;aa T..