Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-09-26

General Ticket System, which is an important part in
the structure Of the Electoral College II was agreed
them all hands, that in the organization aud action Of
the National Convention the Electoral College should
be strictly followed Let usexamne how the Richmond
Convention performed their task The electors
elected by general tlcket-the Richmond Convention
recommended, that the delegates the National Con
venton should be chosen by districts. The general
ticket system ensures uniformity of opinion among the
electors; hence, the whole vote Of the State is
tain of being concentrated upon candidate But,
the delegates being elected by Districts WILL 10 the
language OF the Address, give "a divided and separate
expression of portions of our population variant among
themselves, and will reduce relative influence in
comparison with those States which speak with unan
voice. To guard against this evil, the Convention
recomme nded, that the delegates SHALL voting among
themselves per capita, determine, and give in behalf OF
Virginia, seventeen votes corresponding to her whole
electoral power, although in the electoral college,
which they profess to be copying the Constitution re
quires the electors to vote by ballot or, in other words
per capita.
We are told, however, that the Virginia plan. al
though differing in details, will produce the re-
suits with the General Ticket System. In some cases.
perhaps generally, this will be true; but not always
will suppose case, ia which the results will be very
different LIST eight of the Districts in Virginia elect
delegates by very small maortes, who are friendly 10
A, and the remaining districts elect by very large
majortes delegates friendly to b the maortes IN
districts, united to the mnorities in A 8, Will give
majority of the whole vote of the State; which, unoef
the General Ticket SYSTEM he would actually receive,
whilst under the Virginia plan, his adversary nav
ing only minority in his favor, receives 'he en-
tire vote, to the utter exclusion of the candidate
preferred by majority of the people inc 'H-
ginia plan, therefore, does not produce slmar re-
suits in all cases with The general ticket system, and
thus its advocates are forced to abandon their only
ground upon which they justified departure from a
principle, upon which we are agreed. We are contend
inc with our brethren Of the other States for mode Of
II. r. al. Rod
by the Constitution for the Electoral College They can
with Justice charge u.s. therefore, with deseron OF our
principles. That very deseron, in the frs, place, VIZ:
the election of delegates by districts instead OF general
ticket induces the necessity for the second nraction
viz: the majority Of the delegation casting the whole
vote of the State instead Of the whole delegation voting
per capita One has to be corrected by another,
and after ALL the correction IS imperfect, and places US
in opposition to friends, where victory defeat is al
most equally fatal In my opinion, it is not too late,
vet, TO retrace steps 1t has been the custom,
heretofore, for Legislative caucus assisted by dele
gates from the country 10 present ticket of electors
TO each party in the State. Let the Democratic mem
bers Of the next Legislature, associated with dele
gates from such counties have not Democratic
| representatives make ticket of seventeen dele
gates friendly to Mr.. Van Buren,, delegate Sc
eced from each Congressional distrc, and two from
the State at large; similar ticket Of persons friend
ly TO MIR. Calhoun; and if The friends of any other
of the distinguished men, considered candidates
for the Presidential Chair, desire it, give them also
ticket Then, let the Democratic Committees OF vi
GLANCE give notice, that these tickets will be presented
the April election for expression of opinion from
the members of the Democratic party. The Demo-
cratic Commissioner each precinct, could easily do
that, and return the actual vote to the Committee OF
Vigilance in each county, who should forward It to
the State Central Committee at Richmond by whom
the result should be made known. II there be any
objection taking the vote at the election, let the
Committees give notice in their counties, that some
Court day, (March tor insance,) poll will be held
for the election Of Delegates to the National Conyen
ton, and at that time the tickets before TONED can
be presented the members Of the Democratic party.
The Committees Of Vigilance should either act as
Commissioners of the election, appoint others 10
discharge that Duty and return the result to the State
Central Committee. The ticket receiving the largest
vote could be elected They should take their seats
in the Convention, and vote per capita The manner OF
their election ensures their bona ds efforts in behalf
of the candidate preferred by majority of the party
the State or should there be more than one ticket
voted for that which receives the largest vote should
be elected, even though the vote in favor of 1t does not
constitute majority of the whole; for, this might hap
pen in the election OF electors, and is therefore, OBJ
lection. Should the delegates be unable to the
nomination of the person preferred by their const,u
ents of they have discretion TO vote for some
one else; the vote taken upon the other tickets would
instruct them the order in which their constitu
ents preferred the other candidates. comparison of
this plan, with that already recommended to us, shows
that it equally practicable How the delegates TO
elected under the district system? Either by primary
meetings, n actual poll Where public opinion is al
ready known primary meetings are useful to manifest
it in formal manner; but where it is certain, they are
wholly inadequate to ascertain it; being too mach
der the influence of few wire pullers, who appoint
Chairman and Secretary, agreed upon beforehand,
and pass resolutions already prepared, hastily that
many of the meeting scarcely understand them The
feelings of the party in favor of the different cundl.
e dates are much reused to allow Of quiet acqu
escence by The friends of the unsuccessful candidate,
in the decisions of such meetings. The result Of the
/, Syracuse Convention, the delegates to which were
elected by primary meetings. is an instance The only
perfect and satisfactory mode of ascertanng the wish
Of the people, is to give them individually oppor
f tunity TO make them known. This only be done
by opening poll and trusting to their good tc
a keep down excitement
have not aimed at details in the plan proposed
above, it is only intended suggestion which may
be useful Its merits to be, that it more
perfectly than any other, true expression of public
sentment-that it throws the safe guards round
the nomination around the election, and that it sinks
at once the only question upon which a,
issue, viz the manner of voting in the Convention
the leaving of which TO the Convention settle is
less because how they settle any question unless
their manner of voting be first determined,
Sept. IA, 1S43. HAMPDEN