Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-01-31

On the prime pies OF National Convention for the
nomination of President and Vice President C.! the
United States.
(.7:tri5aea 10 .ae Psa et r. s.ratc.l Rie,t, Esg)
1t seems to be the viii of the Democratic ar,y, that
National Contention should be held, for the purpose
of selecting and nominating the individuals who shall
he supported by theal for tie Offices ot President and
Vice President of the uace States. The benefit OF
such Convention CONSISTS IN uniting ta@ parry, aud
thus enabling them 10 present 81 rabEoaen front TO
their political udversa7ies. They united al The
last Presidents! election, but were defeated How
much greater TIE necessity Of union now, when the
Government has passed out OF Their h.ads, ard the
party itself Is divided both III ocinlon and leeing,
10 the individuals $40, their ability integrity and
pa,rotism are hes, able represen, and carry their
principles in the administration OF the Government:
We take for granted, therefore, that lie general voice
of the party correct and that Il is eSpcdsnt that
National Convention should be held But although
expedient ve must disguise from ourselves tie
people the effect and character OF tie Convention. 1t
is clear, that II VIII make the President and zee Presi
dent Of the United States. i the Democratic party BE-
in the ascenGan, in United S;dio: aud IL IL uDoer
stood that ell other candidates OF this party be
placed aside after Nomination by Inc Convention (aud
Il will be worse than ii thIs It's e.Tec;,)
then TIE nomna ioa l. c:aFoent, and the suGseGue.
voting by tire people. and the acton Of The electoral
colleges are matters OF form: or At BEST but rat
scations of the proceedings OF the Convention The
whole Prcsidca:.! election - thus merged into this
Convention Is pose! hiss greet question, is the
! II.
10 effect the action 81 al the States and OF the Gene.
raj Government also--sapp!rlng, in The matter OF
choice the racs e people at ,he Pois the elec,oai
colleges and of Congress IN he :aa resort In PLAIN
words, the Constitution, on THIS great Pout Of choosing
The Chief Magistrate ot the Ualted States pracii
cav superseded ana tde s"scr passes INTO the hands
of the Convention SceA being The plain undeniable
effect, of National Convention o: the Democratic
party, 1t becomes question OF immense morrnt to
every man in the Democratic party and the Union
~ sLa i,P .iynu ne
Whatever may b. the political necessity for setting
esde the Constitution, Of substituting another in
strumentelily shan that which the Constitution pre-
scrbes 70. accomplishing lis ends. take 1t for grant
ed that lis spirit 4: least, should be carefully ob-
served All Innovations upoa the practice of written
Constitution. mo.e or less dangerous. If wrong or
imperec,i il ought TO be amended: for then
ton for -, sancons and the benefit Of rs responsible
tes, arc preserved. Should this be n,practcahle
a. emergency. and i "a peGicat hy The voluntary
zion OF The people to coaitoi i.s operations, and tender
itsubordina;e another form Of organization
thec political machinery Ian III contain fire.
equal, and .o""-. Pis g tie Cons'.tr.iou should 10
most wetchfuy u.a,nta,"ed Ga any other pr.ncpIe
all such lao: a:.xii;a-, eu hostile tn the
Constitution, ani most, ~ ire emo accomplish It's
t.row. The 1..t r-:uc%,e, then, wHci CONVEX
zion should be organized. :s:'s spirit o: the Coasti
tuition must =. observed and maintained.
Another principle, iJ!iowiht 80 consequence, ought
siso be regarded IN the organization Of the Conyen
ton Ill must bret" For' the voce, and truly repre-
rule in TIC Conyent.o.. Ii there doubt IN - poPa
Jar mind this vial pont the Convention VII be
disrooed o! al! - U'gh, ami dignity. " II rs a Goa
ven,oa q; politicians md r5rsanai partzans-ii 1t $
d machinery for putting a. ..,r and gIrspiog The
offices Of the country sd rot The people truly, acting
:htc dgh TIA. ,eseniavcs, ar h2 promotion: t:!e
high purposes 81 free covern:nCat' VIII be vain. All
will OBEY the pcopir wi, submit to nen, however
great in aspiration - abil..g. lassad q! harmony
discod confusion and contention nav arise isoG. ts
consultations .:!d act Sieiy :. ccpn,tsi its prr
poses therefore, The Convention mast he organized
20 carry out the sps ct Tic Coazt,uii1i clearly
10 devel0pe the peoples VII
The dcs IN Of III. Ce=5.,i.tton, ~ The election Of
the Pres!Gen. ana Wee President Of Tie United States
is PLAZA. II does no, Ina, this election, in the
first instance shu:l he by States for THIS the r,.lcd
adopted, in the action o: Congress The last resort
should the election first fail IN The electoral colleges
The Federaee f,a,2:e af our svs.e.a PLAINLY them does
direct the general rule II the exception Il, il
the lest resort when Sac general rule ie,ls The re.
neral rule The ether great ccrirr Stone OF cur
systematic will o. tac PEE ?lc-G.d the manner in
which this will is % be asce-:7;aed ana carried cut in
this election III The eiec:aA @! Senators and nepte.
sentaves TO Congress- eit 70 the Sat" Legislatures
The nearer proximity ana a!l.y Of ihe Stale !.cGsa.
lures with tie people, /, supposed, would enable
them 10 make full aud satisfactory ngcmcns
IN prescrib;ng the mode 6f escag Their Chief NaGs-
trate The President - indeed, called in the Cors.,.
tuition tsthe President Of the United States " but his
Office essentially popc.ur IN all It's duties Ia being
Commander of the Arm: End Navy, in the whole dui
of protection and seeing the laws executed the Press
dent acts personally on the people. From the very
nature Of the cfice, therefore, It IS c5yons that he
is the representative OF every IN lie U.on, ever
in the Unioa o"g 10 ,ave he power OF caoo:in-
him. and of determining wo SHAFT he hS Chief Mag
trate, execute tho laws 1T upon him l!eace The
recommendation al PFesis ut jacascn, one Ais
messages to Cong'esSt5ai The Constitution should
be amended, TO d. use with thc inIcsnc date
agency of electors, and tie peo?!e should direct.
for the President md Vice iresiden, Of the Cm,ied
States This is the true GENES Of the Constitution.
If these views Of the Constitution be correct the /
other principle winch We stated tie Conven.icn I
should be o,g4niledat the people should ruls-wlli
produce the policy. The States TO rule il
the Conventions ncr the majority of party State,
which may not ne one laird Of State; but the people
Of the United States are 20 rule. Any organization
which surpresscs The voice Of any portion Of tie people
IN any aaartc. Of the Union Inconsistent with this
first grea, principle OF the Democracy. Il ia obvious
under The best organization, Il ,hefe difference
The Conven,ion Isad there IS no use for Convention,
unless suc: difference eXsis,> the opinion c! a vas!
nun,hsr u lie people, constituting minority the
Convention, mus. le c7c,sr'ea. This is unavoidable
,us FOR The admission Oh. The popular Viii late the Con-
,sal9., - dc0Es sloult be .lroan vide c?cn. From