Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1843-03-30


going to the House. by Diminishing the
number who could be proii,ted by a.
scuffle there, and to that extent reno
wing the motives for an effort to Cary it
there.
The Limitation like the designation,
was carried by party vote. One Fed
eraiist. of eminent talents. Timothy
Pkering, voted in favor of inserting
three, instead of five, declaring that the;
trainers of the Constitution intended that
the people should elect the President,
and that the substitution Of the number
three, instead of FIVE, was nearer ap-t
proximation to their will. The conduct
of Timothy Pickering. on that occasion.
becomes mere remarkable and more
memorable by its contrast with the
course of his colleague, John Quincy A
dams. The latter opposed the whole a
mendment, velementy, and resisted the
substitution Of the number three, upon
the ground, that it would diminish the
chances of the small States to elect a
President in the Hnuse, and curtaii the
privilege of the House, because it was a
greater privilege to select from Eve than
from three substantially, he was in
favor of defeating an election by the PED
pie. as intended by the trainers Of the
Constitution, for arraving the small
States against the primary mode OF the;
Constitution, and for resefYing to the
House the greatest possible latitude, for
departing from the sense of the people.
In the progress Of time, it occurred to
this remarkable man to be thrown before
the House IN contest for the Preslden
CIV. The electoral votes had not placed
him foremost in the confidence of his
countrymen. He was, however, duly
elected, according to the secondary mode
of the .Constl tHtion. and, to the an
nouncement of his election, made no.
table reply. Did he mean in that res
p0nse to surrender the former doctrines
which he had urged in the Senate?-
Did he, at this eventiuI moment of his
lie, in this new position of responsible
ty, sensibly feel the necessity, and. there
fore, appreciate the advantages Unpopular
confidence, in assuming the station of
President? Was he suddenly struck,
as with lightning from Heaven, with the
conviction. that the capacity of an Ad-
mnistratlon, to render beneficial service
to the country, is greatly augmented by
the support and confidence of the peo-
pIes Was he momentarily inspired with
an honest feeling OF dependence upon
his constituents, and with an apprehen-
sion, that without their favorable opinion
and liberal cooperation, all his efforts
for wise and wholesome administration
of the Government might prove abortlve.
and he be- constrained to sit, with his
arms folded. .'pa!sied by the will Of his
constitaents?'' Could he have sported
with sincerity, and PLAYED the hypocTt,
when he declared that, if the forms of
the Consultation permitted, he would
surrender the Office to the people, that
they might make nearer approach to
unanimity? r'---
We have recurred, fellow-citizens,
perhaps tedi"usly, TO the Constitutional
provisions on the subject of the election
of president and vice presldent-to the
history of their amendment, and the IN
| ciienls connected therewith-and. also,
! to the instances of an election by the
House of Representatives, for the purpose
of arousing YOU TO 4 solemn consideration
of the great responsibility which rests up
on you, and Of stimulating your minds to
lust conception of the all important
duty which you have to perform in the
approaching struggle,
| Sincere in our belief in the doc
trines and principles of the Democratic
party-profoundly penetrated with the
conviction, that the maintenance of them
is essentlon to the fair Interpretation oil
the Constitution; is cepganlal to the
/ rights of the States; is promotive alike
| Of the prosperity and happiness of all
! is conservative of the integrity OF this IN
| ion--we feel an anxious sollcitude, which
we will moi. disguise, ana 10 which we are
confident you participate to ITS mil ex'
tent, for the election to, the presidency
! Of some comp etent individual, who will.
in good faith, make those principles Tux
basis Of his administration, and Jealous
| ly endeavor, in practice. to conform t.
| these doctrines. The trainers OF tht
Constitution. elevated above party con
siderations and partizan feelings, Prov
ded for the election Of President by th'
People; and it is the demonstrate duty
| Of all citizens. whatever may be their pc
litical associations, to endeavor to &C
complish it. We may avail ourselves Q
the secondary mode. when. unfortunate
", the first has. failed. But surely NJ
man is justifiable IN wiltnlly aiding e
defeat an election in the first instance
with the Interior view and premestltaiet
| design of better success IN resort to ttt
secondary mode. He. who would en-.
teavor to defeat an election by the peo
pie in the first instance, from the hope
of success founded on the calculation d
chances Of changes Of success before the
house, is neither true friend to the con
sttution nor trustworthy advocate o
popular election. He, who would ihten
tionally and desisnedly foment divisions
among his own political associates, court