The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-01-26
Important Political Movement.


AN APPEAL OF THE FRIENDS OF
JOHN c. CALHOUN
TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, ON THE PRINCE
PIES OF NATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE
NOMINATION OF PRESIDENT AND VICE PREsI-
DENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
BY the Hon. j. BarnwelI Rhett.
1t seems to be the will of the Democratic party,
that national convention should be held, for the
purpose of selecting and nominating the individuals
who shall be supported by them, for the offices of
President and Vice President of the United States
The beneht OF such convention, consists in unit
Ing the party, and thus enabling them TO present an
unbroken front to their political adversarles They
were united at the last Presidential election, but
were defeated. How much greater the necessity
OF union now, when the Government has passed out
OF their hands, and the party itself divided both
In opinion and feeling, as to the individuals who
from their ability, integrity, apdpariotism are best
able to represent and carry out their principles in the
administration of the Government! We take il for
granted therefore, that the general voice OF the par
~ correct, and that II is expedienI that national
convention should be held But although expedient
we must not disguise from ourselves or the people
the effect and character OF the convention. u is
clear that it will make the President and Vice Pre-
sdent of the United States IF the Democratic par
ty be in the ascendant in the Uoited St4es and it
is understood that all other candidates of this party
convention. (and will he worse than useless If this
is not It's effect) them the nomination is omnipo-
tent, and the subsequent voting by the people, and
the action OF the electoral colleges, are mat
tiers of form Or at best, but notifications of the pro-
ceedings OF The convention. The whole Presiden.
lal election, is thus merged in this convention Its
power on this great question, is the power of the
whole Union Ii will combine in itself in effect
the action OF all the States and of the General Go-
vernment also-suppylng, in the matter of choice
the place of the people at the polls, the eectora col
leges, and ct Congress In the last In plain
words, the Constitution, his great point Of choos
ing the Chief Magistrate of the United States, is
practically superseded and the power passes INTO the
hands OF the convention. Such being the plain I'M
denable effect, of national convention OF the De-
mocrahc party, 1t becomes question of immense
moment to everv man in the Democratic party
and the Union-How shall the convention be orga
| nized
Whatever may be the. political necessity for set
| ting aside the Constitution, or of substituting ano-
Their fundamentally than that which the Consitu.
ton prescrbes, for accomplishing its ends take
it for granted, that its SPIRIT al least, should be most
carefully observed. All innovations upon the prac
ce Of written constitution, more or less dam
gerous. II wrong imperfect, it ought be amen
ded for then veneration for its sanctions and the
benefit of its responsibilities, are preserves Should
this be lmpractcabe on an emergency, and il is ex-
pedent by the voluntary action of the people 10
control It's operations, and render it subordinate
another form OF organization or another political
| machinery than that it contains-the free equal
and popular spirit of the Constitution, should be
| most watchfully maintained On any other princi-
pie, all such movements are not auxiliary, but hos
tile to the Constitution, and must, in the end, ac-
complish its overthrow. The FIRST principle, then,
| on which convention should be organized is-the
spirit ofthe Constitution must be observed and main
| tanned.
Another principle, following consequence,
ought also to be regarded in the organization OF the
| conventional must breathe forth the voice, and
truly represent the omnT otence, of the people The
people. must rule in the convention. If there is
doubt in the popular mind this vial point, the
convention WILDE disrobed of all its might and dig
nifty Ii II is convention of politicians, and persO
nal parsans-if ii is machinery for putting up
and graspng the Offices OF the country, and not the
people truly acting through their representatives. for
the promotion of the high purposes OF their free 60
vernment-il will be vain. All will obey the PEG
pie none will submit 70 .men, however great in
piraIion or ability Instead of harmony discord,
| confusion, and contention may arise from its con-
situations and actions Safely TO accomplish its pun
poses, therefore, the convention must be organ.
lied, TO carry out the spirit OF the Constitution
| and clearly to develope the peoples will.
| The design of the Constitution in the election OF
The President and Vice President of the U States,
is plain II does not mean that this election, in the
first instance, shall be by States for this is the
thod adopted, the action OF Congress, the last
resort, should the election first fail in the electoral
colleges. The federative feature OF our system,
plainly then, does not direct the general rule 1t is
the exception. II is the last resort, when the gene
raj rule fails. The general rule rests the other
great corner stone of our systematic will of the
| people and the manner in which this will is TO be
ascerained and carried out IN this election, in
| the election OF Senators and Representatives 10
/ Congress, is left TO the State Legislatures The
nearer proximity and affinity of the State Legisla-
lures with the people, 1t was supposed, would ena-
bic them to make more full and satisfactory arrange
ments in prescribing the mode Of electng their Chief
Magistrate. The President is, indeed, called in the
Constitution " the President OF the United States y
but his office is essentially popular in all its duties
| In being commander OF the army and navy in the
i hill I'm nj avs py q
cuted the President acts personally on the people.
From the very nature of the Office, therefore, it is
obvious, that as he is the representative OF every
| man in the Union, every man in the Union ought to
have the power of choosing him. and of determining
who shall be his Chief Magistrate, TO execute the
laws for or upon him. Hence the recommendation
of President Jackson, IN one OF his messages to
| Congressional the Constitution should be so amen
ded, TO dispense with the Intermediate agency oil
electors, and the people should vote directly for the
President and Vice President of the United States
| This is The true genius of the Constitution.
If these views of the Constitution be correct, the
| other principle on which we stated the convention
| should be organized-that the people should rule
| will produce the same policy. The States are not
10 rule the convention nor the majority OF par
| ty ina State, which may not be one-third of a
| State but the people of the Uaited Sixties are to
rule. ANY organ cation which Suppress 8 the voice
nf any portion Of the people in any quarter OF the
of Democracy II is obvious, under the best organl.
/ cation, il there is diff renee in the convention,
(and thersois no use for convention unless such a
difference xiss,) the opinion of vast number of
the people, constituting a majority in the conven-
| tion, must be overrued. This is unavoidable but
lor the admission OF the popular will into the con-
| venon, its doors should be thrown wide OPEN
| From every corner of The Union, the people should
| have the privilege of being heard and felt in it's
situations and fna results. This is their right, de-
| signed by the Constitution, and commanded by the
free and Just spirit OF all republican institutions II
| the people are not to rule in the selection OF their
Chief Magistrate, why should they rule in any other
attribute of Government The principle which
would exclude the popular will in this particular,
| would abolish all free governments, and erect des-
posms in their stead, ot an aristocratic or monar-
| chcal form.
| Having thus briefly laid down the principles on
| which we think a national convention should be
organized, let us consider the manner in which