Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1844-03-02


well questioned whether better than tho
old plan OF Congressional caucus can
be devised.
IN taking tho ground have, IN favor
of maintaining the right secured TO Tho
smaller States by the compromise OF the
Constitution, am uctuated by no parts.
an feeling or desire to concilate their
good opinion. If the case was reversed,
and the rights Of the larger, instead oil
tic smaller, were invaded, would with
equal readiness and lirmncSs stand up IN
their defence. am the partisan of ne-
Their one nor the other, but simply a sup.
porter Of the Constitution, and what !
believe to be just and fair. regard tho
Constitution as the only ark of safety for
all, and believe that in defending II,
defend the interest and safety Of each
and all--lhe greater as well as the small
ler--the States invading the right OF 9th
ers, as we'll as the States whose rights are
invaded.
have laid down the principle, on
which rest the objection in question,
with the limitation, that the relative
weight Of the States should DC maintain
ed, making due allowance for their reIa.
tive party strength. The propriety OF
the Limitation is SO apparent, that but
few words in illustration will be required.
The Convention is party Convention,
and professedly intended to take the sense
Of the party, which cannot be done fair
ly, if States having but little party
strength, are put on an equality with
those which have much. IL that were
done, the result might be, that small
portion of the party from States the least
sound, politically, and which could give
but little supportin Congress, might Sc
Iect the candidate, and make the Presi,
dent, against a great majority OF tho
soundest, and on which the President and
his administration would have TO rely for
support, All this is clearly 100 unfair
, and improper TO be denied There may
; be great difficulty in applying Il remedy
> in Convention, but do not feel myself
: called upon TO say how il can be done, or
D by what standard the relative party
t strength of the respective States should
be determined; perhaps the best would be
. their relative strength in Congress at tho
, tlmes In laying down the principle, ad-
, ded the limitation for the sake OF accura.
cv, and to show how imperiec:ly the par
ty must be represented, when it is over
looked. see no provision in the propos-
ed Convention to meet it,
But, in order to realise how the Conven-
ton will operate, it will be necessary to
| view the combined effects of the objections
which have been made. Thus viewed, it
will be found that Convention so consti-
tuted, tends irresistbly to Capitalization
Capitalization of the control over the
Presidential election in The hands Of u
few Of the central, large States at first.
and finally,in political managers, office
holders and office seekers; or to express
1t differently, in that portion Of the COM
munty, who live, or expect 10 live on he
Government, in contradIstnctlon TO the
great mass, who expect to live on their
own means or their honest industry, who
maintain the Government, and political
y speaking, emphatcally the people.
That such would be the case, may be
referred from the fact, that il would afford
the means to some six or seven States ly-
ing contiguous and not far from the cen.
ire Of the Union, TO control the nomina-
ton, by concentrating their united votes
in tho Convention. Give the power Of
doing so, and it will not lie dormant.
What may be done by combination,
where the temptation is so great will be
sure ere long TO be done. TO combine
and conquer is not less true as maxim,
where power is concerned, than 10 "D-
vide and conquer Nothing is better
established than that the desire for pow
er can bring together and unite the most
dscordant materials.
But the tendency 10 Capitalization will
not stop there The appointment of del
egaies en- masse by State Convention,
would tend, at the same time and even
with great force, to centralze this con.
troll in the hands OF few, who make
politics trade. The farther the Conven-
ton is removed from the people, the more
ce rtainly the control over it will be pla-
ced in the hands of the interested few,
and when removed three or four degrees,
as it has been shown il will be, where tho
appointment is by the State Conventions,
The power OF the people will cease, and
Inc seekers OF Executive favor will be-
come supreme AT that stage, anactive,
rained and combined corp; will be for
ned the party, whose whole time an at
ention will be directed to politics. Ii
will be thelrsole business. Into thcirhands
he appointment OF delegates in all the sta
res will (nlLGnd they wills,nke snacfalhraras
hal none but themselves or their h6msles
'ut immediale dependents shall be sppoin-
ed. Tbs central and Stale Conventions
vii he filed by the most experienced