Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-08-20
VOLUME XLI.-NO. 80.

powers Ae acquires by inheritance, and Pallia-
meht c;hheither Increase for diminish them. The
Only OBJECTS, with view 10 which he can be under
any temptation 10 exert corrupt influence on Par
lament, are pablic measures, conducive eli her 10
his own glory or that OF his country But " hat is
llt temptation in this COUNTY, on the part Of those
"ho aspire 10 the Presidency, 10 Use the Exccu-
tive patronage corrurtly 4? Let us take case. for
The sake OF illustration, founded in something
like the truth Of history: A man of aspiring am,
bition whose whole life has been devoted 10 the
highest object OF that ambition, the Presidency,
comes belcre tins House, Is one OF the three PER
sons from whom the President is 10 be chosen -
tie lnds hilse! decidedly below one of his ccmpe-
t!torS IN the popular confidence but We, ascertains
tAa', 10y certain political homogeneous and COM
n'nalion>. lie can b. elevated To the Executive
Chair. even against The known will OF the nation
Let lis suppose, t.at he sees himself placed in
mat sort 0! evcn'fu crisis, where The votes of Il
few members Of Congress will decide his political
ccS,lhy-waetier, III wore. he is TO reach the
hishest ohect OF human ami zion or 10 sink dc.
lcatcd and mortified, into the obscuri,y Of private
NE. Can the Imagination conceive, cen lhe Gem
u'na,lohs oi human affairs present a more pow
c!iui temptation 10 corrupt use OF The aniic:pa-
ga patronage % The Government, than would
here ol'eraie on The Presidential aspirart? !,
would be. politically speaking. Il case of lie and
death, where all ihc instincts and PASSIONS high
al" 'p". ma 'cioll@ % hLinan nature. would
struggle ioF the preservation of he. 10 such
temptations hereditary king 9! England is never
exposed.
30 lar, therefore rom lie limited tenure Of onr
ciei Executive office tending 10 diminish the dan.
ger of corruption, / Is he very circumstance that
renders laat Danger mcs alarming il the election
Of President shall habi;ually devovc upon the
House OF Representatives. This is the rcascn
why the lcea OF an Eayiiye Monarchy is given
up as IN implacticablc system in all Ire nations
OF modern Europe The mass of the lrople are
not sufficiently Intelligent 10 make the election
and any select body would be inevitably exposed
10 all the violence and corruption that disgrraced
the Polish Diet
The gentleman from Massachusetts has said,
that II the king ol England were elective for four
years, no ministry coaid keep their seats 10. four
weeks Sir If know anything OF England. Il
single clec'ion of a king blythe Parliament, would
literally destroy The political system by The
corruption and violence IL which il would
give rise. The same consequences, or very near
iy the same, must in the course Of lime and
a, no very distant period tase place in ibis
counry. II we do not make Tins change in our
Constitution Ambition, thai, in all ages, has
/ either marched 10 empire through blood and Vi
olenc", or made lis nslorons way through fraud
and corruption, is the same active, restless and
uhsovernab!e passion here, that il has been found
il ali other countries No political mienium has
opened upon Us The nature Of man is unchan-
gci. W can oniy hope Tor exemption from the
corruption and t.prayity which history records
u! other countries, ~ avoidng the imperIection
in our political organization tl.a produced those
I evils in rir systems.
But, appealing from ae history of o.hcr coun-
tries gentlemen have ir;umrhanlly referred 10
or own 10 ~ prove The alleged impcritcrion in
the mode OF choosing tie President. TIE gentle
man from New Hampshire (AIr BanetD has
called Our attention L. tie election OF 1901, BY
the House of Representatives, and he cites the
success OF Mr.. Jefferson as proof Of the fn5ss
: ol this House u perform the electoral function.
Sir, the gentleman could Rot have selected a more
unfortunate example 10 illustrate his argument
Ii ever there was dark and por,enotis period
in our political history, twas hat of the contest
Ell election between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron
+. Burr in the House 81 Rerrcsru ,aiircs Thos.
who were then on the theatre o.! political lie can
tell the gentleman with what trembling apprchen-
sions with what indignant dcluncacnS the
people If the United States looked week after
week, upon The di graceful drama that was going
on within these walls: VIXEN The peace of the
Union and The fate OF The Republic were sus-
pended on thread, and when the nation was
finally saved from the usurpcd dominion of a vile
anu unprincp!ed inir'"Her, 1orc Is tie Provi-
d"nce OF God, than ci;nc: ~ The wisdom or virtue
oi those upon whom the high duty had dcvolycd
OF clec;in% President. Sir, what was the prin-
. cipic involved in the attempt, So ncar.g conSlm-
mated by Success 10 iu"i.r Aaron Bum the Presi-
dcnt By The vote OF tho house, !, wasa question
81 nahci imn4.ti-aice, desperate usurp2,ion.-
With the un:!spG'ed fac, before them that he had
rot received one >oiary vote in the Union for
President there were t,alJ II the rails 10, on
i oae or Two men, lut almost an entire party,
prcpayedio bid 4 hold and reckless defiance both
10 TIE viii OF The nation and he piincipes OF
thc Constitution. 1.-The, had uccceded, this ma
ton would haze been shaken 10 lis centre, and
what commenced in faction, would probably have
ended in blood. And yet this scene, when al The
madness OF faction presided over the deliberations
Of the conciavc, is referred to as an arsumen,
agaiIl,t taking the election iroal this House!
But Ilosc, it may be said were days of fac
tous violence, vixen the country was divided into
Two organized parties. | admit they were, sir;
and do YOU expect Hc;v era in histotv--that We
arc, from this time forward, To have no parties
viii here take occasion, sir. to notice lcmaIk
Il Z gentleman from New York, (AIr Cambre-
len..) in relation 10 this topic. Assuming b.
nsapp!ehcuson, that had denounced party as Il
thing be tolerated in any form, or for any pur-
pose, lie was pleased 10 present some general
views on the subject. Sir said nothing about
party one way or tie other; but | will now say
something. Which will endcayor 10 make intel
ligiie 10 every nan. as Ia the views entertain.
and Tie principles b. which | shall be governed
III The pres7n; crisis Of CIR political affairs. Yes,
s.r, /, Is time that every naa should come ON
~h a distinct avowal Of his creed in hcsc days
Of prescription, when ever; dis.oyal aci iha, does
-; find favor with lie Administration, is irlme
oi2ely sci down ~ iE"se G,sinteresi"d cGnors,
who put The laws a.: authority" 10 tie ac
cyunt Of 'HRgriHciD'H fact,on!"
trliere ihcn, ;'.t tie election Of ihc presc!.t
Chrf Magistrate iLvclYe, :. gross ani palrablc
violation oil he spirit art principles Of he Cos
s'tGtion, ard lnci the means IS which i, was e.
iccicG -Gcaoiiinaied by the gentleman IN Mas
;ichuses, - nnionot coun: Els. was bod daring
and sha:aclcs' coalition, setting at defiance The
vii! Of he nation, aEi neg!ectiE4 even tie oxteF-
nal deccEcies Of political mo.ality--a coaiticn,
for which rc parallel is TO be found in the dark
e.; perioCs o. English history. But Sir. | will
, now repeat declaration which | made iInmc-
d;ae!y after The election. Though | believe this
administration CAME in;o power bv 4 y'cid,ion d!
, he spirit OF the Constitution. yet !.a;ing com
piled with lis forms, they must, for the tine, b.
|, regarded as corstitUtionay inrcsiei with ti.at
power; and, SIR shall never iorget-Gol lorbid
that sbou!!--hatile Govem:aent lhcr aG;nin-
, i>ter is nv Government and the coantiy over
wIchthey cesiGe is my country. Yes, Sir upon
the regular and upolsrfucted operation Of The
.eral departments II this Government dererd The
-, common defence and general welfare CT the Re
. public" II it were pracicabie-as know it
i is roi-io render an administration popular r.
: throwing embarrassment, in the way OF measures
. essential 10 the prosperity of,he country shori
], regard myself as tac,ioniS il were topursue
: such course, cren TO reader hts administration
= uHyoPnlo1.
1t is tie Guty OF every patriotic citizen TO sus-
!, tain the wholesome operations ofthe Government
a Vtsatp,pr ne mn. rbiut. q The -
and would say 10 III those who think IS do o
tho, cold and mcrc:r:cious union Of cornsels" BY
:, which tho sovereignty of the people has been Vi
e olated aad ling OF shreds and patches put VI
IS foreign over them
e "But nowsocvcr thou purSues. this act,
$ Tain, not Thy mini, nor let thy soul ccntiire
:. Against Thy country aughi.
I Sir, the gentleman from New York, 10 whom
II last referred. has said in the anguage Of MI