Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1844-02-15
NUMBER 81.


then puter days OF The Republic. ], &C.
ting with Gen. Jackson and most of The
leaders oithe party at the time, contrib
uied to put II down, because we believed
( It to be liable to be acted on and inhuenc
ed by the patronage Of Government-an
objection far more applicable to Con-
veuton constituted as The one proposed,
than to Congr, IS onal caucus. Far
| however was il from my Intention, IN aid
ing to put that down, to substitute in i's
place what regard MS an hundred times
more Objectionable in every point oil view.
! Indeed If there must be an intermediate
body between the people aud the election,
unknown TO the constitution, il may be-
well questioned whether better than the
old plan of Cong esslonal caucus can be
devised.
In taking the ground have, in favor
of maintaining the right secured To the
smaller States by the compromise Of the
constitution, am acluated by no partisan
feeling or desire 10 conchate their good
opinion. If the case was reversed, and
the rights OF the larger instead ofthe smui-
Ter, we're invaded, | would with equal
readiness and frmness, stand up in ir
defence. am the pattizan Of neither
one, nor the other, but simply support
er of the Constitution, and what believe
to be jus, and fair. lrgard the cons,i,u.
ton, as The only ark of safety for oil, and
| bel eve that in defending it, | defend the
interest and safety Of each and all-the
greater, as well Us the smaller--the States
invading the right Of the others, as well
as the States whose right are invaded.
have laid down the principle, on which
| rest the oble, tiol in question, with the
limitation, that the relative weight Of the
States should be maintained, making due
allowance for their relative party strength.
The propriety Of The Limitation is 30 ap-
parent, that but few words, in iilustra.
ton, will be required. The convention
is party convention, and pr.fessedly
Intended to take the sense Of the party,
which cannot be done fairly, if States
having but little patty strength, are put
on an equality with those which have
mach. lf that were done, the result
might be, that a small portion Of the party
from States the least sound, politically,
and which could give but little support in
Congress. night select the candidate, and
make the President, agsins, great ma
lority Of the soundest, and on which the
President and his adm nistraiion would
have to rely for support. All this is clear
lv too uniulr aud improper 10 be denied.
There may be CT at difficulty 40 apply.
ing a r, medy in convention, but do
not feel myself called upon to say how il
can be duue, OF 10y what standard the rel.
alive party strength Of the respective
States should be determined; perhaps the
best would be their relative strength ia
Congress at the time. lu laying down
the principle, added the limitation for
the sake OF accuracy, and 10 show how
mpeIiectly the party mast be represented,
when il is overlooked. see no provis.
ion in the proposed Convention 10 meet
il.
|. But, in order 10 realise how the Con-
venton will operate, 1t viii be necessary
TO view the combUed eff, cts Of the obi c.
tons which have made. Thus viewed,
it will be found that Convention so con-
tion-centraiza,ion OF the control over
the Presidential election in the hands OF
few Of the ceatrai, large States. at first,
and finally, in political managers, Office
holders and ofice-seekers: or to express
il d fferently in that portion ofthe com
muRty, who live, or expect TO live or the
Government, in coniradislinctIon 10 the
b,a Of IN Luz h..tx
own means, or their honest industry; and
who maintain the Government, and pol,.
cally speaking, enpha,ically The people.
That such would be the case, may DO
inferred from the TACT, that II would afford
the mesns 60 some six or seven States, iy-
lag Contiguous and not far fiom the cen.
ire Of the Unlon, 10 control the nomina.
ton, and through that the election, by
concentrating their united votes 10 the
Convention. Give them the power OF do
nag so, and il would not long he doraasat.
What may be done by combination,
where the temptation is so great, viii be
sure ere long 20 be done. To combine
and conquer, is moi less true as maxim,
here power IS concerned, than TO ''di-
vide and conqurr." Nothing is better
established, han that the desire for pow
er can bring together md unite the most
dlscoEdant nlatv mails.
But the Tendency TO Capitalization will
sol stop there. The appointment OF DEL
egales en- masSe by State Conventi n,
would tend, at the same time and even
With greater force, 20 centralize This con.
troll 10 the hands Of the few, who mako
politics trade. The furlher the conven-
ton is removed from tho people, The more
ceItainly the control over il will be plsc.
ed ia The hands of the lnttrested few, and
wher removed three or four degrees, a.
has been shown At viii be, where the as.
pointment is by State Conventions, the
power oil the people will cease, and the
seekers Of Executive favor will become
Supreme. AT that stage, an active, train.
ed and combi=ed corps will be formed in
the party, whose whole nme aad attention
viii be direcrci to politics. 1t will DO
their sole business Into their hands the
appointments Of delegates in all The stages
will fall, and they will take special care
that none but themselves or their humble
and obedipnt Independents shall be APP
Il anj S,ota