The Arkansas banner., 1844-02-27
From tae Charleston Mercury, Janua,y 20. MIR. CAIHOITNsS- -Af1ftR + + F,sSssSs. fFiSsS

my reasons for not permitting my haiiie 'o So
 before the proposed Convention to De hela
 in Baltimore in May next. transmit II to
 you, because deem ii respectful and prop
 CT to make 1t known to those to whom 1t is addressed, through yea, and ,n order to ai- ford you an opportunity to take such mea- sures in relation to it, as you may deem prop CT, if indeed, you should deem it necessary. All have to request, is, that its publication should not be unnecessarily delayed.
 With respect, am, &c Sc.
 (SigAed,) J. c. CALHOUN.
 Committee.
 1He Address of .Hr Calhoun to Ais political
 friends and supporters.
 have Jeff il to you, my friends and sup porters, through whose favorable estimate of qualifications my name has been presented to
 the people of the United States for the office
 of Chief Magistrate, to conduct the canvass
 on such principles, and in such manner as
 you may think best. But IT dof11g, I did lfa
 not waive the right to determine, on my in
 dividual responsibility, what course my duty
 might compel me 10 pursue ultimately, nor have l been an inattentive observer of the canvass and the course you have taken.
 Il affords me pleasure to be enabled to say, that on all leadiug questions, growing out of the canvass, l heartily coneurred with you in the grounds you took, and especially in those relating to the mode in which the Delegates to the proposed Convention to be held in Baltimore, should be appointed, and how they should vote. You have, in my opin- ion, conelusively shown that they should be appointed hy districts and vote per capita but your reasons, as conclusive as they are, have proved in vain. Already New York and some other States have appointed Dele gates en masse by State Conventions, and one State {Virgnia) has resolved that the votes of her Delegates should be given by the ma jority, and be counted per capita. Their course would necessarily overrule that which you have so ably supported, and should you go into Convention, would leave you no al- ternative, but to yield yours andadopt theirs, however much you may be opposed to 1t en principle, or to meet them on the most une- qaal terms, with divided against united and concentrated forces.
 The question Is then, what course, under such circumstances, should be adopted ?- And that question, you will be compelled speedily to decide. The near approach of the time for the meeting of the proposed Convention will not admit of much longer delay. But as your course may depend in some degree on that which have decided to take, deem 1t due to the relation subsisting between us, to make mine known to you without further delay.
 l. tbnn after tho mosf naraf,,i nnj 5nIihar ate survey of the whole ground, have deci- ded, that cannot permit my name to go be- fore the proposed Convention, constituted as 1t now must be, consistently with the princi- p'es which have ever guided my public con dnet Ny objections are insuperable. As must he constituted, il is repugnant to all principles. on which, in my opinion, such a Convention should be formed What those principles are, shall now proceed briefly to state.
 l hold, then, with you, that the Conven- ton should be so constituted. as to utter full ly and clearly the voice of the people, and not of political managers, or office holders or office seekers; and for that purpose, hold 1t indispensable, that the Delegates should be | appointed directly by the people, or to use thS VI NOntidl JdCkSOus SlOulu DC | ''fresh from the people" I also hold, that the only possible mode to effect this, is for the people to choose the Delegates by dis tricts, and that they should vote per capiia. | Every other mode of appointing would be controlled by political machinery, and place the appointments in the hands of few, who work it.
 object then, to the proposed Convention, because 1t will not be constituted in conform ity with this fundamental article of the Re publican creed. The delegates to it will be | from some of the States, not by | the people in districts, but, as has been sta ted, by S!ate Conventions en masse, compos- ed of Delegates, appointed in all cases, as far as l am informed, by County or District Con- ventions, and in some cases, ifnot misintorm- cd, these again composed of Delegates ap- pointed by still smaller divisions, or a few interested individuals. Instead then of be- ing directly, or fresh from the people, the ! Delegates to the Baltimore Convention will be the Delegates ofDelegates; aud of course removed, in all cases, at least three, if not four degrees from the people. At each suc- cesslve remove, the voice of the people will become less full and distinct, until, at last, it | will be so faint and imperfect, as not to be audible. To drop metaphor, hold 1t im- possible to form a scheme more perfectly 1 calculated to annihilate the control of the people over the Presidential election, and vest in those, who make politics trade, and who live or expect to live on the government 1
 In this connection, objectnot less strong !y;s..o the mode in which Virginia has resolv- ed her Delegates shall vote. With all due respect, must say, I can imagine nothing more directly in conflict with the principles of our federal system of government, or to use broader expression, the principles on which all confederated communities have ev- CT been united. hazard nothing in saying, that there is not an instance in our political history, from the meeting of the first Revolu- tlonary Congress to the present day, of the Delegates of any State voting by majority and counting per capita; nor do believe an instance of the kind can be found in the his toryof any confederated community. There is something monstrous in the idea of giving fl<.vn q. -l>t