Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1847-04-17
THE ELECTION.

THE ELECTION.
ON Thursday Next. the 22d ot April.
The result OF the approaching election IN Virginia ex-
cites no little speculation and deep interest and anxiety
other States he conceded both SIDES that
VIRGINIA Is THE BATTLE-GROUND, upon which
10 to be decided the question: WHETHER IN the next House
of the Locosoco party shall maintain Its
nscendancy or transfer the eins OF power to the Wings
question all times of great interest, but at this moment
OF more than ordinary magnitude. The trainers of our
constitution with that extraordinary sagaciy and wisdom
which seem to mark them Provdontialy directed
m the elaboration Of their great work devised OF
.cbecks and balances" for the better security OF the herr
tnRe OF freedom which, with it, they boqueaihed to their
descendants and which with all the lights OF history before
them they knew could be safely contded TO the
either OF single individual or OF any one body
of men, The Executive, Legislative and Judicial depart
nents of the consequently rendered
ordinate and independent OF each oihcr-and the Lcgsla
ure was itself divided branches, in order mu
tply the checks upon hasy or corrupt legislation and
thereby TO furnish additional for the wise and
hines, performance Of its high functions. This admirable
theory however, has been To great extent nuihed in
the practical administration of the Governmcnt-he Exc
cutive by ordinary exercise OF the function Of
initiating all great measures, combined with the indiscrm
inate use Of the veto especially by the judeious
not TO say corrupt dsponsaon OF its patronage having
obtained complete control and mastery OF the Govern
mcnt The President, indeed, may now, like Louis NV,
cxcam 81 am the State So obvious that this great
practical revolution has been effected in SYSTEM by the
sen, and seahy operation of the which have
referred that clothed with the dgnifod and sacred
Representative trust do scrupe 10 proclaim,
the floor Of the House, that they preparod-nay,
that tlcy regard it imperative duiy--to surren-
der their own convictions the asceraned will Of the
Presdent--a otherwise sufficiently apparent from
the history Of the last fifteen years, which the in
stances are not few OF the triumph OF Executive will per-
-
timd and servie Legislature which has been "laugued
into compliance" or, perhaps than that has
been bouQht up by the loayeS and fishes. Mr. WcE OF
Indiana at the session of Congress- giving uiieance
10 sentiment frequently practically illustrated since tho
advent Of Modern Democracy, has only been little holder
than his associates, who, though acting upon the maxim
avowed by that member had the the
lossness so frankly confess the rule by which they are
governed in Representative character The Indiana
member holder corrupt than Others thus de-
fines the duly OF democratic" legislators 4 speech de-
lvercd Il the last session Of Congress:
The Democratic party in this House must meet On
some common ground History JustheS the conclusion
that in reference mere measures involving radical
prime pie PARTIES AIMosr uNyERs LAslEk
To uStrEuPoN EXECUTIVE RECOMMENDATION THAN
UPON ANY OTHER And this conclusion indicates
duty WILL SUSTAIN EACH MEASURE RECOMMENDED by
THE EXECUTIVE aud before least whenever sui
cicnt number OF Democrats rAss IT,
AND MOST PROBABLY IN Any EyEST."
Tne great rule action avowed by Mr.. Wci--and ox-
emphhed m practice 10y many Of his assccaics who
shrink from open avows-is obedsHes the Erscu,irs
This rule however convenient d imid Representative
profitable corrupt one Is scarcely Necessary TO
say, wholly subyers the independence and integrity Of the
Legislative department OF the Government, aud
the President all the powers which, by the Constitution
were intended wihhed from him. Our system Is no
longer "checks and baauces, but assume.
character direct conflict with It's forns, OF Mouar
nff
Executive than exist IN Great Brun-where thougt
power OF the King lees citcumsctbod OF tn,
President. clearly defined and fqidy re
strained within It's prescribed orbit
We believe be Of the first importance under exist.
iuR circumstances that the equilibrium Of our constitution.
al system should be restored. Bot when such scnn
neuts those avowed By Mr.. Wick Constitute the ru
OF action OF the party of which he prominent mem
Der. tins Is msniiesy impossible, while a majority OF
both branches at Congress the political support
e-s OF tue President. His will must, Of necessity
b, law, if majority Of the Representatives Of the PEG
pie ee 1t incumbent upon 'iam unite upon The lasi,
Of Executive recommendation" The Senate, 30 c,nse-
quoGce OF changes that body, ana others which
occur, be appreiended may not exer
that restraining and conservative Influence upon tho Exc
cuve which, fortunately for the county, has done lot
Two years past IN toe House OF Representatives we mus
mainly conhde, during the remainder OF Mr. POks term OF
service for sanaTy check upon ihst suud nous inter
probation Of hs prerocnuyos, which has already vcs ted
Congress OF the war-making authority, and which
end Il il be arrested, So simpLfy the Go
the President the law nah NJ
and law-ntoprotng well law-cxecuing power The
Wings, by obainng the ascendancy in the House. wall be
ab.s check both the President and the Scnlio-not
by iae0us opposition 10 measures conducive the
al welfare, by aud nne1ibc resistance 10 those
of contrary tendency. The progressive enoroach-
OF the Executive wi, be arrested and the corrupt
distribution Of Executive patronage, which 20 longer
be sHceesstEiiy oldod 10 effect purposes be coun-
toraced by the absence Of oil temptation mar, and So,
Offices" like Caesar, for gold, bat Tor votes, which
much valuable. In li. aspect Of the subcc
alone, and independently Of other scarcely less wcghy
Combinations, the election Of majority Of Wings lhe
House Of Representatives OF ho first consequence
Wo wish could impress upon the minds Of the VIII -,
throughout the State, earnestly feel ouclycs the
vital importance Of interpreting this powerful barrier 10 the
cuooIchments and occupations Of the Executive the pow
of which, the language Of the present Editor Of the
Washington Union, 50 long ago % 539 when they had
embraced far narrower scope than that i!mitabio area
over which they spread, have increased 60 an
Alarming extent still ioariuy increasing, and must o.,
diminished h would the fatal prjcliyty Of OIL
GUvoumpnt under ihc guidance Of tho PFo1EgssiyE d.
vHrEtry % degenerate into a Monarchy. surrounded bj
tIc empty forms Of Representative system.
Ea.suau.ug these views, the approaching election il
Virginia BE-, estimation, invested with au importance
infinitely greater flnn that which b. impaired 60 b. tf
grave political npcs. deeply interesting ls they are, whc
address themselves Immediately 10 the public mind
We ask for them tho sober reflection Of ,bo Wing voc-s
aud especially OF those, such there be- who are dis s,t
IRON consideration personal 70 candidates selected
ointsin position Of neutrality iu ho pend ug contest
~ Upwards OF 1870 Storage passengers from the I'd
mInr-sisken counues OF Europe, arrived Of the port
New York on the 18Th inst
Cadets at west Point.