Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1849-09-29
COL. YOUNG,s POSITION.

THE ELECTION OF STATE oFFIcERs
We have said that Col Young's position relative
10 the election Of State officers taking that election
from tue people TO whom our constitution gives it,
and cnirusting 1t TO tho Legislature, is founded on
an aristocratic idea. II cearly shows distrust Of
the capacity Of the great body the people to select
capable and faithful men to fill the Ministerial offices
o!lho State. The people--al Of thom--so tho Col.
argues, cannot know tie men who are candidates
ior office they cannot Judge ofther merits or quali-
cations, they therefore must vote in tho dark. Now
il strikes lis that the people and do know as much
Of their candidates as the Legislature ITSELF and 10
entrnst that body, composed Of select few, with
function properly belonging to their constituents, is
clearya step towards an arlstocratic government,
and when amovomeRt is once made in that direction,
i Is impossible to tell how far il may go. Power
is always stealing Eom the many to the few, where
constant vigilance and jealous protection Of their
masses. Our constitution is founded upon the great
democratic principle that all power is derived directly
from people and that consequential officers arc G.
eetiys by them, and as we have before said this, in
our opinion, is one OF the best features init and VIC
last that we would be willing to SEQ annulled or al
tered in any way.
But there are other objections to the taking Of the
election OF these officers out ofthe hands of the peo
pie and giving It to the Legislature besides its arts
tocratic tendency. II is in the Legislature and not in
the great mass Of the people that we are TO fear
corruption bargain and intrigue As Mr. JeIier-
son says in his letter to DR.. kerchva on the subject
OF calling convention to amend the state constitu-
ton OF Virginia, vt Qhe election to Office by the Leg
sature) swervcs the members from correctness by
temptations to intrigue tor Office themselves and to
corrupt barter Of votes" Log rolling and iayortism
too often carry the day in our Legislatures modest
mort is overlooked and the bold cunning office seeker
generally succeeds.
Col Young is in favor Of resembling this democrat
ic feature Of our constitution lie ia in iayer OF 60
ing backto tho old arisocratc mode Of occting state
officers which still prevails in most Of the old states
Upon this subject he is behind the age. The tendeu'
cy every where in our country ia to give back 10 the
people what mistaken disrust Of their capacity and
an anttropublican imitation Of English modes and
customs have given to their agents and representa-
tiyes, and 70 make the state governments what they
were designed to be, in Tact, as well as in theory,
democratic. The people should be careful not to vote
for any man to represent them in the Legislature
who is opposed TO their eecting any Of their officers
state or county, political judicial II they true
to themselves they will dscountenance at tho outset
every effort and every argument however plausible,
to take power out Of their hands and place 1t in the
hands Of theii representatives, who are bnt their
gents and trustees.