The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-01-04
POPULAR ELECTIONS.

In of Mr. Madisons papers, contained in the Federal
st he treats of the House of Representatives and predicts
the character of its members from the mode Of their election
Who to be the Objects he says of popular choice
Every citizen whose merit may recommend him to the
esteem and confidence of his country, No qualification
of wealth. Of BIRTH Of religious faith Of civil pro-
tesson, is permitted to etter the judgments dlsap
point the inclination of the people, Popular choice
implies acquaintance the part Of the people with
the persons among whom the choice ID to be made
Ordinarily there is difficulty this point The
vigilance Of competitors the activity Of the PRESS and the
freedom of debate make the cand in any political
pagn sufficiently familiar both in their opinions and their
characters the citizens whose sagcs dearmne
their success failure. Undoubtedly, during heated
much is said written OF public which must
be received with allowance but the people learn how
make this allowance and from the strife Of opinion and
discussion arises the truth PuBLc the great
security in for the selection of good rulers
When this falls into dsuse the character OF our officers must
be- in good degree matter of chance; and to leave to
chance what should be the result Of careful choices indicates
people prepared for tyranny II ia the glory Of onr Amer
republic that each Of its citizens Ia part the gov
ernment and such responsible for It's action He has
right neglect the duties which this citizenship mp
him. He lives under free government, and willis he
shares its benefits he is bound to do his best continue
and perpetnac it, Hence he is expected to mings
ally in public affairs He il expected TO vote himself and
influence the of others He is expected to keep
himself informed in respect and measures that
when called upon act he act inclgently There
who complain sometimes Of the noise and tuul
Of political strife For part reoics in them
They indicate people jealous Of their rights vgiiant
in maintaining them. No spectacle is grand than
that Of great nation engaged earnestly in the work Of
selecting its first officer The aewspapers riot at times,
the orators occasionally exaggcat and the stream OF dis
cusson grows frequently little tnrbd and swollen but
these only the slight Of a wise system and
scarcely weigh feather against the system ITSELF They
Witnessed in despoisms hut unto the
public in which important elections determined with
out debate and without excitement There can he
republican government without the element of popular
choice" and there be intelligent exercise Of popu-
lar choice without knowledge and without discussion
An organization which proceeds~upon the idea Of
qing popular elections by secret Vaccinations instead
Of by public discussion is monstrons reproach to our
institutions and ought excite against II the popular In
dignaton Yet the organization Of the know-nohings IL
precisely Of this character They shut themselves up IN
the dark bind themselves BY oaths secrecy and then pro-
eeed with the arrogance of ogarchy 10 make rulers
for the people They DO their work they repeat their oah
they have ixed the government and they retire steathy
to their homes No one knows Of their proceedings or
their candidates They move about among their friends,
participate in political conventions and caucuses help 70
nominate political candidates deceive their associates With
living professions having thus mised the community
as to the true Of the impending they
prepared rush forth election day and control the bal
ot-box Their candidate is before heard Of
as such His merits or dsmerts have been moo'ed
at ali His very insigniscsnce may have protected him
from injury Yet by minority OF the legal votes Ia his
district and plurality only Of the cast he has been
elevated to an important public place. aPopusr choice