Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-12-12
F'T I'M Z. VVT.'T
ELECTORAL RECOMMENDATIONS

Mr.srs. Editors Il understand that ut the In'
meeting of the Electoral College in Richn."I'i,, lh
electors assumed 10 unmiiaic lIe Hon. j no. H. 't'S'
To MIR. Buchanan Tor IL srat in tho Cabinet. ! 'u''ne
learn that Gov. Floyd had the good taste and me co." a
sylse 10 reject this stepping stone 10 "Illcei anu tn IL
two electors, Mcssrs. Alexander Jones OF Cle''ein -
and Tios. Campbell III holloway. were nor F"u'
to the movement. Whether they declined II - !, T S.,,
Salisc III proprieiy, or were not invited 10 l"H " ,nsl
II knowledge that they would decline, tin'"e'
" to their credit, and should b. known.
The following structures on this prnccrd'"s n,,o
intended Ia linpnnci the m"tiv"' "l INC I'LL,
who had tie honor IL c,hnpns" mo f'cc'"i" ,.;,,
but 10 criiicise their course and liz lcl'"e'"
respectful freedom. ,u;,ht n,
If Ills were In. first case Of the kind, II lh'%"' wv
merit rensur.. Tut Grnr years ne" a diS''"G", "",,
gentleman WIS successfully nominated 10 " :, npv
Tnst in the same way: and when Il similar hc' '' wv
repeated. theirs is danger that these pTecc"'"''
grow into usage and produce mlschiel. ro.
Now what right has the Electoral College
commend for olicel They are selected Tor III NV"
yetlirr different purpose. Inc law ~h'cn ~ cas,
them 10 be voted for, cOInpels lliein To inee' "", -
their votes for President and wee Pfesl'le"i' ""A
authenticate their act. They have1loilIii'@ e'Fe :" -,
II IS true, the Electors arc appointed by u u' .L:'
which, fLe law does not contemplate, though 4" 'u ~
rates it, and they are divided among dilirir'' ~
tricts; but they are not elected rs eNpoiIeI,'- 81 P"i i
opinion. To utter il, then, IL eNlrn'Olll''a'' %' ,hn,
usrruaiiun of power. 1t may, indeed, he san .nt'
they claim nothing more for this racninllti'i".''
Than that il is IN assertion of their private "l''n'on'
But il is private opinion publicly eXpressna' ~ "" n
all know that time, place and cIrruInstarir" e!'n -"
official stamp To many things, which have II" r'Shl l"
# IN n repuiur WAY. And, in this case, We have "
right 10 infer that the Electoral College n'eaI't 10
rive the weight, il not the seal, OF their coI'e''''o
sanction to this recommendation.
Like all other usurpatIunS oi power, there hc f"'
lent objections To II.
Tbu. II assumes a wrong basis for Cabinet appoint
nruts, in substituting The presumed wish al iic pen
ue for the will of tli. President. The choice "i lie
Cabinet is always u difficult and delicate laSK' "hu
requires, for is proper performances, Inc Wil"s' anu
trerst RANG. uf selection. clGnrIy, the President, sole
" responsible for it, fiction, should claim these con
ii.ions of lis composition. Doubtless he VIII hrt'
counsel, and he will seek 1t.
I,nt II must rmlnrra-s his administration whcI
high public iunriiouarlcs, even with HE best mo
lives, volunteer To direct him. For II Is an aliroi't IL
disregard them; and all the greater because gwen col
lrriirrly. Unless then, the recommendation s!i;'I
accidentally Q%uadrate with his choice, II becomes me
luiiou, in So far Az il constraIIis linn, under The alter
native of disniieclinG l. friends, III do what lie may
not choose 10 do. Nor Is the embarrassment con
lined Ia the particular case. IL the President 'l"e'
glnt the Electoral College thinks lie ought Ia do
no appoints their nominee, then We must expect eiirl
II The Electoral Colleges "f all the Sinle' I" hrIIil
| onward their respective ihyoritc1. N"w, NJ tii'r'
re thlrty-une States, and only seven Cabinet hP
nnintInents, il il obvious, nut only TINT the PrrS!d"'i
must he p,rpl-Xrl, but that there viii he among iltI
Colleges emulaiiurs, heart burnlISH, factions, zoe
lions. and contentious.
But ~ it will BIZ impossible IL please nil, the be-
| wlidrrrd President, IN order Ia offend u"ne, must he
stow other Offices ni equivalent grade on those WIZ
cannot come into the cabinet.
This Introduces a urw power iIlu The government
AMI opens the door to recommendations l"r MI Icir'
| rnl. offices; since if the Electoral Colleges possess th'
rintIt ii one case. they do IN al. Tine mere avenue
viii have opened To "liicr-lIuutlnS; and thus, IL they
Ill (; ,.,. .o.,. IVA ..u nj war with IIn.l piirr. st
vii they now be divided nmur- themselves.
II. on The above grounds, IT may he declared I'M
| polite Ia permit such usnrliatiun, II may he Thought
notices. sn when VIZ remember that iIe prcct'iriiiS
allow the electors 10 recommend men "i Their own
body.
Iassing by n good deal that might ba said III re-
| card 10 such a proceeding, with u protest tShiisi HE
advantage thus taken by the Electoral C"llc@" ''id
the injustice thereby done I" other gentlemen al
cguhl merit, il may be noted ~ Il in'i, ti''i u u !'i-'
n. du; ir mislra,I III 10 inform the inlnd al The Exc
cu'ivc. Not selected from their special kii"w!rd="
of public sentiment, the rleri"rs have u" better
means Of asceriaining il i'll The progress "l IN: can
ysss than any others ui the many cItlarns WI" have
-Cuul intelligence and activity. hilSt ihcy are l"'
| better Judges than many others, they are not III Il Pc
.iliun Ia give their Judgments fair play. y pr"l"s''
iion to recommend sunIu ono Is made; alIu IL l. car
rieh on the principles which induce incii t" give Ger
tiicai.s and recommendation III other matters N"'
Ia aGcuiesrn il 10 offend; and gentlemen ni KIND lrr'
IngS, dfrltllilS Misconceptions Jnf' 'H'' "l'"'"
under duress Of courtesy. ! hcirva tlIs wa4 the
caste in the presen; Instance. believe pablo sent
,n.ni dues not point la Gov. Floyd ~ generally ="
| c"piablr for Il cabinet appointment.
If tler. lie any public sentiment III Virginia, II l.
that the Government shall hr wei. ;ulnint>irrrd' that
il Mr.. buchanan shall sc!-c; Il counsellor from among
IL. il should not he because "InytD" mas " rrSh' Il
rivm sOnr part ~ kT rin'HtSiT"'11" ~ H' f'"r'r"
m.Hl,' hu; hecnusc he Gun here obtain the best HIti
for a given service. limi, | think, is The publ" srn
,,,u.ui ur ih, prouIe of Virginia. \. IL.