Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-08-22

mmoyabv firm to their purpose and leave the govern.
nent without the necessary rather than sub
init to the unconstitutional usurpaton of the Black ke
publican party. If the struggle is to come let 1t com"
now The South wants better opportunity and n'
iuster cause Again We say, woe TO the Southern Re
preventative who proposes to submit 10 the nsoen'
and revolutionary usurpation of Black Republican
majority.
CONSPIRACY TO THROW THE ELECTION
OF PRESIDENT INTO TIE HOUSE OF RE
PERSONALITIES BETWEEN
THE AMERICANS" AND "BLACK.REPUB.
LICANS."
The Wig of yesterday concludes on article on
"Mr. Fillmore's Prospects," with the following
words:
AT this point, we close our remarks with an e1-
tract from communication in tho Baltimore Ameri'
can touching the prospects Of Mr.. Fillmore III The
House which the American tells ia from the pen
of one of the 'nost prominent and influential hgs
of Mary andune who never allowed partizan Zeal 10
blind his Judgment or To express opinons That lie
has not the best for believing to be correct
and reliable.
In the communication which is so warmly con :
mended to the confidence Of tho readers Of the Wc'
we find this paragraph
their man. but when they see, as See they must thai
il is destined 10 be fruess, they nW JON the Am@ri
cans md make Mr.. Fillmore Prcsidem. 1hsy wH'
neither roie for Mr.. buchanan nor SMttr the ''ction t
20 to The Senate. My affirmation on th's s"3,ed u
derived from the most intelligent and authentic sources
The result upon the whole is that the people VII!
fail to elect President; that the House vii elect one
ami that tho choice Of the House will be Mr. Fill
| more"
Thus distinctly do the organs Of the opposition re-
veal the basis Of their hopes and aspirations The
election Of Fillmore by popular vote, not being
within the limits of possibility, they are cooly calcu'
lang his chances of success in the House OF Repre-
sentatives.
1t is obvious that the efforts Of the opposition have
no other aim than to defeat choice of President b,
the people, aud to throw the election into the House
"ynsre the issue of the struggle NAV be determined
1'bis fact invites the most serious consideration.
The Constitution prescrbes the choice of Presi
dent and Vice President by popular vote, through lhe
intermediate agency of electoral colleges. The con
ngency of failure Of an election by the people, IL
contemplated like any other rreguIarty Ill the opera
ton of our institutions; and the possibility OF such al
exceptional and abnormal case is provided for oy an
appropriate enactment oflhe Constitution. Still, though
the choice Of President devolve upon the House OF
Representatives, the selection can only be made from
among the three candidates who receive The iarges'
popular vote-a limitation which illustrates the aoso'
lutte necessity, in our system of government OF the
immediate responsibility Of the Executive to the REQ
mir. The defeat of an election of President by popu.
lar vote parakes of the character of violence; and
analogous to failure of legitimate succession aud
change Of dynasty in monarchical governments
Such an event always involves more or less OF domes
tic disturbance and necessarily implies danger to the
stability Of the government. The provision Tor the eec
ton of President by the House Of Representatives, II
intended to avert the caaniiies which, without thi
safeguard would result from an obstruction in me e
etnate and equabe operation of our Institutions
| II is q remedy for extreme cases OF diseased a''
ton, and was never meant to be the daily die
of the government. A deficiency of natural vital
ty and strength in the human system, is supplied
by artificial stimulants; and, in like manner. whsr
the government falls into sort Of syncope its con
scousness and power are restored by Al e1traordna
ry application The faithful physician, in either case
ia not the man who deliberately produces the para
lysis but he who anxiously sustnns the heathfu &C
lion of the system, and only resorts to an extreln
medicine in an extreme emergency When We see
party speculating on the probability Of an obstruc
ton in the action Of government, and cooIy oalcua
ting the chances of in the event OF defeat
the popular choice, may safely infer that its patr
otism is not equal to its passion for the spos Th
things that breed and fatten in diseased orgsniza
ton, are the creatures Of corruption.
The history of the country furnishes practical il
lustraon Of the philosophy nculcated in the prece
an,
but single instance of the defeat of the popuia
choice in the election of President; aud there wa
certainly nothing of success in that experiment 10 IN
vte its repetition In 1924 neither candidate tor IN
Presidency received majority of the electoral 'o'e'
and the choice devolved upon the llouse OF NeP'e
ssnta,yes. All the elements OF oppo''tlon 10 u"
Democracy united in coalition, ana oonh Qu'"e
Adams was elected over General JACKSON VINO hau
nurality of the popular and the electoral 'o'e' "h
wbo WAS the indspuable choice OF the country. In
L,, ., our svstem was so severe as 10 inspire tn
,rost anprehensions for the safety of our institu
,;o,s. Here was proof that popular governmen
-,h, be peryerted to the defeat of the will OF IN
raone, and TO the aggrandizement of an oligarchy
nnscrupulous politicians. feeling OF d'squet an
discomfort pervaded the country the people wrltbe'
and prosned as under the heel of usurpaion; ther
was universal revolt against the dynasty which ha
,eized possession of the government in defiance o
the manifest will of the masses. The Executive va
narayzed by the irregularity of its succession; an
was barely capable of fulfilling its function in the pc
litical system. Government suffered sort Of sus
nension of animation. BY a natural transition q
feeling, the popular detestation Of the Adminstrn
ton affected tie principles Of the Constitution, am
men began to question the utility Of institution
which were susceptible Of such outrageous an"'e
Against every person who had been n''ru'r'n.ai IL
the defeat of their choice, the people ouer'She'
an unappeasable purpose of revenge Inc AZ
mipistration which corrupt coalition hau 'o's'
ed upon them, they made haste 10 'epua'A''
ui,h an expression OF resentment and ind'gna
,;on which We, flames upon the pages OF our bis
,,,v a. an sdlnouition to criminal ambition in al
oon,ino time. The man whom the coalition reject
cd but whom they loved and honored' was borne t
the Presidency upon wave of popular enthusiasm
which like the Propontic sea, will never know rer
inc ebb until the name of Jackson ia lost from th'
recollection OF the country.