Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1856-05-10
mi, From the Spectator.
The High SheriffaItv

~~A6A oA6flualtY.
M1ssRs. EDITORS The right ofsuffr.os ia
sacred trust, TO b exercised intellioen,r ~
with single view to thegood of the neonIs IN
Inc beslllnteres.s of the country. No nv ;...
iiotefly 10 oestow his vote in mere caprice No.
Juoico OF passion, contrary TO " hat he h.iiaye.
10 DC MS duty; and he cannot do 90 vi,hon, .
feeling OF conscious sef.deg adation. II !. oo,.i,
~ clear that no pledge, promise or determi".-
tioh 70 vote In particular way, or for rnar,;o-
u'af candidate, can excuse the act, if the voter
becomes satisfied it " ould be wrong. The law,
ana Constitution of the Country are of superior
ana olnoing lorce upon every citizen, and must
be the rule of his political and social cond,n,
ne can DO no act Inconsistent with them. or il,
violation OF them, without being Justly resard.d
as dlsorganizer and puolc enemy. In This
iree Republic, the basis Of our political system
Is mat majority of,he People shall goyern
and 'he Laws and The Constitution are hu, ,hs
will OF that majority, regularly expressed. To
admit the idea any individual NAV dsrcsard
elmer, Wonid be inconsistent with common
sense. and destructive Of our whole social and
political System.
These are self evident propositions, and nv
ooleG' Is % apply them TO the grave questlons
involved In The pending election of HIGH Sheriff
Tor our own County.
IL IS known; aad generally admitted, ths:
combination has existed Tor several years pss,,
having ior lis object the retention o. the Shorff
any III me same hands; and contend and pro.
pose 10 demonstrate, that il 10 violatiye of Tho
Elective Princpe-violative o. the Law-vio.-
laliVe Oh The OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES ofths Of.
nee OF High Sherif-injurious 10 the inleresl.
anu dangerous 10 the welfare Of The community
and that every good citizen 10 imperatiyeiy
bound to oppose ii.
nave heretofore given most Of the objections
WHICH lie ilis vas.. k,,,,
10 TecapItulate and enlarge them.
Isl. IL violates the Elective Principle. -bec.ns.
candidate and his Deputies, by their eombIu-
ed ihnueice, may be eected, not one OF whom
would BE- the choice Of a majority Of The W hole
people. Wv "n'''
2nd. II violates the ..lav foibidding ,he sale
OF oiilCe-in principle, ifnot in iact-W iich do.
ciares-'ii any such post or the deputalion there.
s either In hole or in part, shall be- sold or LEI,
10 arn' or contracted 10 be sold or IL. TO istrp,
BY any person holding or expecting 10 hold Tho
same, snch person, and the person who ms,
buy and take TO farm the same, shall each 81
them b. forever disabled from holding such
post or depua'ion the only differ suer, il i,
be one, baing that votes and intlu.ucs ar. Tho
consideration paid-NoT MONEY.
3d, II violates both the Law and Cous,its.
tion--,he lsaw, by dividing tho Office, aud thvs
creating confusion i'll the public business the
Constitution, by circumyentng its provision to
guard against abuses OF the Office, and perp.tu,.
ting 1t indefinitely in the same hands.
4ih. 1t imrairs the responsibility and .ffici.n.
~ OF the office of High Sheriff, BY taxing from
that officer the absolute control over his Dens.
iies or agents, which is indispensable 10 u faith.
iui and efficient execution of his trus..-fo.
whatever The necessity, how coudIhe Undertake
10 disPlacs one OF them to whom re owed. in
part his own election, aud wbomihe had rrops-
ed 10 the people Of hs dis,ric. as a cous,def,-
ton for their votes
9Th ii is injurious TO the inisrests and dan.
gerous 10 The Welfare OF the community, BY tend
ing 10 concentrate permanently in his same
hands formidable and dreaded power-wifb-
out check or control, if the Constitution and ID.
Laws can really be 90 circunveuted-A Yowxa
which, not content with present obirct.. in
time may assume TO control all Our sisci,una
and make Itself felt in every rank and condition
ol HE, from the tumbest tanan, OF a cotio sstn
the Judge on the Beach.
These are my views, Messrs Eilos. con-
scienliously entertained, on ono Of tho pr.,r.,
questions which has, perhaps, ever ais,li in 4ur
county, and seek to give expression to thun
simply from u aense OF public duty. Personally.
! have no interest 10 subyerve, no feeling 10
gratliy Towards all the candidates, entertain
the same KIDD sentiment Ii is Tho principle In.
VOWED, which alone enlisls mo in the canvass.
VIII say, moreover, that do not believe the
gentlemen concerned In The combination, have
become so with a full appreciation of its effect.
and Consequences. But that consideration. " bill.
Il may Se!vs to pailiate their conduct, eau ius
~ no one Ill giving them his support 1t i. .bc
duty Of the people carefully TO guard aud ,lrrnly
to vlndica1e Iheit own rights and institutions.
from all encroachment and from all precedent
or pressx' tor encroichment, and trust thew
VIII do %, regardless OF all personal CONSIDERS
slous. A CONSERVATIVES.