The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1860-11-01

Vi 1NONCubCts
The scheme, indeed is attractive, by
its novelty and boldness, and is chsrac-
teristic of the daring enterprise of our
trading people; but then, the stockholders
are such inveterate enemies, and are so
Justly suspicious of each other, that it is
hardly possible for the affairs Of the Com
pany to be managed with prudence and
success. Beside, the people with whom
the new Company nust deal, in all proba-
bility, prefer to transact their political
business with some 6rm of longer stand
ing and better reputation for oandor
and Iiberality. But to be serious.
This combination of opposite and hos.
tile parties, not to elect any man to the
Presidency, but avowedly to defeat an e.
lection By the people. is factious and dan
gcrous. On the face of it, it procaims
distrust of the people. and desire to
withdraw the great question from the
body of the nation and refer it for decis-
ion to small number of men-the House
of Representatives-sl of whom are open
to all Of the appliances of political specu
lators. who will have ample opportunities
to work upon their hopes and fears, their
ambition and their interest.
If the traders succeed in defeating an
election By the people, it is more than
probable, that, in view of the present ar
ray of parties in Congress. the House Of
Represe natives will also fail to make an
election, and then the senate must choose
Vice President from the two highest on
the list voted for by the electors; and the
person so chosen will become President
of the United States, and what sort of
PRESIDENT A Constitutional Preside ut
| admit, and therefore to be quietly sub
mittcd to, but a President that no citizen
10 voting for electors ever thought of as
Presideu aud yet the parties which bar
gain and contriVe, and labor to compass
this result. all profess to be great friends
of the people, and firm believers in their
virtue and capacity to choose President
in the way OF the Constitution, wisely and
well; still, they are doing their worst to
take the election. in fact, from the people,
and sise,it to the Senate. And why give
it to the Senate just Dowl Because Just
aOO the Democratic party Is IN sinking
condition, and already below the hope OF
electing President by the popular vote.
But if this new scheme can be made to
work successfully, then the Senate (Which,
unfortunately has still Deuoc ma
jorliyi may force upon the country dem
ocrstic President 10 spite of the people.
Thu it seems to me plain, whatever
mask this intrigue may assume before
the public, that the real design Of it, and
the probable effect OF it, success, will be
to re-establi.b the now broken and de-
feated Democratic party, and make it
stronger than ever by the absorbation of
most if not all the elements of the new CO.
altion. 1t is easy to understand the
Democratic party. for its history Is s-before
the world, and its present division into
factions, o; tensibly upon particular prin-
ciple, but really upon particular meD has
not changed its doctrines. nor improved
/ its character. But it is not so easy to un-
der.tand the Constitutional Union party,
without any history and without any
pledge, in case of its success, to support
any particular line of Governmental pol
icy. 1t contains undoubtedly many ex'
celcDt men whose private opinions are
known and respected, but, as party, il
leaves itself by design perfectly free to dc
whatsoever it pleases, and unite witt
whousoever it pleases, when it comes in
to power.
1t pledges itself to nothing bot to sup
port the ConstitioD, the Union and th'
laws, and that every honest citizen of ev
cry party. knows to be common duty
Every President, of whatever party mus
begin his official life, by swearing that b.
will preserve. protect, and defend th'
Constitution of the United States" ant
that Constitution makes it his especial du
ty to "take care that the laws be faithful
ly executed" AS party then there j
; Do,hiug to distinguish it from any othe
party.
ODce in power, it may carry out tn
views of policy entertained by the "hot
test Democrat OF the South, or the "blac
est" Republican of the North, free froI
auy charge of Inconsistency or breach
pligbted faith. Any party, | think, l
order to grow in strength and to beoom
useful to the country must needs hav
some distinguishing characteristic OF II
own. Without some such nucleus of ai
: traction and bond of Union, no party Ca
long survive.
And D this instance, the process of dis
intep grafton seems already to have heguI
= for in New York the american party
. has held its own separate State Counel
and in Virginia, meetings Of the peop
!. have been held (warmly supporting NJ
e Belly 10 thetiue honored pane of"W bigs
o thus in both these great States ignorin
K the new party, and re-uming their form'
party names and positions. | shall dra
y no parallel, much less contrast betwee
# Me.srs. Lincoln and Bell, for in all si'
It cerity, entertain very high opinion
II them both. 10 the general admInistr
TO ton Of the Government, | could trust
" ther Of them, for they are both men
:. Lnouiodoa aDd aynarieDCe aud o