Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-08-26
Election OF PresIdent.

In commenting article Ia this paper, 10 respect
% the mischief resulting from popular elections, 30 the
Noble KTe.ry says
W. fully sympsthzs 18th the Wing In lis fears for the
a,norSEug uhleuces OF the popular scramble for the
sec,ion Of q President with which we were cursed un-
Ger the old concern, under present. or s possible future
..r,umstauces - al example we have only " look
ros the line for les Effects IL is difficult to conceive
th.t any manner OF seecion could have given worse
E,eeuve than Abe Lincoln, so utterly demcra Iod
the people who submit 10 bis usuEPauo's OF their powers
and his destruction of their liberties, because ne 10 tie
choice and his aims and ends are their aims and ends
II s,ory scarcely furnishes example Of 50 much evil
oeahe TO hereditary soVeregns, as these are directly
to popular election.
Ys, with all th. cur new Constitution has been wise
y % framed a. take AWAY from political aga!oss end
I.,pacoeues much Of the temptation for the disgusting
nd dsrracpful exhibition OF their craft These braN.-
= and srrers Cd OF strife have usually been ac;u.ed
M the selfish motive of getting themselves toto oice.
51 hsn successful have claimed that TO the yiciors De
long the spoi, OF office, ard has been given them
Nv our Confederate Constitution there s be no Offices
~ 6isrihlte AZ the inconiDg OF administration
!. la, the grades Of heads Of departments Those 10
an a viii rot sud cannot bs dismissed, matter Of
curse TIE President OILY dismiss Tor causes emu
ul-raed in the Constitution, and these must be assigned
aud reported 10 the Senate. The working OF the system
v in effect be- that man once IN othce may retain II
A. org az be proves himself worthy OF Il, and conse
ouspt1 there VII be spells to struggle for in Pres
den'isl c,nVass -, :,
prsye1tuc he Disgusting ssTaubes for the election OF
syor,s candidate Tor the Presidency. Bu. that fur
uishes reason Hhy the itst election under the perGa
uent Constitution may be more hercely confessed A.
The inf rio- Offices Al the beso~a of tie first President
are 10, for four or SIX years but for m they By that
much more worth coniendUg for by those who ars
.rskng them After that the Offices in the gilt OF the
pr sdent will Nv ndle down to thoss that nav become
vacant ard will scarcely be worth moving heaven and
cAr,h for their attainment
TIE patriotism Of the mass Of our people has been
es sed BY this above the sordid Considerations o.
oies and ts attendant lucre aud We have no thought
lat Il can be leyeed scramble for Office even with
these enlarged reasons for IT,
Toe press can do much and should 90 all It cs- to re-
nress IL Ia this connection mus. be permitted re-
eeuly 20 saw that regret 10 some OF the pub
lis Journals arrsyiDg at the head Of their columns the
names of their favories for the Presidency and Vice
Presidency after the old fashion, and Ills not because
Se d.r with them in their preference, but we dislike
the example. We should ike to see Presidential cleo
lion hereafter practically what il is theoretically in the
Constitution We should like 10 ses the choice OF
President made really BY those on whom the Constiiu
ito, coufers IT, instead Of mere popular voice. II We
Eil make these elections practically what they are IN
theory We shall entirely avoid the popular sganoIs Of
Presidential canvass. II We will exercise Iudicious
discrimination IN appointing Electors TO select Presi
dent II viii b.. sufficient discharge of our constitution
Al duties 10 thai respect II these Electors VIII refuse 20
traumel themselves by commitments before the
nsonls of a preference for spy individual before
they meet their 90 Electors 10 solemn celebration
70 cast their votes they will do great deal towards ST.
suoir ts elAmors Of popular election for Chief Aags
trats Thy should feel themselves bound as jnryman
sr being anueed 10 form or exp ess au o. non
mil the lime arrives TO make 6na DECISION and her
to exercise their best Judgments unnauenced By out
side pressure.
Should electors ia all States be chosen thus ~holy
committed az the No7smor elee.ior 10 scarcely admits
of doubt that the distinguished perso0sges now at the
read OF Government will be selected. But, shoul any
-uio n, reason occur before their hoAl decision why
ey should cast their ballots for ohsri let them be free
70 be controlled by them.
We submit to the press II the reform We have sug'
gssted should not be made and 1t will lend its potent
ausnce TO compsss itl win not those papers which
are d,uutng Presidential fsvores at their mAsthssds
Re them down, and advise the people In November to
elect Electors