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by p. c. r.riEf. Augusts {Gas - I?
II ■ I h "■ilflil I I I . - _
T 5155 c:>.VSTJTrT3OtA iSST.
OFFICE IV m.vcivrosn-sriiEET,
Thin! <J.«.r from tit- V. W. control Broad-Street.
Sales of LWD, hy Executors, or
required, hy law, to ba luW on the
first Tuesday in the month, between the hours ot’
ten in the forenoon and in the afternoon, al
the Court-house in which the property is situate.—
-Votice ot tii /*»• sal-is mast be given in a public (in
zette sirtii days previous to the day of snl o .
Bules of NEG(U)ES must be at public auction, on the
first Tuesday of the month, between llv» usual
hours of sale, at [he p!nc° of public sales in the f/'in
tvwliero the letters Testament try, or Admiuistrn
tion or Guanl-arwhip, may have been trrantrd, first
giving sccty daus node - thereof, in un; of the pub
!i«r€Sa*ef. -s of this Sint", and at the door of the
-ourt-hous whore such sales are to be held.
Notice for the s d:- of Personal Property must be giv-
Fen in like m i in r, for 'ij (Luis previous to day of sale.
Notice to the D blurs and Cr litors of an Estate,
must be published for forty days.
I. Notice tlat apphcTtion will h’rnnde tothe Court o
f Ordinary for leave to sell LAND, must be pub
lished lor four monthn.
I Notirtrft#r,tt»wf to suit NBGKOKS, must be puh!i-!rt
i ed four moMths, before any order absolute can in
[ mad" 1 Court. _
.jdjr AS>W»EI*S
jrTo'ihe Democratic Republic ins oj tnsjti
unmil) states.
Fellow Citizens: —You Imve already
been apprised ofthe fact, t!i;«t a Nation
al Convention ol r Republican JJeh-gjEes
wats recently held in (he city of Haiti
riioee, fur the purpose of ascertaining mid
representing the wishes of lie Repubii
v can parlv, trnd giving'it,effect in, the en..
/Suing-Presidential election. I hts
venti’on was collected from various parts
tis our Union, yi d was both numerous
and respectable. * Among oilier duties,
it was pleased Iq assign to us the impor
tant one of addressing our Republican
brethren upon the present rip cresting
crisis of our political afl'ii rs/ and c/lforc
fttg upon themifri JUUUifer we., might
deem best, the urgent necessity ol har
mony and union, in the approaching con
test. The subject upon which it has thus,
been made our duty to address you, is not
onlv one which deserves to he attentive
ly considered, but is, in our opinion, inti
mately connected with the existence ol j
the Republican Party of the Unipn, an i
the efficacy elections. Eci 1-
ing, as we dopTh.e importance and delicti,
cy of the trust which has thus been con
fided to us, we shall proceed to discharge
it in tiie manner we deem the most res- (
peelful to von, and the best calculated to j
meet the wishes and approbation of those i
bv whose authority we act-.
The high and exal’ed s’ution qf Presi
dent of such a Natton, she power and,
patronage of the ofticc, and the number.’
of competitors, ( a ho, according to the
genius of our Institutions,' will always
aspire to the station.) cannot fail to sub
ject the People.' of the Un ted -Males to all
those a glia’, ons winch have, in T.ll ages,
marked the progress of every elective j
on earth. Indeed, ambit - j
ous struggles for political p< wer of this i
character, with all the had passions they j
necessarily engendt r. wee not om> rc- j
garded by our : oiitical Fathers, ; s one i
of tile most formidable evils whine tlirea- ;
ten onrfree In-ititutfons, hut probably the j
severest trial to which they would b ■ ex
posed. Hence the ohlig; ti n an I duty
which they so strongly ii c ilcatecl upon
the people, of guarding against and ni
tigating those evils, by vigilance, made
ration and caution.
The interesting question o', “W;*o is j
to bo our next President ’ i-s now fairly j
before the Nation, and considered in con- |
nec'ion with all its probable conscqnen- j
ces, may justly he regarded as oneol the |
most important which lias been agitated j
in our country. In its issue, are not on. j
ly involved the fate oi Democra’ic Re- ;
publican principles, but the whole course*j
of our national policy. Nay, more, it \
will comprehend in its result, n- t only •
the judgment of tlie present, hut a direc- j
tion of the lu tire course of the adminis- ■
t ration of our National Government; and j
that, too, pronounced by the highest an- ;
thoritv of Ihe Republic, the sovereignty* .
of the People. Such a contest, at such a j
lime, cannot fail to produce the deepest i
political and party excitements ; and the j
more attentively the subject shall bo con
sidered, the deeper will become the con
viction of its importance, and the neces
«, sit'* of vigilance and caution on the part
of the People. It mus?, moreover, Fel
low Citizens, be now very apparent that
in a country like o.ns, of such vast extent
and diversified mi mesis, it can seldom
happen, in the course of human events,
that any citizen will possess such pre
eminent qualifications and popularity,
over all others, us to command the
ofa decided majority of the People; an the
consequently the best manner of concen- \
tralmg'the popular will, and giving it of- j
feet, in relation to the Candidates fur i
those high offices, wd! not only attract a |
large share of public attention, but wii! j
be regarded by the whole Nation ns a I
subject of absorbing interest.—Such has '
already been the case, in relation to the
approaching election. The people feel
it the more sensibly too, inasmuch as the I
evils which must flow lro;n lining olticns
so much sought after, and < t such vast j
responsibility, with men who are neither |
♦he first nor second choice o; a m.-.io/ity, 1
atos.greatlv aggravated by t o defects oi
o’}rConstitution, which devolves the e-
Ibcdon, in case no individual has receiv
ed a majority of the electoral votes, up
on the House of Representatives. R was
to prevent the mischiefs which might rc
suit from having a Cnief Magistrate thus
imposed upon the Nation, contrary to i:s
wishes, that the Dcmocra* y of the Union
(following the example of tlicir Republi
can fathers,) have'lately united in a Na.
tional Convention, and agreed to present
to their country candidates for the two
high Executive offices of the Govern
ment.
In the early history ot our Confedera.
tion, common dangers produced concert
I* action, and in the two first elections of
tVr- p~*-.eminent merits of
Gen. U'as'iington, male harmless thi<
defect in our political sys em. For long,
meritorious, and well tried services, the
Chief M agist racy was bestowed upon this
illustrious citizen, unsought and unsoli
cited, hy the unanimous voire of his coon*
try. So too, at the third election, winch
was, no doubt, essen iullv mfl i.-nced liv
the opinions and administr lion o r that ,
great and gor.J man, and his associates, '
i: was no? mutcrmflv felt. At the fouriii ■
election, however, Jhe defect was made j
evident, in the strongest colours. Then!
was displayed, one avenue tit least, j
through which anibi ion and parfv might ■
sicressfullv triumph over the People’s j
will; and, although the particular point, j
from which th ■ danger rose, was irnme- .
diat dy seized on, and guarded hy suhse
quciit- •»men*l'T|«ots of the- Constitution,
th - radica 1 defect which i n it led a Pre
si 'efit. to he elected case of no popu
lar choice) hv the R pn-santafe s ot n
[small minority of tiie People, was left
wholly iiiitoiiciitd. The contest which
then took place, ns violent ns it was a
hrming, was fru tful, however,’of the
soundest arlmoniti in to the leaders of the
Republican Party, at the head of which
stood the great apostle of Liberty, Tim
mas Jefferson. To avert tiie mischiefs j
and danger of an election by tiie House
ol Representatives, and to secure unity
of action amongst the Republican Party,
they undertook to devise means to con
cent.! ate," in ail future elections the votes
of I hat portioq of the People who adopt
ed their cre6d. upon a single candidate.
For that purpose recourse was first had
to Coheres si onii I Cnucttses. The system
was then resorted to, and justified, as one
offncccssily. Its avowed, and retd ob
ject was to secure the election of a lle
publican Qiief Magistrate, and prevent
such a collision as might transfer the
choice to the House of Representatives.
It was in this way, and through tiie a
! gehey of the Republican members of
Congress, making nominations, in Caucus
assembled, that Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Madi
son, and Mr. Monroe, Were presented as
Candidates to the Arner'can People, and
were elected, and re-elected, by large
rnMonties of the popular suffrages. Thus
far, one of the great o!;jects"of the Con
stitution, (an election hy the people in
their primary colleges,) was believed to
he gufaded and secured. But this sys
tern was attacked and overthrown in the
wieitioraole con est of [B24—’s : and the
failure bv: the ff vnuhlieari Party on that
Occasion .to elect its-candidate, was fol
lowed by the election of a Chief Magis
trate by the Hoes* of Rejiresciitatives.
in- utter disregjird of the popular will, and |
under circumstanoes which j rb iuci d the
deepi-s* exci'emmit. Indeed, s> s' rongiy
inv.iressad was the distinguished individu
al who was the object of that choice, of
the importance of an election hy t e Pi o
pleoftiieir President, that, in his answer
to the J-> nt Committee who announc*. d
to him Ins apj oin'incnt. lie declared,
«• That could his refits i! to accept the trust
delegated to hhn. give tin immediate up.
]0 lij.it/lt/ to the People, to so m und ex
press. with n nearer approach to unan ffi
ih/. she o'ject of their prefe ■ence, he should
not hesitate to dec [me the. accept nice, of
the eminent charge, and submit the momen
tous question again to their determination
What less tiian the deepest conviction <>f
the danger of an election tiy flic House
if Representatives, ins'eacl of the Peo
ple, could have induced Jiim, in the mo
merit of triumjdi, to hold sucii I mguagf.
What s' ron go r Rvouehment, ofthe im
portance of a clear expiession of the i o.
ptdar will, and this defect in our( onsti.
t'.tion co ild have been given than th s? j
This election, however, and the sta’e of
things to which it gave rise, scan roused
the People, and the elements of the Old
Republican P ir'i/ rallied around (renerai
Jackson as the individual, in whose, per
son popular right* and power were to he
vinlica’ed. After a very violent and
embittered contest, they succeeded in
placing him in die Presidential Ch dr,
Ofthe election of 1824-5, an I tiie scenes
which tiienf occurred, it i.t not needful,
nor would it be proper, here to speak.
They firm a prominent and interesting
part of the his'nrv of those times of our
Republic, and will long he regarded by
everv friend of Rf-presenta'ive Govern
ment, as a political -pencon, rather than a
precedent ? This clot lion, however, did
more ; it satisfied the (V ends of Pony ar
Sovereignty, of the necessity of again re
porting to some mode, for the purpose of j
securing this important election to the j
People, and preventing the recurrence of
; those scenes of intrigue and ambition,
I which were presented on that occasion,
i and may be expected invariably to be
! presented on an elec ion. oj the Presi- ;
dent bv the Mouse of Representatives'. |
In the case of General Jackson, owing j
to the peculiar circumstances, no step j
was deemed necessary* to concentrate \
' their power, and imbodv the popular will, I
I as it had been suSficton’ly m heated in the j
I previous contest* Besides Ins great and |
| signal military services, he had become !
s > much en-lcan d to the Republican Par. i
tv, bv tiie hold and determined manner
in winch be had resisted lli» prin
ciples an 1 doctrine s of the previous ad
ministration, that no measure qt tlie sort
was deemed necessary to insure his re
election. He accordingly came in, bv
an overwhelming vote of the American
People. But the Republicans worn not so !
fortunate, in relation to a can iidals fori
the Vice Presidency, rn., danger was
apprehended from tiie n umber of candi
dates, and at the co .f eting claims and
divisions of differentiations ofthe Union.
To obviate these, thffllepubiicans of New
Hampshire, with v ii nisi me rested patnoi.
tsm worthy of thsmseives, came forv/ard
ami proposed a flaiiortal Convention, as ■
the best means of healing divisions, snd j
securing the triumph o”Republicanism ;
and it was accordrnglv held with the hap.
piast effect. 1 his Convention, no doubt,
gave r,s r - to that which has recently been
faild m Baltimore, and whose proceedings
now submitted (or your approval. V
is 1 lie re on-'liberal and dis: Ter-sW
Re;i dilican who considers the prov sions
I ofonr Constitution in relation to this sub
• the effirts tint arc making to carry
j the election to Congress, and who is op.
j pos r -d to such an election, that can fail to
! p -rceivo the necessity of adop’ing some
: plan to unite tiie Democracy ofthe conn
| try, and give effect to its will in this all
j important election? We think not. The
| odv al’ernative then presented, is a Na
| tional-Convenfion, springing immediately
from tiie People, and representing the
various parts of* Die Union, or inn alian
donrnent of the expedient for concentra
ting the national will, substituted for that
of Congressional caucus nominations,
and an election hy the House of Repre
sentatives. Os the evils of such an elec
tion, you require, Fellow Citizens, a? this
day, neither argument nor admonition
from us. Few, it is to be hoped, if any.
now doubt t !i;tt the wi-e men who famed
onr system, intended to secure to the
i People, the choice of the Executive
branch of their Government, and to ren
tier it whofiy mdependant of the Federal
Legislature. The choice by and respon
sibility of the President to the People,
was one of tiie vital principl s of tiie sys
tem. Is this not manifest form the man
ner in which the Confederation itself was
created? In its organization, are not the
House of Representatives and the Execn- i
live, alone regarded ns the popular bran- I
dies of the Government, and immediate
ly responsible to the People? But not to j
the Senate. There the equitable princi
ple of representation,' founded on contri
bution and population, was as a matter of
compromise disregarded- In that Branch
of the Government, cadi State on the j
score of its sovereignty, lias equal rights.
I s legislative powers are co-extensive
with the popular branch, with the excep
tion of ttionev hdls! No laws can pass
without itsconcurrence; the'most impor
tant proceedings of the Executive are
subject to its revision; important appoint- |
ments require its assent. Tlvre is tbe |
pow -r to ratify treatn s. and try all iin- ’
poaciinients of the high officers of the j
Government, Executive and Judicial ! ,
There the small Suit .* of Delaware, with i
a population of To thousand, has a repre. i
s mfation equal to New York, with more !
th m two millions! There four States, I
wi ll a population of more than five mil. |
lions, nic onlv entitled jo a lepresenta- j
tion equal so the four smallest wi h a pop- |
ukifion of less than four hundred thou- |
sand! There one half of {lie nation, re
siding in tour or five of the largest States, :
!ms a representation onlv equal to about I
the thirtie'h part, n-sid tig in four smallest i
Stales! There
People, residing in four or five States, i
are represertted by eiglit or ten votes on.
iv, wiiilst the olives are represented hy
I thirtv-cight or fbrl\ ! Would *he Con
v ‘iition have been willing, nr would the
p oph- ever iifive consented to give such
p-nvers to on** hrailch of tire Government,
and that too cons'iuHe.d as the Senate is.
un'ess it had been in’euded to leave the
o’hers t r th - iumiedia’e action of the
popular will, and es'peciailv one so imp< r
t fit as that of elec'ing the P esident?
Besides, tiie Gons ihitio i, in its letter as
well as in its spirit, show* that ibis was
tiie ease, and that It was never intended
to giv<! Copgr ss anv control over the
election of President, save only where the
j people should fdl *o make a choice ill
their primary colleges which, it was then
believed, won! I rarely if ever occur.
IL'iiee, the onlv duty assigned to Gon
g,ess hv the Constitution was to count iHe
votes in a conv uidon of both- Ho is •«, an i
declare the result. The Constihridri,
moreover, it will be recollected, contains
only two disqu lifical ons upon this sib
ject. The first and most important ol
which is, that no Senator or Rf po senfa
tive in Congress should be nppoirted an
i lees n* of President or Vice President of
the UniU-d States. For what purpose
was this disqualification, out to ex-dude
Congress from any participation in the
appointment, and to guard against the
possibility of intrigue and corruption?
The men of that day were too sagacious
not to know that in deciding so import/uftt
an elec ion as that ofPiesident of such «
nation, especially at periods of great po
i litical excitement, intrigue arid ambition
would have their influence, if th<*y did
not govern the decision: and that indivi.
dual interest mig.it prevail over the gen
eral good, especially as ii would always
be known, before the election took place,
i tSiat a Sew individuals in Congress would
1 hold in their hands the pow -r of deciding
! the question. Besides I tin objections
i spring ng fiom ambition and intrigue,
I there was another arid stronger slid loan
I election by Congress; and that was, th it
! jbis mode you strike a fatal blow at
I r ftpesehtative government itself, by giv*-
j j.,'- the power to elect the most important
officer of the re; u iic to a minority of
the People. Can there be an evil more
threatening to the peace arid integrity o,‘
j!,,. Union, and which ought to bo metre
dreaded by every friend of free govern
ment? It has been justly remarked, and
ii cannpt be too s'ro.igly an ■ o.hen repe-i
--j t t :,at one of tiie givale-t evils wliicii
1 easi threaten public Hhcrty and our hap
system.next to revolution and disumon,
is an election of President 'y the House
of Representatives! In this sentiment we
are quite -sure a large portion of the
American People will concur, and it is
therefor- against the dangers and evils of
such an election, that the liberal and en
i lightened of all parties should be more
1 anxious to guard. Ncr is this view wea-
J kenad by the fad that such an election by
| Congress is authorized bv t)ie Gottslitu
i tion! It inav L > asked, we know, as it
j has lx en asked, why i!i * sitgar-ily of the
framers of that instrument did no*
'j Inresi-e these alarmHg consequences, and
j provide so'ne other remedy? ■he an
! su’cr is a piam one; they never imagined
I the occasion won! 3 arse when its exsr
j else would be required. Indeed, so re
( mr-.-trt was believed to t.o? the possddlity of
I mi election ofProsident by the Mouse oi
Reprcscntniives, that the celebrated tri
umvirate of‘BT, (with James Madison nt
their (lead,) in d -fending the various pro
visions of the Constitution and recoin
mending it to their countrv*, ommiited to
offer one reason in favour of this povision;
or to defend such a mode of appointment.
A negative argument, to he surf. 1 , but
one entitled to great consi fermion. But,
tcl’ovv citizens, whatever, tiie
mode or means of concentration \Yhjch
t it- Republican partv shall adopt-?o«?oid
these evils, they rnu.-.t expect to he JffisaH
ed by the errfmVes of their ptinciples,
with ail the artifice of ambifion and the
ingenuity of partv. Their motto is,
“ Decide, and conquer,” They know that
uni’ed. the Democracy ofour country is,
nai e-.er wii! be, invincible. That to
govern it, it-soponents must distract and
devide it. By destroying the means of
union, they prevent that union by which
only the Democracy can conquer. The
opposition is a smal’er .body, and has j
more bounds of union, m their svstee s
, . , C. . *.
oi corporations and exclusive privileges;
in the partial legislation ra* the States, as
j well as of' the- Lnited Stales, which ena
| bit' ilia rich to become iicber, and ren
! der the poor poorer, its members have a
j common interest, which will general!v
induce them to net together. If to the
power of union of weak h and general in
telligence, they arc enabled to add the
advantages of division among the De- j
I mocracy, they are certain to govern j
the country, to mould al! its laws and \
direct their administration. it is a- |
gainst such division, tliercfore, that |
the Democracy should ever guard, with
sSecples* vigilance. Al! the means of
! preserving union should lie cherished by
I them with almost the same tenacity as
! those principles which, without such
! union, can never have praciic 1 effect. To
j th-se advantages, which our pod ica! eric,
i mies expect from our divisions, are to be
| ascribed nil the attacks which have been
■ nw le, and will continue to fie made, upon
! the. Republican party and the Convention
1 r -c.cn!lv held by them in Baltimore. The
j objections to it are as various as the Pro.
I lean shapes which the opposition them
! s -Ives assume, who, h;v u .- f •!!>• I in tiie
; attempts to defeat the Convention with
j the People, will now assail it audits pro.
| ceedings with renewed vigor, h he
j comes, then, not only proper, but a mat-
I ter of dutv in ns, to tixamiue some oflbe
j most prominent of tlu-se objections, and
I we shall pr-oce.ed to do so in as brief a
manner as possible.
The first is that against tiie character
of the Convention itself. It is denounced
in strong and unmeasured terms bv the
whole bodv of the opposition, not only as
a mere instrument* of party and a gross
assumption of power, hilt ,as a system of
dictation bv scLf-eaganlzed and irrespon
sible individuals, intended to control and
bias tire ponnhir will, and in violation of
onr Cons'itution. That it is the will of
the individuals only who compose assem
blies, and not that of the People, which
gives the fief.
Wit’-fout yielding up for a moment what
we conceive to he aiming the soundest
Democ-atic doctrines, ilia! in relation to
public affairs, any number of citizen.-,
however assembled, have a right, in a
respectful manner, to offer tin-ir opinions
an-1 express ibejr wishes; and in so doing,
are enti led to S»e respectfully heard; we
insist that (he late Convention hold in Bal
timore, was no vohfn-nrv and unauthoriz
ed assemblage of individuals; bift tlint up
on anv fair and uaprajud ced view, it con
sisted substaintiall v of from a
very large porlion ofa Union, in whose
candor a fair e.xpressloif of the choice of
the Democracy of their resp- ctf d pop’,ons
of the country was made. That iis menl
hers were supposed to speak, not their
individual sentiments eJono, hat the o; i
□ions and wishes of those whom they
represented. That they did not permit
t themselves to indulge individual and local
preferences and par:iulities, hut were
bound by a sense of duty to collect and
compare the sontimefils ofthe people eve
ry where, and recommend those who pos
sessed the largest shire of public ennfi.
dence. They acted in this as in a* high
representative character, and ifit be true,
that an Elector is bound to follow imnli
citly tliejwill of his constituents, upon what
ground can it he said that a Convention,
j thus constitute !, would have a y 1
i o’* discretion, in the nomination ofiudivi
| duals, wii bout regard to (he opinions and
I wishes ofthe people ? \»- !nf are tiie
i safeguards against misconduct in all such
; Co.i veir ions ? Simply t hat care be taken
! that thev emanate directly from thepeo
’j pie, convene at some-central point, nod
! be s -parafdd as for as practicable from
*| the influences of rha existing ndniinistn:-
i lion. Would riot such a mode of nomi.
| nation b»- m-icb more likely to imbodv
: and give effect to the popular will, than
| any that has yet been adopt : rj ? R j.- nol .
i preferable to the old mode of Cong res.
I sloiiai caucuses, sustained for more than
j twenty years by toe established ns <ges
!of tbe republican partv, and which reault.
i ed in t!i3 election of Mr. Jefferson, ffr.
' Madison, nnd Mr. Monroe, if that mode
.! was justified in the language of theCau
*l cus of 1205 —'■‘■From the necessity of the
j ease, from a deep convict/on of Pie impor
i i tax.ee of -anion to the re-putlicans through.
. all farts of the United States, ard.as
r the lest mode, of consulting and represent- i
ins the interests and wishes of all upon a
subject so interesting lathe whole people of
: the United States,” —how murk more
• ought that of a National CoifcrAt/tm to
be justified by the same considerations, at j
the pres-nt moment? If it wasthen pro.
per to resort to a Caucus as n means o!
□ reducing union among the. Rjmblicaris,
of arresting discord, -and preventmg an
*1 election by the House of Representatives,
why shall wa- not now resort to a less ob
jectipnuble and better mode (or tin* accom
plishment of the same objects, it it was
then necessary, with only two opposing
candidates, is it not now indispensable,
| when we have so many aspirants ? I( a
: Congressional Caucus r< ceived the up.
I probation of such men ar. Jefferson, Mad
ison, nnd Monroe, (asit d:d, for they nc
cepted formall v their nominations.) wi.y
have we not a right to expect they would
sanction that of a National Convenfion ?
If they believed the cause of liberty and
free government had been eminently pro
rnoted by union thus produced, why shall f
we not profit by their example ? Nor is
there any force in the objection that the
Republican partv itsclfhas sometimes foil
ed io resort to Caucuses and Conventions
without injury ? Admit it ? But because
they may not always have been m-ccssa
' ry, is it therefore true, that they may not
sometimes be so ? Because the suffrages
of the Republicans may heretofore, with
out them, have been concentrated upon
eminent men, does it follow that they may
not hereafter ho beneficial to produce
concert of opinion, and prevent division ?
A re you prepared then to throw aside all
experience, all history ofthe past, and re
fuse to profit by the wisdom ofour poiiti
cal fathers? We hope not! But all such
modes a.earn'd to lie liable to serious oh.
jeciions. Granted. But what are the
evils which must arise without them?—
I That is the question. It wafers not, how
i s’rong the objections to a Omvendor) may
1 be, the enquirstiil must be, is there riot
! less danger (o bn apprehended !rom them,
j than a Congressional Flection? Is it not
a thousand times better that tbe evils even
of a Coriven :un, whatever they may be,
should be borne, than that we should be
exposed to the calamities of an election
fibv the House of Representatives, ib.e
Random Box of our whole system? \ ins
is the on!v true issue. If, however, any
Infer mode can lx.* devis d gladly, we
doubt not, would tiie nation bless the
amending ham!. But until some amend
ment. ofthe Constitution shall be adopted
to cut off the possibility of an eh ction by
tiie House of Representatives, and cause
tiie will of the People to tie respected in
file ch; ice of their Chief Magistrate, it
shoo'd he the duly of the Republican par.
ly, either 'hrongh National Conventions,
or some other officicent mode, to concent
rate their power, and produce harmony
j and union among their friends. It is in
j this \Vav onlv, ns experience has shown,
I and as ail experience will show, that they
| can ever hope to maintain their ascenden
j ev, secure the triumph oftheir principles,
and give effect to the-popular will. Who
ther any amendment on this subject,
guarding against the evils of ah election
by the House of Representatives, will
' take place, rests alone with the People I
It is becoming, however, daily a subject
of increasing solicitude, nnd may soon
' result in such an amendment, as will re
* medv nil exisdng defects in this vital part
ofour system, and secure an (flection to
the People in every contingency!—When j
I that shall he-donu, then will our nrgu- j
meat in favor ot nominating candidates i
for the high offices of President and V ico j
Prosiden*, through the medium of a Na- |
don Convention, he. obviated, because j
then the sovereign right to choose these
offices will be secured to the People (hem- |
selves in that cent ngenev. But until this '
shall he accomplished, either Conventions, j
or some oilier more exesp i mahle mode, j
will continue to be resorted U>, as the on- j
ly means of preventing greater evils >o|
public liberty. This is al! that the Demo- -
cracv of the country can do, and this is I
what {hey ought, and are bound bv the ;
most solemn ohugations of duty to do. It j
inns? be conceded too, by all, that accord
ing to the true principles of onr Cons'itu- !
lion, the President should he elected by j
the People of the United States. How
can that great object be effected except
hy the adoption of some system by which
thev shall be enabled to unite together and
concentrate their votes ? It surely be
comes those who object io Conventions to
point out some ether mode of accomplish
-1 ing that object—none other has b-'eri yet
! offered, and we feel jUsfified in adhering
! to the usages of the Republican party.
I Rut who are. the, persons that object to
i Conventions ? Arc they not the men who
i have been endeavoring for years past to
j collect and concentrate the members cf,
i their own party, and not only the'mem
! hers of their own party, but the scattered
i fragments of all parties; the apostates fcpru
I pverv political faith, hy means of caucuses
| and conventions ? Are they no- the men,
I who are nprmlv combined together, *o(ie
( font the will of the People, and carry the
| (floraion to (he House of Representatives,
( where the choice of that higli officer, up.
[ on which part rests; the prosperity, the
| happiness, and the liberty of millions, mac
j be made to def end on bargain and intri
! gue, among a few individuals, who niav
i seek their own aggrandisement at the ex
j pens- ofthe country?
I The next objection against the Corr
i venfiou. and one recently urged by in.-
j opposition, is that tho whole proceed 'ng
! j K purely of a party character; intended
! a ions to preserve the power of party and
| perpetuate parly principles. Hence it
! ; S- that we fi'-ar the spirit of party so
i strongly deprecated by the very men
. | who are invoking its aid, by their own
. i ambitious and party purposes.—That this
» spirit, which parried to an t-xiremc, may
become injurious,
ike {BUfi \vfe«) expeei.-i l ) see free coun
trieai' iis influence, must be
a very supcjrllcml human a i'-
ll irs, and Hwv«Ubut a slight ac-qu lintuncn
wiih the history of foee governir.; n*j.
In n counlry like ours, it is not roly the
but the doty of every v.\ tc
make liimlelf acquainted Will) the opera
lions of die Gfwmrirmrcrt and the c» nduct
of those intruAcu with its adminisimtiou.
Eveiy eitizfflf here ra.u aspire to the
higbes' officii in the Siiitjsq the only puss
ports to which are iha riivor and confi
dence-of his fellow men, ccqnirec by flic
possession of tah n’s and \ iriuu. In such
a state of socictv, that there s'iouJJ be
■ collision.? of sentiment and m-ec-s's, and
political parties, is ".a only u cousetinence
natural, but irres:s ibln. Nor is t'r.t- t-x
--istence of such parlies destitute of j-üblic
utilijv. They bring in'o action t lie great
est talents. They excite «-jealousy and
vigilance which insures fidelity in pub-lie
functionaries. They check attem'p’s at
llio usurpaMon of power, and .Herein
preserve the rights nf tiie People. Such
has been the effect, not only in onr own
free govermn-nt, but in (hose much h-ss
so. In Great Britain lias (his not espe
cially been ihc case 7 —There the great
and overweening power of the monarchi
cal and aids ocrical branches of the gov
ernment has been counteracted and kept
in check bv the boldness, talents, and
ponu! oily of J,hc loaders of political par
ty; nor is there anv thing immoral or
improper in men having the same object,
co-operatingps a party on hours: princi
ples, for its at sinment. An individual
in the political world taking his own
course, without consulting those o!’ the
same principles and opinions wi'h himself,
wan'd become insignificant. His isola'tjJ
exertions might become unavailing. He
would be*a unit, opposed to a strong pha
lanx, united by a common interest,and an.
imated hv a combined will. The ur.’y
way that he could oppos ■ with success
the movomen’s of his political opponents,
would be; to unite with theiso' having t e
same views with himstlf. Nor would
this imply a sacrifice of principle or in
depen;h:f.ce on his part. A breach of
political morality, the d«ing an act of in
justice ; or the trampling on the rights or
liberties of a fellow citizen, can never bo
justified or excused, by regard or corn
plnisancofoa parlv. This is readily ad
nf tt* (I. But the concession of subordin
ate questions ; a compromise of views of
policy ; of the course to he pursued Io at-
Di n a certain end laudable object : or
the' meforsnee of particular in lividn.-ils
to fill certain stations, are not only the
diei.Ves*of xvisciom, but are to be—fustifi.
e l bv the maxims of the severest nr.!
most inflexible morality. Men excited io
preserve and maintain the libnrtic-s-of the
I country ; to oppose any attempt to sacri
| fice those ’liberties, and to.hury them uri
j der the ruins of (he Cons'itution, would
| not onlv be inexcusable, but: highiv enm
! inn!, to suffer those great and vital ob
jects to be defeated; because, in the
pride of opinion, they would not sacri
fice, on u question of mere expe
d! iv-v, n causti uiiich they might not
have been the first themselves to suggeft*.
The question which these political ca
suists ought to put Io themselves, should
bo this: Won! ,it bn better that they
sho-il I endanger tbe public happiness or
j the public liberty, than eive'up some (’;-
j vorite scheme of policy, or yield their
| assent to an individual’s being placed in
j an office, whose opinions in genera! coin
j cicled with tlicir own. though they might
j have a preference for another? When
! parties acton honorable principles, there
is no dancer from its existence. But this
opHi-onis not meant to extend to the jus-
I i ideation of I hat factious and envenomed
j spirit bv which parties are sometimes-sn
j fiuenecd. Whenever an individual is
| ready to sacrifice the honor of the nation,
j the principles of the Constitution, or the
i rights of the People, to gratify Ids own
j ambition, or satiate his vengenee on no.
j litical opponents, such a man deserves to
! he stigmatized as an enemy to his conn
| trv ! Tho great tiling to be attend'-d to
i in a free country, therefore. Is not to :. ro.
'
l nonnee an mrtiscnmmalo' anatnemn a
| gainst all political parties. The People
should inquire into the inodves by which
parties are actuated, and into the ten
dency of their measures, jfa particular
party or set of individuals are united to
preserve the public liberty, and to secure
the Constitution on a firm basis, there
( m.-n, by whatever epi:he’s dlstlnguis.hed,
I deserve); the public applause and grati
j tude. if the tendency of the measures
i o 1 another party be to overturn that
• Constitution, or subvert the li’ crti s of
j the People, such men, however imnos-ug
j the name which th‘-v m*tv have ass;mj.-d,
| do not met it the public support, lint she ild
; ho firmly resisted by every-fri *nd of his
j country. It wan'd be tin- duty i-i the
I .good ci'izsns to unite his er: >rts to tease
i of on c party, wh’ie hn should avo>d anv
1 connexion with the oilier. !;i a society
I constituted ofsneh par:t.-s, and inn conn
i try 1 ke ours, who would bo justifisd in
j s'andin? aloof as; an unconcerned speda-.
I -or ! WhOtilfl "ti not be ho'und to choose
he?ween par (-s and measures, which
might b** beneficial or injurious to Ids
conniry ? finder the banners ofthe first
described of these parties, would he not
■ be imp -lied, by tile strongest impulses a
idu'y and patriotism, to enlist? Would
Hie not bn in a situation, where, next to
the crime of uniitng on measures* hostile
to the public happiness, would be that, of
remaining neutral? Miserable indue
would he tiie excuse or those wiio refrain
from affording that aid which they aw - ’<
their country, under the pretex*. tha
thev crinnoc agree upon aViv measure
policy j and upon any preference o* *:; ’
j wduaw. :'u -,e wlkwc main übj^lflj
I r t.> m- smSfair.fr> I heir ’’i
; { '■ ••' ■o;.- po’f d :r. t.'i*pl*ftents be ’ ; |U
j persons actim; wish juefc
| foci ii.c!if;cult either to justify their * '■■■'•
: conduct :o therr court rv or their ©wa
j’coiwc .'Mjfs; They might discover too
i th:.t :i.sy had sacrificed the best of"
j rauv-sm that pr do of opinion, which i»
• not smashed v,;*h success, but with no.
| t'dag sho*t ofaitaimni; it *n its own way,
i these reflections origin, wo think, to be
: j seriously weighed by every citizen ia a
I country f h']icy are not only impor.
; taut to those who are struggling far pow.
j ( “r, which they mean tv) wield to promote
i i the public ha j ip l mss. but to those whom
• ; e rcoolo, having placed in Jiu'hority.,.
i ; ha wo' u> contend wnl, an opposition,
: vvjiose dcad ; y host:'ty would delight to
■ j ovefithrow them an . their principles a!.
■ j togctl.o.. v.inon is even more important
to n parly who tire in power, because on
I | it depends the eLicrency ofan administru
-1 j non. and I e sm cess of the best cancer.
I ted plants 61 poacy. An oppos lion, does
j no! rec are so stroiig a cement to :o&tain
success amongst them ; bv whatevePcis.
sitwilfinly O' motive each individual is ac.
in tied, yet ii each finds fault with some,
imiig, n maty oi eftnci is produced— not
so whh those who administer the Govern,
meat. they do not unite and harmon
ize, not only in i's general views, but ul.
so in lit.-! particular which ore
adopted, their movements, will be marki w
ed hv irresolution and imbecility. They
will be incapable of resisting the efforts
of their op; (meats, weakened as they
w.li Lc b\ tiin Ink c-warmitess and iudifferr.
enee ♦>{ their trior..'is. iSueii must always
be the effect of a sort of mutual concesj
ion and 'union on the part of those wiio
proiiss tlie same political principles and
liilii’-. alii: . V, hen parties acton honor,
able principles, there is no danger in our
country from their existence and in-"
flueVcc. Who, then, ought to be a;
s an zdy6i the appellation of paity, when
j properly, and especially such
: a parly a’ that which binds together the
Democratic Republicans of our LJi ion ?
vVifnout sucij u party, Follow Citizens,
evil na n and evil prmcijilca'couid never be
success:ul:-« res sle'd, nor could the great
purpos-s ol’ free government b« accotn.
pushed. If parties soni -times produce
• m.s. itief, (and nil admit it,) they ought
n v rt he less be sid borne. Like the li
cenlioi s less ui the press, - itps an evi! so
. intimately c rmecled with the good to
f which it is allied, that urn-connol be de
stroyed without indicting an incurable
wound on the o her. All these objec
tions, then, iu the to its
■ proceed,n-'s, on party grounds, areintun.
fGon f for political effect, and will at
! one • - be d tooled and scouted bv the Peo
i pie 1 Thev ought not, aad cannot have
. 1 weight witii the enlightened portion of
. j such a country as ours, and at u Crisis
hke the present.
I Vi c fume now, fellow citizens, to nno.
. i ther objection to the Convention, or ra.
; tiior to utieui jrs nomii.e’ions, and to nno.
■ | t!:cr oi.ui - !' at o t n verv ditfer
. | ent character, r.tvi probably one of iho
! most m:.sc:i,evous am! wicked that has
i ever been mads auamst ihe peace and
. ; happiness .» any country! It is the at
| tempt iu create .section-:/parlies and di.
j tr/s/cn?,mnd l > ancaate one portion of our
■ j country ironi the rest, by charging upon
■ ! the sm .nosed cu-iucts of our complicated
; ohtir.il sy Merry the cal.irmtios winch
■ | ev-i men • re emleavoung themselves to
bring about. This is a subject oftinns-
I cemdeni an I universal interest, and one
i that d 'ui: mis to lie- well weighed and con.
' si lured, hv ad parties, end all man! And
: ! ere we wd! 'axe occasion to remark,
; ! that ii is on tins weak sate of human na.
• j tore, in appeals to th * most degrading and
! ! ci tngerorio passions of the human mind,
i that those who seek >o betray nations to
L thmr purposes, and kindle the torch of
, j ci.scord, always resort. Jt is here that
. | ambition as wed as fanaticism (always
i prolific in ihe allurements and delusions
. | mmessarv to accomplish their purposes,)
> i direct their batteries. It is the point,
j moreover, in which not only all free Gov.
I I ernmerits, hut our own peculiar system
j can be most effectually assailed. Hence,
. 1 It is, that in ddfhivnr purls of our couu
;! try we see mischievous and misguided
• | 6ien at’empiin-; to weaken the bond of
. | Union, and eneitir.g the North against
• i Souih, and the South against ihe North,
j j The peculiar dliTert-nces in the social
•• | organise, ion of :ims<r two sections of our
• ! country, U ever a ready and faithful
, j sirif ct, ■:> creata ;lm.se jealousies and
. j disscnsons. It has ever been n funda
? j ni.-nn.i i.i'tii'l© m the Republican cn ed
t i r ! at ihcso reSutioi.s were not bv our own
f ’ Coo>s>it u ? ia.iaS Chvier, brought within
- the serpe of Fe h.*r d powers, and tiiat
, Gongr.->s-has as lilt’e tight to interfere
! %vi:’n the.doim-s*i< relu’iunsand local iu-
Kii’ii.>:of the {Tubed States, with the
relations of ranter and apprentice in
‘I ?.iiui£m-hnscit.s, or -mister ana srreent. in
: Virriit i, as limy i.ave to meddle with
t ! s ;f :; U1 : ..., c ; ,! relations in Great Britain,
. ; Fran< ' ■ ' ■ Sr. deeply rom-d ia
i i thi convic ion, not only in the m/nds of
i,..he.it of the northern and rodde
•. ’ but in the minds of die whole lie.
fib J ion, tliat.it is in.
- : corr-or - n-J in the Derrocrntic -creed, and
; j c e.,sntt)iescoe of the broci lines of scp.
; i ,;;:: 5 00 between t::e Strict construct ionist
f j o r t pa JefTeisonian school and the latitu.
•! ! dinnUnns or under ail
: I P, n ;fan colors. R. puhlicanism ts
' i ’ V-• -,r',vv ofthe s'abditv of our
- I rile-: Srdt-6 g-- ar ■ - .
, nor set o. men, can m-
I ! tr.r.a. -> o y . • ,
■ i t -r-rc or ev. ii u »b to lo'crterr, w.ih
I A ofthcStafr s, cmfcra
i the re:; •; v. u ■<*-. . _... ,
I . - i..G i-k.iill
r» r » ’ t ■ ; .
■ ( ; . 1 e ~if:oC!Hills
! . d o Union, ite-.
f- ; '- r . 9 ' • '