Newspapers / The Weekly Raleigh Register … / April 29, 1814, edition 1 / Page 1
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'v- : ' ' vV,' : j-r 4:Hj "fcm$m ' ' ii than r . . ' tlfrU wished f PTC 1Ui?,? cooiumuort ropod by pur : Ptf.l,w,r: la rcf Pct to the reodc 'of e- Mr Pickcb said, tbc object bf the '"tXhoouog elector, of Prei ? JvUe-PrwidebtoCthe Unit- StoSl tbat de f b,6 i. h.e. fair and direct,- vote of the rb io .1S1 dUmcu .- qaal.ty.ng rr. if..,(Trife hvthcaarae rules Ski TtkcJUtci hive rcspccu.vcly pre d for Ac choice of rcDrcacnta. Ifan object ooly.to . be jttumcd j. locmTiag the coititurioa - I tai leosiblc of the decacy of cbaglcg my important features of xu Iftn charter of cur govemmenu Ibttictc it vould be better jto aulTer c3ca evils than to lay our hands nsKf opun U ; so much aandtion will h d:r;vc from the length of usagtf, as c!l r from a recollection oCthe pure 6y wheo it was fratntd. Consider J hr.ierer that the ioltrumcDt KLbrc$ a provision for lti own a srcv'c.entioiuch induces x experi ctcr cr.'ght pto?e it to be defective ; bcHcfirg moreover, that io this parti culirihxrcawos infiyorofthle amend. Retire so imperious i to -utvvcigh rr-r ccuctci vaiUng consideraiiotii t bufeltitmrd01)' 10 -ffer tHls propo ijtioa to the house I will fend oiiiigD such reasons infryorof the BtucTCi as appear to me most forci ble ; tV I fear I shalLnot b so for tsssie as to be able to pr esent them in :h term, as io cnuue inca w a ia rcnble coos'ide ration Ittfrctelcctive governments rrruch of tbeir lubi'.ity will depend on such la exercise of the elective franchise sjwUi rosun tranquility in the ip- pxt3tct of their prinapiil omers ; ' juuehjunctares hcy,wiliekpeiiepce t ihcir gieiitest trials. 'That this has i been !ccg a cttlcd opinion iv all be il- i b:rattd b- this fact,that Jt is from j this very consideration the jidvccaies d henditar) tucccss-ion draw their j ci.t arcumcnt. and hare loner sue-I tcectd in convincing the World, that to avoid ibe piipular ccimmotiou which tcld flow ficm the exercist cfthe elective priviK-gfe, itu-asprelcr-afjK toccamit to cbaoce tht appoiot ff.cr.ct the first naiigistrafe ol a na tr: Our care rancor, therefore, be t particular in establishing such a cede of choosing our first pxtcutive cer cn such (air and sirUple princi ples as to ensure the most general sa tofactioo, and thereby the most trao aSty. It will then be of lice c avail at Uim parties or politics may take ; "trili be experienced under!. any wind who fexl them will io a shori pnad mike the neccisarv amende Qcct by a fair expression of the puU Jha: uiRf uniform, method of an- paattcg eicnors ahould be adopted, rcioa f the cse asj well as CD 'hort 'experience demon ':?:. 1 his wil! secure ajut rqtla tht tihtttc wght offU dte. VAucruhe one tlr hl-In u rrrc'f,! L Ictfe, and sentiments ol the f "wi it ii vnic lu pro intt Cas nclitiral nn'ininnV'or. rli.; 7 ; r'ng only a fair ba! Jcce in the 5Ca!c 5 whiIc cr state c Hy if net mere divided to opinion l national N.hti mC uur,us c seal It no calculation to sic that' ir cfl Cc.of lnc nation by a miooritv ttCI ?.f .lhc P whiU: ao oppo". njust men answer Utyinay be preventekl bv each ,?,tll?5 cxample.of those :id vot; -f , 00T "tog a u- 1 this idea of sclUdcfctce. rathrr t7i K r Uate w,lh lhIrds uf JSlorlitsntiruentibhis favor -jvvtcu, inaiinii tin .ui as tnat tne fignts of ti. ' aware oi tne -i-t may be mid tn iKW ? t abstract , . , i,. proprtetyy many ot the states have been driven into .the measure. The question ngaio returrs ; if the states are qbliged to resort (as. some of them will rcluctahtly, I lenow) to a system ofprcservingtheir proportional weight why not establish at once a fair, equal and uniform tute upon this, subject? a rule .which every maos justice and good tense will approve, anti which will appear most congenial with our free form or govern crkui. If by this rule zuy state will gain or lose in rela tion to its present comparative weight, it will lose only whatin justice it ought It illy comports -with the dignity or the real interests of this great con!e- dcracy to ' suffer this struggling a- rzong the states lor. the advantages o ver each other. Yet so long as the subject is left at large, contending par ties will resort to it for present purpose-.. Ought we not then to fix a regu lar system which shall overlook the little interests of the moment, and such as will be just nd fair under any change of circumstances and in the remotest times? We mast expect murh agitation in the publi.; mind at the approach of each period of election, as well from contending parties in the same 9tate as from the states themselves. Th? j majority will endeavor to secure an i individual vote to the candidate they may. espouse, and to leave the minor I division unheard io the college of e- (lectors; while this will he resisted with all the art and insinuation a mi nority can command, even to the ha aard of losing the vote of the state en firefy. This will !e the ground of much crimination and recrimination, tv hie h naturally produce an irritation in the pub-ic feelings always unplea sant and often dangerous. At the eve of our elections sudden changes will be made, nr attempted, to answer the emergency. One, in' stanrc will he used as a precedent for otHers lcs justifiable, uoiil the people will havr. lost all confidence in the ex ercisc of this importaot suffrage. Vc need onlv look back to our late e lection for evidrnce of this. In the state of New Jersey, at the raomint ivheujhe people were about to exer cise their long accustomed rights of voting lor the elec tors, the General Asserfiy.'y met, and deeming it not prudent to trdt the election to the vote of the people, repealed the law on the subject, and vested that power in their own body; and accordingly appointed tneir own electors, vv nen these cases occur at this day, what m:iy we expect when the parties are more virulent and men less" virtuous. About the same time this subject was long disputed between the l Wo branch es of the Assembly of Massachusetts. Alter much disagreeable jarring it happened4 that a compromise was ef fected between the two houses, each havinginsisied.on the best terms which it could get for the purposes of their respective parties. I have been in formed that a similar difference exis ted bit tv ecu the two 'houses of (he Penes lvinta legislature on a former occasion, and that it was hot until the time had neatly efapsed that a comrito mise was effected; and the votes of the slate saved. It is not 'pretended that these compromises, were settled on the fair principles of public sentiment. They were mere barcains in which the parties were only influenced by a view to their own purposes; Jp i o shew the preference of a regular plan, not liable to Sudden changes, where it will Income consecrated by usage, I would instance the Mate to which I have the honor to belong. In N. Carolina almost ever since the government commenced, the method proposed by this resolution has pre vailed. Id consequence of whichthe most perfect harmony had been kept up. If io any district an election was warmly contested,' this Caused no ex citement beyond the limits' of the paf-: ticdar district ; and within each dis trict the contest was soon ended ; the failing would rest contented under the) reflection that the suffrages were fairly weighed- Different parties, would om any belief of ' its many oil the stat I prevail in different districts, in pro- w , - clusively gratified, each shared in the gratification of success whenever their importance entitled them to it. Previous- to the' last 1 election -however, the accustomed mode was changed, and the power cf choosing electors 1 for the time was given to the sue-1 ceedmg legislature. This chang caused moid agitation over the state than had been witnessed since the go vernment commenced. At the ses sion of the legislature when this pow er was to be exercised,. it was not. without much difficulty and much dis agreeable debate and irritation that they made the choice of elector., After which the former district p!an was re established, and a resolution passed by a unanimous vote in both branches recommending the principle of the amendment now proposed, ex tending it also tc representatives.' While this election is left to the re gulation oOhej'state legislatures, it will have a necessary tendency torn tcmiix state and, general politics. In most states the regular dutis of legis lation are of a different character from the subject ot national politics, and therefore should not be confused to gether. A state will better attend to its internal affairs where its lex'sla- ture is as little as possible engacj-d in j forming electoral tickets or planning ' modes of election' favorable topolitical j view?. j I . ' . I have confiued my remarks to the reasons why it would be advisable to have some uniform fixed mode, on fair principles, j I would urge as a particular reason for viewing the Pre sidential election as important in rela tion to the regularity and harmony of conducting it, the coincidence" of time throughout the nation. ; Every state being engaged at the same momx-nt in the same choice, the commotion may therefore be more general and dangerous than that which may at tend such occasions in more liankol sections. In enquiring what mode will le most advisable to establish as a uni form rule for the appointment of elec tors, but three! pUns present them selves: That by the vote of the peo ple in districts, as proposed; au elec tion by a general ticket ; an appoint ment by the vote of the state legisla tures . These aje the only modes, one or other of which the several states have had .in usel The plan now presented appears to me most congenial with the free spi- rit of our government, and the, most rair ana simple in its operation ir we still retain our Jhrst political maxun, that 'all legitimate power is derived from the people,' it must result that tne direct cnannei inrougn wmcn mis power can be ednveniently communi cated is to be preferred) No method is sq direct as that by which a man makes his own ticket, and votes it no mode is more convenient than that bv a single district No qualification of suffrage will be so reasonable as thit which adopts the rule which the states : have prescribed. , " in each district the candidates tvtil most probably bcknowu cither in per- sou or cnracicr to tne peopic, ana they will know the interests of the j ueonle. whose ODinioos they propose ! to represent, and the persons to whom they will', be resbonsable for faithfully J pertormmg tneir trust, nvery sect , tion ot our great community howe-! ver diversified in interest, will be dis- tinctlv heard in'the choice of the per- I son who ts to aurrrrmster the kws.- J ' ' I m. This being fair to all interest and parties, will most probably produce! general satisiactioni ir u.uci cue sen timents or interests exjst in sny state, those sentiments' or interests' should in their proper proportion be put into the national scale,and the fair result of the whole Oil! point out the true na tional rcpresenitibn.v . . Political parties will be less section al than io any other plan, where each single uistrrct gives a uisuuci voic, the political character of the votes will not so probably pev identified by vote' it Wyirequendy each end of the union will give a unit ea voce in onnnsition to mc uincr. as u was nearly; the case at ther.lat Presi- dential election. This happening to be the case' habitually for few peri ods, the political parties will gauuaK ly assume1 a geographical char acter. A maa.et.cted by the entire votes of j one end 6f the TJoioo will be looked j at by the othef end not as the rppre-1 sentattvc of the natron, but rather as the head1 of the party, and tat parti a local sectional one. . In the district plan: no cpucus o r self-appointed committee will be requir ed to form a ticket fur ihe state, wfrioh is indispensible in any other more ge neral mode of popular 'election fo; otherwise a generl conrert in select ing cotlld riot well take place. The people will be free from the imposing luflueace of a nominated ticket, and, will be able to fix ou their ovb candi dates with a fair prospect of -success; Nor will they be liable to imDosuion by spurious tickets, where every mac will know the person for whom he votes ; Very different vijl be he pas e where a collective, number 'of .candi dates are oamed on the .same ticket with all of whom, very.few individu als in anyone seetion of the state will be arquainted.; then a tiket wi!lg jn currency by the title that may be en dorsed on it, or the name of some prominent characier placed t the head of the list. From this circtim stance much fraud may be practised with eflftw-t ; as it will be very di IB cult to detectimpoitionstha: may be offered at the-various election grounds in a slate This kiny? of imposition was, if my information is correct, practised in the state of Ohio at s the jast presidential election by .which two separate tickets were introduced purporting to be for the' same candi date, which had the effrcr of divest ing fro.t him a part of fits support, though to a srriall extent. r Art important advantage of diatrir.t elc-iions is that the a:tion attend ing these occaViuns, hu vv ever highly excited, wit! ba conuaed to the limits j of Attached districts, and wirl -be' un known and unleit elsewhe:ei Thcv general tranquility of the state will re- main undisturbed bv any general ! cause ofexcitement. I may ndd., thz comparatively small importance df a s.ngie clecticn. will render it 23 ob- J ject less deserving very exraordiiM ry exertion; arid therefore iu the same limits the momentum of public agitahon will be less, thau when the general result was to give the united votes of the state.' In a state having any tolerable di vision of political sentiment, there will probably Lre a variance as to lhc results in the different districts which wiU be gratifying fo the bue side & the other respectively, wherever the one ot the ointfimaynavttnemostreiativevyeieu una irom cms mutual saiisraction we are to elpcct moVe gen-ral tranquili ty, than when the he.- -burnings - of aisappointment are appsiea exclusive ty to one political deiiO.itinatioa iu he state; while ttiumph of t-uccess exclu sively attends the others ; It is a tide of policy which applies toall "public measures, and more especial'y.to the concerns of a naHkn,-that next trt ihe ohject oi acting rightly is that ol "re'6 ucnng general saiisiaciion. - 5 , Elections will je-.'lst8ecMWtJ,,a' gajnt intrigue an& corruption whet t thi power is exercised bv the scat- te red freemen at large. W herethij trust is crn'tered as it were in a single - point, aO by jegtsiatiye o?e deTsig'u ing men will -Have more .inducement to offer corrupt influence ; and' in times' less virtuous a few powerful men m3y tre ahle.to ettect tne elevation 01 an indi?idu,d wfiom the nation may believe to bu Unworthy." The proposed methoa will arrive the nearest at a fair eouaUio between the relative ybeightoj the St tes res pect being had to Ihe propoTuonai di vision of political interest that may a(iTic, ai nisi this woufaj seem to give anadv v to tne smau states. rnasmacn as ih- 1 balance of ydtes jo a air.Ii ltaixfay:. large, one., jlnis hp weyef ; t ctcAivtuAYuciCiiut as nearyaoneutfairse tUe sbte whetl u wi juUv .vy pere a stare, is pre ci s.ely a ivied : w : j ts ,t vptes. it ianSa n t ii tral, and ixrj adca-'ay,. it oiigh t not. :If tht fionias" the. equality; ciimihishreven until ;k,approacW that propbrtipn pnly ought 'ifTiJ 5m o rityjtoy prevail J inythe coiJege of elecU tors ti n -- 1 ;; : j By anj? mode of ao.. entire vote toeaqhjSta foritii of the' peopleWthe mtlioii is' mt j Cf-flain to tTcvaft unless the" division ui .puuwu senciuienc; srrau joe; in tne" sdhie proptirtlo in ealtu 'j Aiki., bgwever divldedwjll glye jthe same -united vote, with a sta te J10 wc ver una nimous. Suppose j wo stages were leit to decide the election of a Pie- I sident, all the other states having giv I cp rt equal yote 10 A and to B. The nic; state cuiinea. o iy tne.-.'Oineruo 20 electors. ; nailer itate were uuanimously in uvor. of A's election and also nine twentieths of the larger the eleven twentieth 01 the larger " state oiity beip in favo.r of B. j What would be ihe result I Though A' will have 25 vottsand B only 11 tyet by. a general vpte B will be elected. Though arminority will in every mode be left, yet it requires no calculation to gee that ii single districts this will be the smallest jjossiblei 0' There a a mot states some cf versity of political interest, and io 80 o ther wayu aa each be heard tban by a , f district el.ctiddV .. . ? J(n the mode 6f appointment W ;a Legislative vote, this, privilege isunU nec ss trily removed. decree! farther jroin the people, .vho are the. fountain w. jjuuuai power, aaj in me esc tia benekaUi.-ki-t the pjw i? vir- t tunlly removed still rore remotely fronVthcui. j For. this ticket bu&t- of ' necessity bej fofrriird .by a cabxos of the state as-emblyf or by ?onie oiber collet tion of iodivd(tals. ' Tlits rumi nation' in aststeTHi pn in a stcte tftwUgn not bj igato- 17 yet, it ts hot in tht,- p0Ae of the people to .oppose, it successfully, tho a ;part or. th f whoie of hej persons nam eel should, beibbnoxUa-L Unless , by a similar. eoricertof otrri mdivn duals who may t4ke upon themselves Wmanuiactbre a i ticket nlopiyositiop, and in reality the qn-y a ternaiive with the voters weither ti decline his right f vote with possibility of effect, or g"n fils aid jtb ohCj or other of the ma nufactured tickets; ' - ;: v A reason? against aoy mode af giv ing the Undivided votes of the states; of all o'thers the mctet important dncl most affecting the vital existence of the uruoh usits tendeOcy to Wards a'r geographical severance of partiSi 3y J the principle q( v self defence all the- states- mu;t k jopt such mode, un'ess . uniform plan is est !&hed indeed they have nearly all so acted -at the laeledtoo as to give uoanimous votes ; t and I by this tnean a; whole sectiori of the urticfo, wich.il cnall .e ception,1 Voted for pne ' iudividual, wrm'e the opposite section "supported his opponent cftheeecuons are divided by Vegu'lar state lines. Now doV&:chierTinasU.aie so eleUed apm pear tci rep r esen t the w hoie union And will noVd small liumbtf r of rcpe titions of such' events naturally draw f rhe opposite parties in lookin'towWd ireir opponents t lopx airecuy acros this Vlivisiorial line I - Thej states A North, aftrd j East of Pennsyi vauia and Maryland wrch t exceptiori of one small siateifwercby:the manutr of. voting, unanimously opposed in the electionof ihe caddidate wfib suc Reeled.; ''mc lkite south and West were entirely f psammous in his. favors This seems evidently a aa ecx Advance toward a sepai f fe" tie n geographical boundanes yK the ktfritatioxx occasioned by Wind charces and! recriminator vin fa- ri...u lAori m i.iprl hatred and JC4 prevail mi mm mm- ill '!, I'' -r-V !; ,1'. V I. .. t. i ift . ' z 1 .' - mi f r.. WW mm r : I . " m m ;1t ? t .f - . r i : ' mm I mm, ip.t J. y ' mm 1 xlv W 4 mm
The Weekly Raleigh Register (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
April 29, 1814, edition 1
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