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the people surely. And when placed in power and anxiouG'. to 1ctain it, who will probably receive their loyalty-whose interest<: wiil they consider and whose commands obey? Certainly not th-? people's. Feeling no obligation or responsibility to them, their -;111;1c:,1 and frowns, will be alike nnl1eedcd and condemned. But to tbe rnff11r11ti11l body of gentlemen whose word is law and whose ·displeasure is politi- cal death, these seekers of emoluments and honors w01.1ld be all humil- ity and obedience-ready to sing hosannahs to their praise-to walk in the path of their biddinl? and to deal defamation and ruin to all those who will not sink to the like debasement. Under such. a dynasty, where would be the bulwark of liberty- what security or right-what redress of \\Tongs? There would be none. From the dignity of free- men, the people would sink into ignominious servitude-" ceasing to be rulers, they would become slaves." The truth is, their only safety is in the freedom of elections. Take this from them, and they are <lis- poiled of e,·ery protection, except the uncertain and sanguinary one of the sword. Ile who would stab the vitals of liberty, let him strike at the elective franchise. To enslave this country, the surest ancl read- iest way is to establish the practice on ·a permanent footing, either by law or by precedent, of having public serYants chosen for the people instead of by the people. It matters not by what process it may be broui,rht about, whether by legislation or by the potency of caucus de- nunciation, the effect will be the same. 'I'he work is accomplished so soon as the principle is settled, that a self-constituted tribunal may issue its orders and punish disobedience by political proscription. Now to m:v mind, it is as obvicns as thr 1100•1-rfav i-un. t1,»t tho 0 <' indi- vidnals, who under a misguided zeal, shall claim for the late Caurus at ~rilledgeville, the high and emperial prerogative of electing our delegation to Congress, and branding with odium, those who may express dissatisfaction at the measure, are making a rlan~N·ou..; inr:nr- sion upon the freedom of elections, and are laying the fou1:dation of an arbitrary system, which if not arrested by the people, will lead to their disfranchisement & to the final subversion of the democratic character of onr institutions. I know that evil consequences are not present to their minds. 'With an eye fixed upon the great advantages of party concentration, tbey do not perceive that they are marching- to the object with a reckless tread over invaluable rights. 'fhis is a natural fault with ardent minds in the pursuit of real or ima2innry good, when unrestrained by reflection and experience; but it should be re- membered, that it is possible that the greater evils may tlow from a high handed accomplishment of a good purpose than the very e.ils which were intended to be remedied. The first acts of arbitrary power arc seldom alarming. The ruinous consequences which may spring from them are often unforeseen, nlikc by those who make the infrac- tion as hy those whose rigl1ts arc infringed. It is not until they swell into n magnitude which threatens the loss of life, liherty or pl'opcrty, that they become ob\'iomi to all, and then perhaps they al'e rurcless and nnremicliablc. A small disease, dispiscd at first, may terminate in death; and so may a small infraction of the people's privileges, prove a political cnnc~r-a little unheeded speck-but still
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