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Story
November 10, 1840
Alexandria Gazette
Alexandria, Alexandria County, District Of Columbia
What is this article about?
The re-election of six Whig members from New Jersey by a 2300 majority vindicates their prior exclusion from Congress by the Administration party through force and fraud, affirming state rights and popular will against federal overreach.
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AND ITS SEAL—
The decided and emphatic expression of public feeling in this State pleases us more than any victory we have won. The re-election of the six members by about 2300 majority, whom the Administration party in the House by force and fraud, excluded from their places, is a noble vindication of State pride and State right by one of the sovereign members of the confederacy. The lesson it teaches the Federal Government, that this pride cannot be outraged, and these rights violated with impunity, is a salutary lesson, such as will have its effect hereafter in the settlement of contested seats in the House of Representatives.
It is probable that party spirit never went so far before among public men sworn to support the Constitution, as when they shut out from the House five of the six Whig members from New Jersey.
The wrong was such, if not the unconstitutionality of the act, that the Whig Governor and Whig Legislature would have been justified in principle in a resort to extreme measures of defence, upon the ground at least, that where there was no representatives there should be no taxation, but they wisely deemed it best to abide the verdict of the People, and to commit their wrongs to the redress of time. In making that appeal, interest was imparted to it by the appearance before the People of the same parties, upon whose case the House of Representatives had adjudicated. The candidates for Congress on both sides were the same persons that appeared at Washington.
The men of the Administration had urged on Congress, that the popular will of New Jersey was, that they should represent the People there, but when an appeal was taken to that popular will, the Whig members are sent back by a great majority for so small a State
The broad seal of New Jersey was assailed and ridiculed in Congress, and by none more than, the men who claimed exclusively to represent the State, but upon that seal the People now, and with an emphasis too, have affixed their stamp such as will make it respected through all time.
If the men of the Administration believed what they preach; if their democracy was a belief in the government of the People; if indeed they had any respect for popular rights, and the principle of representation, they would not now, they could not, go back to Washington the coming winter, and usurp places they cannot well pretend to be theirs.—N. Y. Exp.
The decided and emphatic expression of public feeling in this State pleases us more than any victory we have won. The re-election of the six members by about 2300 majority, whom the Administration party in the House by force and fraud, excluded from their places, is a noble vindication of State pride and State right by one of the sovereign members of the confederacy. The lesson it teaches the Federal Government, that this pride cannot be outraged, and these rights violated with impunity, is a salutary lesson, such as will have its effect hereafter in the settlement of contested seats in the House of Representatives.
It is probable that party spirit never went so far before among public men sworn to support the Constitution, as when they shut out from the House five of the six Whig members from New Jersey.
The wrong was such, if not the unconstitutionality of the act, that the Whig Governor and Whig Legislature would have been justified in principle in a resort to extreme measures of defence, upon the ground at least, that where there was no representatives there should be no taxation, but they wisely deemed it best to abide the verdict of the People, and to commit their wrongs to the redress of time. In making that appeal, interest was imparted to it by the appearance before the People of the same parties, upon whose case the House of Representatives had adjudicated. The candidates for Congress on both sides were the same persons that appeared at Washington.
The men of the Administration had urged on Congress, that the popular will of New Jersey was, that they should represent the People there, but when an appeal was taken to that popular will, the Whig members are sent back by a great majority for so small a State
The broad seal of New Jersey was assailed and ridiculed in Congress, and by none more than, the men who claimed exclusively to represent the State, but upon that seal the People now, and with an emphasis too, have affixed their stamp such as will make it respected through all time.
If the men of the Administration believed what they preach; if their democracy was a belief in the government of the People; if indeed they had any respect for popular rights, and the principle of representation, they would not now, they could not, go back to Washington the coming winter, and usurp places they cannot well pretend to be theirs.—N. Y. Exp.
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical Event
What themes does it cover?
Justice
Triumph
What keywords are associated?
New Jersey Election
Whig Members
Congressional Exclusion
State Rights
Political Vindication
Administration Fraud
Where did it happen?
New Jersey
Story Details
Location
New Jersey
Story Details
The re-election of six Whig congressional members from New Jersey by a 2300 majority vindicates their exclusion from seats in the House by the Administration party via force and fraud, upholding state rights and teaching a lesson to the federal government on respecting popular will.