It still remains doubtful to me whether these will ever secure,
officially, the best wit and capacity--whether, through them, the
first-class genius of America will ever personally appear in the high
political stations, the Presidency, Congress, the leading State
offices, &c. Those offices, or the candidacy for them, arranged, won,
by caucusing, money, the favoritism or pecuniary interest of rings, the
superior manipulation of the ins over the outs, or the outs over the
ins, are, indeed, at best, the mere business agencies of the people, are
useful as formulating, neither the best and highest, but the average
of the public judgment, sense, justice, (or sometimes want of judgment,
sense, justice.) We elect Presidents, Congressmen, &c., not so much to
have them consider and decide for us, but as surest practical means of
expressing the will of majorities on mooted questions, measures, &c.
As to general suffrage, after all, since we have gone so far, the more
general it is, the better. I favor the widest opening of the doors. Let
the ventilation and area be wide enough, and all is safe. We can never
have a born penitentiary-bird, or panel-thief, or lowest gambling-hell
or groggery keeper, for President--though such may not only emulate, but
get, high offices from localities--even from the proud and wealthy city
of New York.