The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-03-19
n CAUCUS.

| Would that had the exquifte imagination
of Titan or an Angelo, that might define
ate the contribution and coniequences of thefe
irregular afociations ! Would that I had even
language Efficiently vivid to defcribe the re-
cent and indelible impreiIions on my memory
Such a!tocIations may fOmetimes be fulfilled
by the mott mPeriousipolicy And the max
i'm OF the JeluS, is at leaf true in politics as if
is in fuperititon, that the end will fometines
ccniecrate the means. When greet party is
about to oie itielf in impotent efforts for the
want OF common concert; when it is about
TO ipIit tieif ntoc6ts & factions, on the choiceof
a candidate, or the adoption of fome mighty
meaiure; the neceihty of the cafe may fanStfy
Caucus. What then do / mean to convey?
that thoie objects mutt be valuable indeed.
which can juitify a rccourfe to 10 improper an
expedient.
Caucus is fraction of party drilled out
by accident or by choice, who meet for the Dur
pote of deciding on fome fyftem OF meaIires.
which their individual effort would be nnabIe
to accomplish. Whatever be the object Of
the aiiociaton, whether it be OF a general or
perional nature and whatever be the form under
which they2ppear, whetherinthe broad day light,
IN the view and with the appreciation of their
iect, or whether petty portion meet in mid
night conclave the fame principle runs through
the whole ofthem. Every member has pledg-
ed him!elf 10 throw his individual Judgment in
to the general MATS and fpite OF Lis previous
| reflection, in fpite of all thofc lights which ex
periences may fhed upon his mind, he binds him.
ielf to acquieice in the will of the majority.
In vain has the Contribution injured to him
the free ufe OF the elective franchfe. In vain
has it enabled himto feleet that man and fupport
that fyitem of meafures, which appear beft cal
culated to advance his own and his countrv's
interef. The refolution by which ne has bound
hiiDfslfto the altar, has annilated all his pri-
vileges fave only the conlolation of uttering
with his own lips the vote, which the majority
have impoled upon him.
And who can pretend to predict what will be
the nature ofthis vote? Who is there TINT can
dare 10 anticipate all the refolutions, which his
fellow-members of the Caucus, may determine
to iupport Is there a man who can pretend
TO fathom the deep defgns Of private ambition,
whole influence may have originally collected
the meeting or is there man who will have
energy enough at all times to Fill the waves of
4 tempeft, which the collilion Of fentiment and
the feryour of the moment may have excited
Who is there that can fay, before he leaves that
| meeting, he may not have pledged himfelf
to fupport meafures, which may involve
the ruin OF his country or his friends? Called
| together perhaps for the very bei purpofes,
they are perhaps driven on to the mott depIo.
rable defgns. Every refolution takes its i'm
prelion from the moment and that moment,
4 criGs Of agitation, recruitment or alarm, may
| give its ieai 20 the mof detru6iive meafures.
| The reluctant noyicate may indeed ihrnk back
from the definy which awaits him and he has
the miferable comfort of recolleding, that it
was bis own choice which determined his dehi-
NY.
OF the individual it makes fave: into To-
ciety at large, it is calculated to introduce the
genuine fpirit of defpotifm. What is the
ruling principle Of democratic or reprefenta-
tive government That the greater part
of the electors fhouId give laws to the lcfs.
Yet far different may be the confequence of
a Caucus. Suppofe a legislative body to
conff Of 100 members of whom fxtv
are republicans. Thirty-two of thefe erect
themfeIves into one of thefe fe6ts of illuminate.
A fyitem of meafures is laid before them, which
obtains the fau6tion and the vote of II only.
This limple majority thus gives it law to the
thir'y-two, who are prefent and thefe in their
turn, command The votes Of the remaining 2s,
not one ofwhom perhaps would be willing to
/, yield their individual fupport. What then is
the confequeHce! That II republican mem
bers not only dired the conduct Of the whole
, party, but impofe their letters upon a legina-
? ture of 100 members. Vary the circumstances
by varying the form or the objects Of the eau.
Gus, and the fame refuIt, the fame re(trsint no