Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1808-03-25

defy this scrutiny. Occupying the station
which you do, il would be horrible TO think
otherwise of you. To turn against us the
&c vantage ground" which we have given
you, to use it for the purpose of embroling
us with one another, of running our peace,
and overwhelming the republic with civil
discord, in order that you might rise, like
the spirits of the storm, to the sovereign
direction, would be an abuse of confidence,
pitch of ingratitude and Der6dy, OF which
we trust that our infant republic has, as
yet, no examples.
But, acquitting you of this monstrous guilt,
how are we to overlook the indiscretion,
the folly, the petuiance, the inconsistency
of your conduct? As one of the people, I
take leave to ask you why you have thought
it necessary thus to sound the tocsin of "a
larm in our ears? Is it chat there has been
some great and Aagitions crime committed?
some act III direct hostility to the princi-
pies of the constitution > some egross as
sumption OF power not delegated by the
peoples some attempt 20 produce An I'M
due bias in the ensuing election Of Presi-
dent and Vice President 2 Is it that fred
with viituous indignation at this conduct,
you deem ityour duty to denounce it at our
tribunal ? Thus you would have US to be-
lieve; but how can we believe it, when
we know that you yourselves have done
and are now doing the very things which
you denouDce You arraign the late eau
Gus at Washington but have not YOU YOUR
selves, or at least the most distinguished
among you, been members of caucusses on
the very same occasion? Were you not
members OF caucus for this very purpose
in the presidential election of 1900 You
cannot deny it; you dare not DENY it
When 1t was found that there was an equal
division IN the electoral votes between Mr.
jefferson and A Burr, were you not fire.
quentlT, nay almost perpetually in caucus
tor the purpose Of devising means to en-
sure the ultimate election of him whom
YOU believed the choice Of the people?
Were yen not, again, in caucus for the
presidential election which took place in
1906 THESE are facts of public notorietv.
Yea do not deny them. Nay, you admit
that caucusses 'have heretofore been Gus
tc1narg:' Your consciences admonishetl YOU
OF the Inconsistencies into which YOU were
punglng, and you attempt to excuse YOUR
selves. 'These meetings you say, If nor
i: Ff,fed, were haHiated by the necessity
% the union = NO shutting in the ranks
gentlemen 4 caucus is right or wrong in
if wrong, nothing can make il
= ght. If the Caucus of 1908 was IN direct
hostility with he principles Of the oonsti-
intion; II Il Was q gross assumption OF
power not delegated by the people ) the
of which yoT were RENDERS
we're equally Gin direct hostility with the
constitution = were equally gross assump |
tions of powcrlot delegated by the people ~
fer the constitution has undergone no chdS@e
in this respect J, gave no more caucusine }
power in l20C--%, shan it gives in 1903. I
Ont of your own mouths, then, you are
condemned: wherein we Judge othefs,
yc con emn Nurseries for ye that Judge, |
do the same fhirgG."
But this is lot all. You declare with the |
solemnity of protest, which you make in
your Official asd sworn characters as men,
bers OF congress, that, in goRr ohi5iion !
q caucus is Gin direct hostility with the |
constitutions Vet, you yourselves have
been guilty oi'hii hostility. Are YOU aware, |
gentlemen, the abyss into which you
have thrown yourselves? Were you not in
1900 b0uld by your official osths TO
support the constitution; and have You not
Il iIlerately md repeatedly done en- act,
which, IN year Judgment, violates that con
stiiuiiOn Whether caucus, IN reality,
violates the constitution or not, is in this
part Of the enquiry, immaterial Ucu be-
HeUe that it hoes So; you have nevertheless
done the deed at the bar Of conscience,
therefore, yju are equally as guilty of
breach of your oath, IS if your opinion
were correct: For 'to him that esteemeth
any thing TO he unclean, TO him it is un-
clean With what face then dare you
come 70 otT bar to arraign others? II is
The hopordble Office Of states evidence, of,
iDiormers, that you court. With what face
dare you, who arc demonstraby and con
ieSsedly guilty, 20 arraign others who are
at least, in mention, for aught
that appears 10 the contrary For Il does
not appear that Mey deem caucus
breach OF the constitution the liberal and
fair conclusion from the fact of their having
been IN caucus, is, that they deem it cor
rect. We had drawn the same conclusion
IL your favor; but you have taken the
pains TO dlsClaim that conclusion, by de
claring that you knew who were infringing
the constitution, and deliberately SHINING
against the light of knowledge. Do you
suppose the people OF the United States so
blind that these paIpable and damnins facts
viii escape their observation You seen
to suppose it; but you shall find yourselves
mistaken. Away, then, with your Shutting
paliiations: in the opinion of plain and
honest people, there is not upon earth
circumstance which can palliate volunta-
ry. conscious, an Acknowledged breach
% an oath.
But most unfortunately for you, tho palli-
atirg circumstances on which YOU RELY, to-
screen yourselves, are incorrect in point Of