The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-03-18


very where PUBLICLY and freely discussed
The members of Congress, then. will have
learnt the sentiments of their respective con-
Stitucnts, before they leave home. The OBJ
jcct of a caucus, is understood to be nothing
more nor less, than to bring those sentiments
together and by comparing them to ascer-
tain who has the prepondcrancc of popular
favor What odds does it make how this
conference is called whether by an anoni-
NOUS card, or one signed will, the name of
Mr.. Bradlcy.(2) The essential object is the
conference and so that one BE fairly OBJ
tanned, the people care very little about the
forms and ceremonies which Ted TO it. AS
to the assertion that the notice was hriU0te,
we require evidence. We have seen very
different statement of this fact--a card f,1,5-
EShsd in the name of Mr.. Bradley and a
Countcr-carc in the name OF Mr. Somebody
else. And asto you, gentlemen, We presume
that it would have made very little differ
ence whether the notice was public or pri
vatc since your new born religion ON this
subject, you would have been too scyr,pulous
or too stately TO have attended. although the
notice had Come 10 YOU in the form of a sw6-
5'Sna ca test.fcandstm, and, that, on the So
Tenn call Of Your county.
AS little weight is there in the objection,
that one Of the gentlemen who attended the
caucus was delegate from one Of the terrific
ries 60 a man who in elections has no suf-
fragc and in legislation no vote" For the
business of the conference was neither to e
lecta president nor to make law. 1t was
simply to collate and compare the sentiments
of the people in the different parts of the uni
on, as to the person who should be the next
president; and we pfcsiime that the delegate
from the territory was AS capable of report
ing the sentiments of his constituents upon
this subject, as if he had had ga suffrage in
elections" OF vote in Legislation"
vNhere, then, are all those terrors which
are supposed TO exist in cauCuscs Accor-
ding to our apprehension Of them, their
conclusions will flow from the people will
be the mere echo OF the peoples voice. But
should it be otherwise !; should they misre
present the opinion of the people, they have
spoken as a caucus, not as congress their
conclusions have no obligation, no coercion
in them they are not laws which the pco-
pie are bound to obey on the contrary, a.
sa!nst the conclusions of a corrupt caucus
which should misrepresent their opinion,
the people would not fail to vindcate their
rights. You seem to think that congressi-
onal caucus has the power of forcing on the
people whoDsocser ther please as president
that by brides in one shape and another,
a caucus composed of members of congress
might be ittuccd 70 place any candidate III
nomination, and that such nomination would
bind tie people like magic spell; that
from it they would have no possibility of APP
peal or escape. Dc you really believe all
this, gentlemen ,, If you do, we arc sorry for
you. You have lived to very little purpose
and know but little of the independence of
the American character. Waving, ut pre-
sent, your remark on tie compatibility of
congress, and of which it is hoped YOU do
not speak exPerimentally-let me ask YOU
this question; do YOU suppose that, if one of
you (and let it be tie most prominent charac-
ter among you) could have prevailed OH the
last caucus to put him in nomination, the
people would have had, no choice but to
have made him president, it is impossi-
bic to read the question, without smiling at
the superstition ofan answer in tile affirma-
tive. The nomination would have been
laughed to scorn. And why would it? Be
cause there are men of another stamp who
are willing to serve us {: men, whom we have
tried for upwards of thirty wears men,
who sat at the Helm through the storms of our
revolutionary war; men, whom we have e.
Yer found faithful and vigiIant men, as pro-
found in policy as they are upright in their
views; men, who: have never had an object
but their conntry's good men, compared to
whom, you are BUT as boys of Yesterday
These are the men whom our fathers have
gone down to their graves, blessing; and
whom we certainly shall not desert, because
of your petulance and importantly.
You will hear from me, again: for the pre-
sent, j take mt leave. Learn TO think a lit
tie more respectfully. of the people of the u
States. Believe il, they are not to be so ca
silly duped, as you imagine. They know that
spleen and illnature are not patriotism nor
hot-headed intemperance, political fifmncss
ONE OF THE PEOPLE.
~ In the caucus of 1905, the contest related
AS these 6roteStGnts say, to the Viee-President
but il nota contest between fcderalists and
Republicans-7but such a one as the pre- sent is
between two Republicans-Mr Clntoniof Now,
York and Mr.. Breckenridge of Kentucky. o.
that occasionj it is believed that disting,lished
member of this protestant association took an AZ.
live part in opposition TO Mr.. b.
(2) TIL 3 circumstance would never have Ell
citgd so MUCK feeling and criticism, If the hu
rnorcus character Mr.. bradley had been vel
understood. This is strongly marked that q
writer in the Enquirer Of Jan. 10Th, saws, tia,
If he was gasp;ng OH the bed OF death, he would
MT miss an opportunity IF gratifying his propcn.
s,tv to fim."-TiIesc protesting gentlemen oapAt
TO have known this trait.
1t is impossible to publish the two following
letters, without expressing the utter indig-
nation and disgust which they are calcu-
lated TO iHspirc-Such essays, however,
are not without their use. They will Shew
in what way and ty what kind of men the
moa pertinacious opposition is made te the
election of Mr.. Madison. They will shew
D, x1<.s.. al. i