Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-03-20

which would certainly have fallen to his
share, il his friends could have appeared
AZ the meeting in person or by proxy
Wo OF them, we know to be firm and
true men, were at that moment in the
State of Virginia.
as to the Caucus itself, this is not the
place to discuss lis merits. Much has been
sad about it, and much will be said again.
Yet, that, while America is divided
INTO parties, there should be some mode
OF gathering the sense of each party.
or concentrating it's strength, and OF
toi''ng the efforts of its opponents, will
scarcely be disputed. In every election.
winch covers a large space of ground, and
embraces numerous population. recourse
must DC mad to some such expedient This,
us true, is the Gordian knot in the Con-
sutuuon, and blessed viii be the politician
VINO %ui fairly unite it But, until this
diiilculty be removed, there must be some
means or other used, of collecting senti-
ments, OF compromising interests, and of
inducing the voices of those who think a
like, 70 bear upon some one manor else.
what follows? That the federal party will
always have it in their power to scatter di-
vision IN our ranks, and to hold the scales
OF an election. But, if this be true in any
case, 1t must be so in that election.
winch has the whole of America as its a.
rea, and spreads to everv voter in the u
mon. III any case requires remedy, il
must be one where the first step after ha-
wing no election, is to be stride over the
hrst principle of a republican govern
ment, the will of the majority for. the
choice will be, in that event, at the will of
Congress; Congress, which votes by
states, and not by Members CONGRESS-.
IN which the States of Massachusetts and
New York will sink to the same level as
Delaware or Rhode-Island
Whether Caucus of the Members of
Congress, acting informally but in their Sc
Parate characters, be the best mode OF col
iect'ng the sense of the Republican party.
It IS not necessary at this time to discuss.
1t IS enough to know, that this is the only
mode which has ever been practised and.
that no other is likely to be devised and
pursued for the contest which is at
hand.
Besides ; it will never answer for the on
ponents of Mr.. Monroe to array them
selves against this mode of nomination
The friends of Mr.. Crawford would do it
WIN very poor grace indeed, seeing that
ms friends at Washington were not only
the hrst to attend it. but to start it
Ihey were the persons who, it -ems, issu,
ed the first invitation and so bent were
they upon meeting, that if the Gazette
speaks the TRUTH as many were at the first
meeting, as voted for him at the last. viz
81.
Nor, will it serve their turn to say, that
Mr.. Z. has had foul play because he was
on the spot as well as Mr.. Monroe he
was an " Executive" officer as wei! as the
other, with as much patronage a, his
heels, If either Of them had been bastard
~ enough to use it. Why, then. has this
caucus not been fair one? The game
was open to both.-We scorn to dwell up-
on the insinuation, thrown out (by the
Washington Gazette,) that MIR. NJ was
" the erecutipe candidate for the presi-
dency," as if Mr.. Madison had sought to
lend the weight of his name to the cleo
tion-Ihe inslnuation is as futile as it is
false. There is as much truth in it. as
IN another assertion lately made by the
same paper, that Messrs. Madison and
jefferson had both injured their popularity |
by taking the side of MIR. Monroe.
Thus, having this Caucus as an Evidence |
OF the fiu6ic sentiment, along with the o. |
ther proofs which we have CLEANED from |
the Meetings and the prints of the Repub
lcan Party, how can we forbear to believe |
that MIR. Monroe is not ONLY the choice |
of the majority of this State. but of |
the Republican Party With this |
conviction deeply impressed upon our
n'nd,we think 1t time to take the seal from |
our lips. How can we help regarding him.
not as the son of Virginia but as the prop. |
city of the Union How can we but re-
gard him as the candidate efthe Re1u6Hca,
Party--as one not only worthy of their /
votes, but pointed out by various evidences |
as the man on whom these votes W II gen
orally fall? The strength and indivisibili- |
ty OF that party are therefore with him. |
lie who flies against him, must love |
some other man more than his party |
or, must hate Monroe SO much as to com |
sent to divide his party.
Had public sentiment seen fit to award |
the mantle to Mr.. Crawford, we should |
nave bowed most cheerfully before it /; but |
we confess we are pleased that it has hap |
pened as 1t is--not that we rate Mr.. Craw- |
ford less than his friends, but that we |
q" love" Monroe more" The last has |
claims upon his country which have given !
the cast IN his favor. He has been a longer !
time on the stage. He has been i'll her SER
vice from rs down to this day. He drew
his sword and shed his blood for her libeT.
ties. His diplomatic abilities, the infor-
nation which ne has accumulated and the
talents which he has displayed, are strong
claims to her favor. -As Secretary of Stat,
he has indicated our rigits--of War, he
has put ms reputation to risk in an Office
which had disgraced two of his successors &
at crisis when the stoutest hearts began to
quake. No man could have done more for
us than he did in those dark DAYS of tbe