The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1823-12-19
CONGRESSIONAL CAuEFs.

CONGRESSIONAL CAUCUS.
| Necanuef but hope that tbeedprts Whicl
are making throns llout The country, In pr
sent a caucus nominal II of President
backed by the stlong expression of public
dsappfoballon Of such u procedure, from
Mime To Florida, viii prove successful, and
thu the people will be allo I'd To manage
their Own affairs IN Their awn way. Up.
posed IN principle IN caucussng, we en-
perceive no argument which can be deem
I'd cenelnsiyely juslficatory Of il. There
are times when neet ssity my partially JUS
tify resnrt IL th.s method Of serulin,,
il5tr ainifg, bat il ought 10 be abandoned
when tins necessity ceases To exist. In the
preceding contests for the Presidency, the
reasons we're strong and overwhelming in
favor of a caucus nomination, 81 far rs
mere erpediency was concerned though
the same objections 10 the principle which
are now used, were of equal force IN all
| iloae cases. Bat nor, setting aside the
| principle for a moment, dues eIptdiency
demand such COURSE Z Are two great
parties arrayed against eaeb other, under
the hammers of leaders whose political cha
faelers ar totally different, aud whose sys-
items Of policy may hc expected IN be mar
ted by a corresponding difference No.
So far from II, the candidates all claim, and
their friends claim FIR them, the popular
appelatlon of "Jeiiersauian Republicans;
all clatm to belong II the same party-to
BIZ devoted 10 the promotionot tbe same in-
tereats to enteri.s1 the same views Of na-
tlonal policy-and Ia be equally drttrnjn-
7 Il 4
penty, and IL deleod the rlslts OF the ia
ton. Then, whcreior. thu necessity OF n
caucus l. II uot evident from sthr lrnor
Otthe At guments addaetd III support oftht
system, ny we'll rs from fhe source from
which these arguments proceed, that IL IL
10 advance p,rSoaal ambition, aud not the
national Interests -that ii il 10 secure thr
aseendaacy u On iadtVid0di. and not 10 per
pefuate ne triumph d he republican party
that resort IS 10 be Lad to this unconsttd.
tlonal mode OF defeating constitutional
PROVISION To use an apt smile of a nor
them print, "afer the templ' iserected, and
those who have the right 10 occupy Il, can
eniel and ascend IN security, Of What use il
the scalloldng liz certainly neither ne
eessafy Tor support ner Tor paesage-butl
| ~ ~ ''iiiit't - NJ ii'' Afil'i HiA1f
We are glad 10 see that the Legislatures
OF some oil the states are alive To the i'm
porlance Of breaking the charm which PRE-
eedent has thrown around Caucus nouaBa-
tions, and We hope that some energetic
member of the Virginia Legislature Will
enforce upon his colleagues the proprlet}
Of Joining heart aud hand in the holy work
| TIE Legislature OF Tennessee has inst net
ed its Senators and Representatives. ITO ust
their eNertions to prevent nomination be
lng made during this session of Congress
by the members thereof ~ caucus assem-
bled, Of persons To Gil the offices of Presi
dent and Niee-President of the L. States,
aud a similar resolution is now under con-
sideraIion in the Legislature of North Ca.
rolinn. If the binding nature OF the right
of instruction has moi been sacrificed along
with many other republican maXlns, at III,
shrine of eXpedieney, Of whom, If a caucus
be- held, will il be- composed ? of the shred
and patches ofthe delegations Of states, III,
are To be Influenced only by request
Instead of an abstraction % OF the ca
eSiuercpubiicuuSn Nh. Cr wfard : friends
cIeiaSirely? or OF fragments of the friends
of all the candidates who may choose Il
attends lndlscrlmnalely ? These queries
important 10 the formation of correc
estimate of the extent of the obligation
which will be imposed upon the people t,
obey liz high behcst, time alone can de
.ide--and weawait, with much impotence
the result of thr matter. We are anxiou
10 know whether IRE, the people, are II
have an opiuion Of ctr own, and whethe
We shall have right Il express that opin
ION or II we are Ia surrender the homes
: dictates of our Judgment at the bidding q
that political monater-.that antlpode n
rernbljcansm Congressional Caucus. -
Let ii be held, however aud W. ventur,
10 predict, that the murmurs, which ar
now only " still small voice. will hrcai
: forth in courses loud and deep" 1t wi
have the effect producing an amendmen
: 10 the constitution, which will strike gu
, the bugbear which hauns the distemprret
: lmaginations of all Mr.. Crawfnrd's friends
To wit the dernier resort In the House .
! Representatives and forever put down tk'
whole system of caucusslng.
We cannot close this article better thai
, by giving the opinions OF certain of GU
, eminent politicians against the caucus sys
f tenn. 1t will serve us for reference, htrcaf
ter, il, as we incline to believe will be III,
case, the conduct of some of the honorabl
. gentlemen should prove that little refec
ton since 1915, has produced an alteration
IL their sentiments:
At Caucus holden IN the City q
, Washington in March, 1916, the Hon. Mr.
CLAY, Of Kentucky introduced the follow
ing resolution
Resoirsd, That ii is INExPEpIENT Il
nominate an Caucus, any person 10 be re
commended to the good people of the L
States, asssuitabIe candidates for the Ollie
of President aud Vlce-P President OF the q
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