Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-04-02

"e 70 Always as inucn, perhaps more, dev oteC
10 men, Than To principles. As much as ".
are accustomed To boast of our exclusive at
tachment 10 the latter, principles and men can.
not be separated. IL embodied wisdom tbat
we admire. Ii is virtue confessed i'm human
| shape" that we love. II is principle speakne
in the lie and actions of men, that comes HON.
10 The bosoms and business" of us all. |,
was this view of the subject, the apprehen-
SION of the dreadful excitement which would
always prevail in eecting President in Con.
Sress-the intrigue il would introduce-ths
tcorrapi!on to which il would give birth-the
con'ulsive struggles for power--the destruc-
i've in1aences-to which il would subject Tn.
legislature OF the cOuntry-which induced our
'a,hers 10 lodge the power of eiecting "A Pre-
sldent IN the hands of the people. They act
II is true, by their delegates, hut the electors
must be chosen very short time Before the
oay OF the election, and, having performed
the single act confided to them, they return
immediately To the body of the peopie-thus
avoiding all the dangers which mig Int arise
from the employment of pr--existing budy
OF men, for the same purpose. Sir, said Nlr.
H. cannot contemplate, without anxiety and
alarm, the adoption Uf principle in our con-
s'tu'ion, which must, in practice, almost in
variabIy give the choice of the President 10
congress. L cannot but foresee that, on all
tined to convulse the country. we have this
nay before our eyes solemn warning of the
tact. when, AT future periods, the number of
can uldaies shall be MULTIPLICATION parties
snai' De formed IN every part ofthis great en-
pure, each anxious for the triumph, and zeal
Gus IN The support ofther favorite-when the.
worst passions Of the human heart shall be
reused INTO actIOu-when our affect ions sha n
"e rstanged from our friends, and our hearts
emotteird against each other-when the
whole interval between the different elections
siiaii be employed in dreadful note of pre-
paratlon" Tor The ensuing contest can Con
gress, uf they are TO elrcr,) he free from the
contagion Will the Senate and Huuse of
Representatives, amidst the tumuit of the no.
ii'icdl elements, sill like Halcyon, on The
waves, undsturbed spectators of surrounding
horrors Ii is greatly 10 he feared sir, that
Their more appropriate emblem, on such an
nccaslon,wlll be- that dreadful whirlpool of
Tie North, which draws into its fatal vortex
every thinS which falls within the influence
oil the eddies by which il is surrounded
L come now, said Mr.. Hayne, To that I'M
pleasant topic which has been unhappIy in
troduced into the discussion. mean a Con
gressional Caucus. The honorable gentleman
rom New York, Mr.. King,) in The course of
ms remarks IN favor vi an indefinite postpone-
neht OF me resolutions, took occasion TO men
tion, incidentally, "centrai power" which
"au crown up al the seat at government, and
which was destined, hereafter, to control the
eiection OF President The gentlemen on
the other side have thought proper, in reply.
w enter INTO vndicdton of Congressional
E"neo7 Tor the nomination of a President Ii
their arguments could be- confined To this Hall.
and were not calculated To have aniniuence on
pubic opinion, would not, perhaps find my
sell called upon To notice them. But, be-
llevlng that the subject is one of vast ilnpor-
lance, that 1t touches the vital interests of the
country, and may, in its remote consequences.
rndanger liberty itself, find myself constrain-
ea 10 attempt AN answer To the particular ar
guments which have been urged. shall con-
line myself strictly to defensive warfare
and shall enter no further into the discussion
OF me subject, Than may be necessary 10 reply
to the arguments which have been urged on
this floor.
Ii is commended by the gentleman from New
Jersey, (Mr. Dickerson.l and the same argu-
ment has been urged by all the gentlemen who
nave spoken on The subject, that Congress
sional caucus for the nomination of Presi-
dent, Is not liable to any of the objections
which may be urged against the election of
President by Congress, because the Senators
and Representatives, in attending a caucus,
act only IN their private capacities. This ap-
pears TO me, said Mr.. II to be- falIacy SO OBJ
'ious, That he was at a loss to conceive how
any one could be deceived by it. Sir, if so or
60 priv ate individuals should meet in this CITY
and nominate President, what effect would
be produced by it? Would il be an event
looked To with anxiety from every part ofthe
country Would it divide the nation into
parties, or challenge the praise or the censure
oil every freeman in the land? No, Sir; IL is
because the gentlemen who compose such
meeting are hlembers of COnGress-it is the
authority with which they are clothed. that
gives influence and effect TO their pro-
ceedIngs But for this, no such meeting would
be held. They meet in their character of
members OF Congress, or they would not meet
al all. IL Is true, they do not meet TO perform
legislative duty, aud the very objection TO
the proceeding IS, that they step beyond the
hne oil theIr peculiar and appropriate duties,
ADD use the influence attached To- their Offices
Tor the promotion Of an object not within
their Congressional powers, and with which
the spirit of the constitution forbids them to
interfere To show, cOuclusiYrly, that il is
The Influence attached TO the Office of Mem
her OF Congress which is The foundation of =
Congressional caucus, and that il is expressly
IN their character Of hIembers of Congress that
gentlemen attend such meeting, MIR.
II. adyerted To The fact that none other are
invited or ssHrred tO attend. If gentlemen
acted Only in their private capacities, every
American cii'Zrn--ce certainly every inhabi-
tant Of This District would be at liberty to-
unite with them. Look, too, Ut the forms Of
proceeding in such cases the Hall of legisla-
ton Is appropriated to theiruse the Speakers
chair - occupied 10y their chairman the Off
GERS of the House are stalioDed at the door To-
prevent the entrance uf any hut Members of
Congress who arp ratlad ,,,, bv st.t.., T., ,,;,.