Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-04-02
ADDRESS.
TO THE PEOPLE OF prIRGLvI4.

In dischargmg the duties enjcined upon them,
by the meeting held in fredericksburg, on the
18th instant, the undersigned committee feel
themselves called on to explain TO their fellow
citizens, the motives and views which actuatc
them In the measures resolved on by that NEE
ting. This explanation seems to be the more
necessary, as their object is in direct opposition
TO the nominations recently made by large
portion OF the mcInEcrs of your State Legisla.
turc and the subsequent measures taken to give
effect to those nominations. We are aware that
the practice of Legislative caucus nomination, 10
Offices, the filing Of which of right belongs to
the people, has the sanction of custom in Vir-
GINA; and the supIne acquiescence OF the peo-
pie has given il weight and influence, that in
| its real character it by no means merits. We
disclaiT, distinctly, any intention of mpeach-
ing the motives of those Of our fellow citizens
who advocate or submit to this practice; but
by whatever spccious pretexts Of expediency or
necessity it may have been originally resortcd
TO; or whatever weight it may have obtained
by the long suffering and tame submission of
| those on whom it operatr;, we cannot but view
its continuance as fraugiit with the most serious
evils 1t is not the least of these evils, that in
| making those nominations our representatives
| go beyond the pale of their duty-ucglect the
| legitimate objects for which they were elected
and take upon themselves a power chat yot;
have not dclcgatcd'to them, and which the con
stitUtion never intended, they should exercise.
Let it not be said that in making those noynina-
tons, they act not legislators, but as private
citizens. The sophsm is too ilimsy to reauirn
exposure and refutation, and has weight with
any thinking man who is not willing to re de.
ceived. Its influence upon the political cha
racter of a people, cannot be otherwise than de-
leterious. Its obvious effect is to forcstal pub.
| lie opinion--to present free discussion and in
yestlgation--to embarrass the exercise of the
| elective franchise--to bcgct an indifference and
contempt for the most valuable political rights
| and privileges and itmGY be madethc means
Of eevating to the highest Offices individuals of
inferior worth, who would not be the choice OF
| the people if left to their free unbiased will.
The considerations Of porty Gscendrncy and
state influence, by which the friends Of the late
caucus nominations eDdcavour to enforce them
| upon orr acceptance, we consider as no less
! Objectionable than the nominations themselves.
! We are instructed, in tho parting admonition
/ Of orr political Edttc, the truth ofwhicl is con-
| firmed by our own experience, to view with
| distrust not only those who use such arguments,
but the cause in which they arc used.
! Deeply impressed with the importance Of the
above considerations, we feel ourselves not on
| ly warranted, but imperously called upon by
our duty to ourselves, our countrvmcu, and our
posterity, to spread before the world our So
Tenn protest against the caucus system, and 70
use all honorable and practical means within
our power to prevent its continuance.
We readily admit that the reasons on which
we rely for rejecting and denouncing the Caucus
system, viii not bear out in rejecting the late
caucus nomination. For that, however, VIC
will also endeavor to assign good and sufficient
reasons.
We have not been careless observers Of Tho
events Of four time. We have contemplated will
a proper national pride, the rising greatness o