Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-02-12

CONGR ESSION4L CAUCUS.
lhere was time when an honest effort to-
concentrate the forces Of Republicanisln met
different fate from that which awaits il now.
refer TO call made at Washington on the
9th of February in behalf of the common
cause and signed by some of its most distin-
gulshed supporters. The appeal was made
TO the " Democratic members of Congress"
for the purpose of recommending suitable
persons for the Presidency and Vice Presi-
dency of the United States. The address
from its very terms was specific one I'm
mediately consequent to il appeared a paper
signed by Colonel johnson and others, which
puts together the mass of the two Houses, in
GLIDING OF course the portion TO which the in
vitatlon was not extended, and finds that its
entire numbers absent and present-consist
OF 26l out of which but 80 of the members
present are supposed to be in favour of the
recommendation which the call proposes
leaving, but not declaring an inference that
the recommendation will be unacc eptable to a
majority of 131, which from the mode in which
the statement Is couched, the unwary reader
might take to be Republican majority. This
is naked statement of the transactions, upon
which L beg leave to offer few hasty com
mentS.
10 the first place-although disclaim any
inclination TO disfranchise any portion of my
fellow cilizens, although party asperity has
no stronger fixture IN my bosom than in that
OF any one who considers party as n means of
serving the public, not as an end in itself-StiI
protest against the mode of enumeration re-
sorted TO by those who dissent from the re-
publican call. The invitation was specific
II is answered as though il were general The
appeal was TO the Democratic part of the two
Houses the reply is an array Of federalists
and democrats together. Its object was to
perpetuate the course of political conduct
which rescued the country from rash hands
at those very hands is asked the propriety of
the measure. It's aim was 10 continue the
same system which the experience Of twenty
three years has pronounced to be benefac
ion, and 1t is submitted 10 those who have
denounced the system and thwarted il from
Its commencement. / have an entire respect
ior political magnanImity, whatever shape it
may assume, out have yet to learn the wis
dom oil begging an adyersary'S assent to the
engine intended to be used against him. |
know not what opinion may be left TO the pol
iticans of Washington of those. who. with
more dlSinterested zeal and at least eouaI
honesty, concentrated the republican strength.
caused IFS triumph in 1901 and transmitted il
to It's present repositories, but at least they
are not TO be charged with the Bucolic sim
Plicitly of asking of Robert Goodloe Harper
the surest means ofmaking Thomas Jefferson
President
say this in perfect Difference to sentiments
at variance with my own. When the elements
OF political strife have disappeared, may the
name of contention be no longer among US
But until that period arrives, prefer man
Iy opposition TO coalition that engenders no
mutual respect, and that dies on a single eff
fort.
Let, however, the poor advantage ofthis err
roneous statementOf relative numbers be con-
coded to the dissenting committeeman from
their own premises, may be derived the CON
clusion they resist What is the object Of
cancus To call together the floating ele-
ments Of public opinion, and embody them
BY what mode do we compass the first 4? BY
assembling honest and responsible men, con
gened from remote parts of the country, whose
dependence upon the people obliges them to
speak the sentiments Of the people. BY what
means the last? BY combining these various
sentiments, determining which has the pre-
ponderance, and calling upon the less to sscri-
flee 10 the public good and blend itself with
the greater. That this is the language Of re-
publcanisin, no one will deny, and TO make il
manifest, that it is applicable to the existing
instance, take the very numbers as they are
stated.--COncede all the dissent alleges
Grant, even, that the whole 2GI are present.
and that only 80 are magnanimous e
nough to declare the wishes Of those who sent
them. Let us then, strip the subject of its
deIusive exterior and trace it TO its result BE
1t remembered, that there is no allegation of
nnconsttutionaity or of opposition from prin-
cple alone ; inexpediency is the piea-and
what character does expodiency assume II
ays that there are five candidates in favor