The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1824-02-17
CAUCUS.
y TIE great, tls important day,


for President and Vice President 81 TIE United
States.
Counter 70 tbs summons, we ser n the Va
ti0Hai faieltgenrer aR advertisement subscribed
BY Col JohAson Of kentlcky, Mr. Barifigh q
this state, hessrs Cr0rniEEsieid ard fufitr o.
Massachusetts, and sandry oihers from various
states IN the Union, whose names win he found
in our columns, from which It seems thai meas
ures have been taken 70 ascertain negatively
the number OF those, who would have nothing ~
90 with nomination Of this kind.
The result announced according TO their stale
ment n. that NJ 2sl members OF Congress, l6l
had made up their minds against a. Tbs rest
NAV BE- safely YET down FOR Mr.. CRAWFORD, who
will undoubtedly receive the unanimous nOmi-
nation Of the meeting.
Whether this deHOHemeHf OF the grand political
drama, which has been SO long ih preparation
win answer the public expectation ar satisfy
those who have been most concerned IN the pre-
lminary arrangements, we have no means 0l
forming an opinion. Whether this Is the caucus
which the republicans Of this state were taught,
to expect, is more than we can say and wheth-
ar those members Of the legislature who have
pledged themselves 70 abide the result Of ma
tionai n omination win feel themselves bound by
the doings Of this meeting, under these circum-
stances, Is question for themselves 60 deter
mine II is one which we have no occasion nor
inclination TO NEEDLE with We are not the
keepers Of their consciences nor are we quite
caslists enough TO determine the difficulty for
them We have no ambition to throw fire.
brand into the midst OF the Ottoman empire :"
And indeed wo are not advised, whether the
republicans will recognize II as a regular parlia-
nlent, or regard i only as a ramp.
But we are we'll satisfied on the whole, that
this Is at il should be. There is no longer any
contest il the country between organized par
ties for the ascendancy. We are now all repub-
licans, II we are not all federalists At al events
there Is no federal republican candidate for the
presidency nor any one that federalists can
snpport with animation. OF course there u no
occasion for any mechanical expedient to con-
centrate the energy Of the democratic party And
there is no longer any Controversy on any
ground Of principle. II Is only competition
among the champions Of the republican party
for the mastery 1t is question entirely among
themselves. They are all of the same general
politics, and all stand on the same democratic
platform and are all entitled TO stand on the
same footing before the people without any arti-
fetal scaffolding TO give one the advantage of a
head above the rest. Mr. Crawford Is now pla-l
ced precisely on a level with his compeers, each
Of whom has his circle Of friends and support
ers; and is a fair candidate for the presidency
light, for ourselves we are free to confess that
we regard one very great objection 10 Mr..
Crawford as done away BY this consequence.
We had rather receive him OF either of the
candidates for our President from tie suffrag-
es of the people Of the Omitted States, than
to have one imposed upon us by an usurpation
Of arbitrary authority; as we had rather
submit TO an unavoidable visitation Of Prov.
dence, than be subjected to an unhallowed
infection from the arm Of flesh and be nndeT
any woke sooner than the despotic dictation
of dominant faction. We had rather be
governed like the Greeks BY the Turks, than
like the Turks themselves be slaves to The
Janissaries. 1t was in the last stage Of the
Roman empire that the election passed into
the hands of the Pretorian guards. And it'll
the election must come into the house Of rep-l
resentatives at last, we must say we had rath-
err receive Cesar or Pompey from the decree
Of the Senate TO lord il over the whole repub- 1
lie, than MaIius or Sylla entering the capital
at the head Of cohort, especially with Al
prescription at the tail of it.
If it is an evil, that the choice should come
into the house Of representatives, it is onel
that the constitution provides for; while the I
constitution does. not provide for the othet
evil, Of the people not being able 70 agreed
upon President before the election. Thel
constitution in fact did originally contemplated
the precise case of having FIVE candidates,
the very number now before the nation, nei-I
Their having a majority, and leaving the choice
to be made among them by the house or rep
resentatives voting By states. But this pro-
vision was repealed under Mr.. JEFFERsoS'
administration, aud the choice of the house
confined to the three highest, IE however,
there is no person 10 the nation Of sufficient
prominence for his virtues, talents and servi.
ces to secure the sufrages OF a mai5ritF, that
Is not the fault of the people. Let it operated
henceiorth as a stimulus to future ambition. to
higher exerti0ns 10 deserve well Of the coun-
try. These piping times Of peace il is true
do not afford such golden opportunities for
distinction as the past. We want another
revolution to form another Washington, or
another division Of parties like that which
took place at the adoption Of the constitu-
ton 10 bring them shoulder 10 shoulder for
Adams or Jefferson. If the last war had
lasted i've years longer, however, Cen. JACK
SOY would probably have accomplished hun
self for the presidency.
Much has been said about caucus not be-
ing constitutional. As 10 that, its advocates
neVer pretendedit was. AN they contended
was, That L was not unconsfililli9aal. And 10
that sense they certainly were right 50 far
as the forms Of the constitution are concern
ed, We have always considered il lust as con-
sututional as any other convention. which the
constitution neither provides for nor prohibits,
whether holden by private persons, delegates
from states or Members Of Congress; and ii
prohiotiS them 10 more ID time Of peace than
= does 70 war. Indeed most of our bills Of rights
guarantee the Peaoeable assembling Of tie
people together 70 consult for the public good
We agree therefore, that the letter Of the
constitution has nothing 10 20 with TIE SUBJECT.
more than 4 has with asirolorF. But dare not
say 30 mnrh Ear thn 1919 ~ II.