The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1824-04-20

calculated 10 wrong and niure him with the
people, that his opinion and wishes were "a
vorable to the imposition Of the proposed re-
stricGon."
CAUCUS DEBATE IN The SENATE.
The agitation Of this topic in The Senate OF the
Z. 5. on the 18th of March, AS we have before
mentioned, arose incidentally, in the courss, Of
a discussion on the proposed amendments 70 the
constitution, upon 4 motion for their postpcse-
ment; in which RUFUs KING alluded 10 a CEN
trdt poloeT that trGs spriRgiHg mp 10 subrert the
constitution. Mr. Holmes observed in his re-
marks upon the subject that the term Caucus
was first introduced into the discussion by Mr..
King. This was corrected by Mr. HAYNES, of
;. G. who attributed the first use Of this obnox-
ious phrase to Mr.. Smith, OF MARYLAND Mr.
Smith himself said that horev that was. he
considered the word to have been introduced in
the first place accidentally, and that he had
treated i accordingly 1t was true Mr. King
had qualified il by new name central pow
er'-as Mr.. Barbour justly observed; but there
was no installing the aIlusion. After MIR. Dick
erson, Mr.. Holmes, Mr.. Lowrie and Mr. Noble
had spoken successfully on the first day, ii re-
ply TO the remarks Of MIR King,
Mr.. KING, of n. Y. simply said, that, in the
few remarks he had made 70 the senate, he
had intended no disrespeot towards any mem
ber lie had thought that, in the present
situation ofthe country, this was not the prop
er time for the consideration of amendments
70 the constitution. The subject had inter
woven itself into the affairs of his own state.
IN regard to the presidential election. He
trusted ne was not precluded from expressing
his opinion, on a subject Of great importance
and notoriety. In considering amendments
to the constitution, he had thought it not i'm
proper & mention the exercise Of a mower.
which was not authorized By the constitution.
be power was one, the operation Of which,
ae believed, was much to be dreaded and
surely there was DO improperly in abiding To
Il. If things were doing il the country,
which were thought improper, and which had
bearing on the subject under discussion,
would the senate not be affected BY them?
On motion OF Mr.. Findlay, the Senate then
adjourned. On the first day OF the debate Mr.
Barbour, OF Virginia, was in the chair in the alb
sence of the Vice President On the follow
ing day Mr.. Lanman, of Connecticut, was called
TO the chair; aud Mr.. HAYNES delivered his
peech, in the course Of winch nc 10
order by Mr. King, of Alabama, for travelling
out OF the proper sphere Of the subject before
der; and the discussion was renewed by Mr..
Taylor, and pursued by Mr.. Barbour, Mr. Smith,
and MIR. Macon.
Ia regard to CdUcuses, aludinr to the
various experiences stated by his brother sen
ators, Mr.. Macon said he had no confessions
TO make. He had gone to caucus tormerl,
as honestly as he went To church. Once.
however, about twenty years ago, he had been
taken an by caucus, and had determined new
er TO attend another.
Mr.. BARBOUR said that when he was very
young, he recollected to have gone with his
honorable colleague (Mr. Taylor to the first
meeting of the kind he ever attended. Gun
der authority so respectable, and in such a
school, he had first become acquainted with
the system"
Curiosity was excited respecting the senti-
ments OF Mr.. Taylor on this subject; as it had
been suggested that Sc the venerable John Tav-
lor OF Caroline" was in favor of the Caucus. IL
was ms name, Il is well known, that was affixed
70 the celebrated Resolutions OF the Virginia
Legislature in 1899; which, however, it is since
asc-rtained were drafted by Mr. Madison. and
which have formed the text book Of the repub-
ican party, with occasional variations. from that
tons he had avoided touching on this sensitive
subject; bat in reply TO his colleague, MIR. Bar
bour, he made some pointed remarks on the
subject, IN which he pronounced the Caucus a
violation OF the constitution, derided the dis
JUNCTION set up between the INDIVIDUAL and Of
fetal capacities of the members that attended il
as puerile and preposterous and compared il
to bull dance for the entertainment OF tie pub
lie. The following has been published as the
substance This remarks on that occasion.
As 70 the question Of Congressional eau.
Gus for the nomination uf candidates for the
Presidency, MIR. TAYLOR said, he never had
any doubt that such a nomination was aGIear
Uloidtlon OF the spirit Of the Constitution. On
that subject, he believed, his sentiments were
in PRINT. Ii appeared 20 him preposterous for
gentlemen 70 contend, that in making such a
nomination, they acted 10 their Private capG-
Clties. MIR. u. mere entered into some argu-
ments 10 prove that members Of Congress,
could not meet at the seat of government and
nominate a candidate for the Presidency
without making il pUblirk business. The
people wonid so regard il, and il would pro-
duce the same effect as If the nomination wa,
made BY the members IN their Legislative ca.
paoities-
His honorable friend and colleague mir
Barbour bad stated, that he Mr.. Taylor) haC
been hls Instructor 10 respect to cascusinr
and that he had introduced him into the hrs
Caucus he ever attended. His colleague, i
he had received any instructions from him OF
the subject, had certainly proited greatly b,
them. He had been a ueg-e AIT scholar II
his lessons, and bad far t-sfr1pped has master
Bot his colleague was greatly mistaken. III,
had never attended Caucus, either IN Con
gress or elsewhere, for the purpose n Homia
ating candidates for otEess. such proceed