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


To lake place on Saturday next, Wv 81 C,p,en-
ton of the Democratic Members OF Congress,
To re commend Candidates for the Presidency
and Vice Presidency of the United States.
simultaneously with the Notice FOR a Meet
ing of the Democratic M-mbe~s of Congress,
our readers have seen, has also been published
statement, signed bya number Of Members
AT Congress- importing their belief that AN hun
dred and eighty-one Members of Congress
" deem il inexpedent, under present crcum-
stances, to meet in Caucus for the purpose"
Sc.
To a statement, published under authority
So credible, nothing can be opposed but a
doubt whether some of those gentlemen, from
whom so precise information has been OBJ
tanned, may not, in some degree, have deceived
themselves, by their own wishes. Until, how
eyer, the statement is impugned by something
more than doubts of this description, we feel
ourselves bound to take its correctness for
granted.
On this state of things, we shall only offer u
few brief suggestions.
1. Though the whole number Of Members
of Congress be 261, there are of that number,
"A proportion, varously estimated at from forty
five 10 ifty-six, Of avOwed Federalists /; who
whatever their opinions in regard 10 the Presi-
dency, and however much those opinions are
| entitled to respect, would, under no circum-
stances, go into Democratic Caucus. Say
that their number be but Is. Deducted from
eel, it leaves the number 2l6.
Q. OF this number (216) there are not a few
whose scruples we respect, though we dissent
! from them, who would, under no circum-
stances whatever, Join such a Meeting, and
whom, therefore, no consideration whatever
not even that of preserving the Republic from
detriment, would induce To go into Caurus-
Among the signers to the Anti Caucus Notice,
are at least two ofthe gentlemen to whom we
alIude. Say that their number is bur I6-it is
believed to be at least SD many. Deduct this
number from the S16, and there remains 600,
of whom, IT may be presumed, that so ire
manning after deducting 1871 from &c ~ believe
II expedient tn make nomination., leaving OPP
posed to il, on the grounds of exprdiency, 100
"a greater number, we confess, than we had
calculated upon. But
s. Divide the number (2OO, who do not oh
lect to the principle of a Caucus Nomination,
by the number of candidates, (five,) presented
Tor the Presidency, and we shall have 40 for
each Suppose each Of the candidates to have
an equal number of friends among the Repub.
licans IN Congress in that case, the friends of
more than one candidate are not opposed te a
caucus. Or, admit, that the friends of but one
oil The candidates, under present circumstan-
ces, disposed to make nomination in Caucus
sltios TO it, then that candidate is preferred by
ft0o.ffths of all who woH!d, under any circum
stances, engage in nomination.
we have no room, and if we had, we
| nave no inclination, To add any reflections of
| ours TO these rough estimates and general re-
| suits. The results themselves are arguments.
Suflce 1t to say, our opinion of the expeden-
| cy OF The only measure, which is at all likely
To keep the election out of the House of Re-
II mi aft
the Members of Congress now have the ques-
ton directly before them, we shall leave the
discussion wholly to them, and shall, for the
| present, forbear further comment of ours up-
on 1t. Whatever may be offered for publica-
ton on the subject, from responsible sources,
whether Tor or against our opinion, shall be
laid before our readers, TO such extent as is
| consistent with the demands of matter of a
different description. Nat. Int.
| The New York " American" among other
singular observations the Presidential cleo
ton, says, that the offer of The Vice Presden-
| cy has been made To Mr.. Adams, and
promptly and scornfully re- ectrd by him.
| This story Is refuted by its total want of con-
! sisency with the character of Mr. Adams. fI.
The Editor of the National Gazette is
sensibly affected by the repetition of "Thr
Voice of hiaine," showing that she has no idea
| OF desefting her old friends and allies. Firm
ness of VOICE" he says, :" is more desirable
than .feribility, on this OCCASION" Iftbs no
ton were 10 be generally acted upon, we
should have Dutch concert of it, every man
sounding his own note. III.
According to letter published in the Free
mans journal, the greater part of the day
was occupied. both morning and evening in
the House of Representatives of the state Of
Pennsylvania, on the Sd inst. in discussing a
resolution for ordering two copies Ofthe De-
claration of Independence to be purchased
for the use of the Legislature, and fffy or sirty
speeches were delivered on the occasion Now,
| reader, what do you suppose was at the bot
tom of this debate That which seems 10 he
both at the top as well as the bottom of every
thing, just now--The Presidential Election
The Declaration Of Independence was pub
lished by John Binns-JohD Binns prefers
MIR. Crawford over the other Candidates for
| the Presidency ergo, no Declaration of In
dependence. We are glad to see, however,
that this notable argument did not prevail,
| but that the prints were ordered, by vote of
"a to 81. together with two copies of Wash
iDgton's Farewell Address, and two copies of
the Print taken from Trumbull's Painting of
the Declaration Of Independence, which were
worthily associated with them. GIb.
Communicated for the Baltimore Patriotl
HONESTY is THE BEST POLICY
After all the clamOr raised against Congressional eau