Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-04-02

of compile coniusionj ana what for! For princ-
pie Nc sir, there is no principle involved. What
then, is all this noise about? Why, whether you
shall choose A, b, G., or d; and, choose which YOU
will of the candidates, the nation will Or the people
choose such Congresses the three last) move on
macs;ically towards its great destiny. When |
look around, am surprised at the excitement arti-
hcaly created. Now, Mr.. President, the difference
between those who attended the Caucus, and those
who did not, take to be this: that those who went,
were anxious 10 unite on somc republican cam
didatc, and support him, be he whom he lnish, and
thus preserve the union of the party; ana those
who did not attend, were willing to risk all, rather
than run the risk of their candidate being ill the mi
Gritty. From this last, except, of COURSE the GEN
uciuun from South Carolina and the conscientious.
"r' frcSluent: In government like ours where
many of our great officers elected there mus, be
some mode adopted by which to concentrate the
votes of the people. They cannot (scattcret as they
are) know the caiididates-it is morally impossible:
the voters must therefore depend on some person
seine public bodies, priva meetings for infor-
nation as TO the best character for the Office For
Instance, " For President" WE'LL sir it has been
thought, Tor twenty -four years last past, that the
members OF Congress, elected by the people, and in
whom they had deposited all confidence, was the
best source for information. Has that source de
ceved the people i'll any instance ?. under
STAND that the congress onal caucus recommended
Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe. Tile people elect
Cd them; and experience has shown that the reli-
:
CT all taEee has turned out perfectly satisfactory,
and no injury has resulted there from 1t is ration
al to suppose, that the members of Congress have
ottcr opportunities of knowing the character and
talents OF the several candidates, than those who
nave never Seen them and never a, ted with them
However, the caucus mode is denounced. and now
let us see what is to be substituted, for there viii be
substitute. 1t is the nature of our government.
II cannot be avoided. Well, sir, one state by an
act OF It's legislature, nominate its fvorite that is
tic favoritc of majority of the body; another le-
g'siatufe, Ill their private capacity, nominate their
candidate, and forbid their members of Congress
chosen, as they are, by tine people, from recommends
'ng n candidate. Now, Sir would ask, how man
OF that legislature knew any of the other candidates
except the one recommended by them: Perhaps
three or four, who have been in Congress Other
states have pursued similar course, with as little
knowledge of the candidates. Each state has lis
iavorite candidate; of him they may know some
thinS But how they can he capable of formino n
Judgment between him and those who arc opposed
to him. know not. Many state legislatures have
undertaken to recommend, whilst they rcprobate
Tie caucus nomination. should like 10 know how
lie delegates TO the convention are chosen: are
they by the people? ] believe NOT. A few pcople
meet their numbers may be ten, ffty or any other
number, and they appoint the delegates; and. thus
'hcsen, they meet in convention, and select their
candidates. Now, Mr.. President, whether either of
uose modes Is preferable 10 Il caucus, or whether
IL,
ar my part, thought the old mode was the best
ara have adopted it, 1 have exercised nv own
opihion. nave given myself no uneasiness abou,
that OF others. Aud must think, an Interference
with the opinion Of those who attended the caucus
was wholly Irrelevant TO the subject matter before
the Senate.
Mir Ea,on of Tennessee, said. ne considered This
subject OF discussion as altogether improper and
thousht 1t ought not TO be permitted to remain any
longer before the Senate. The Senate has now
spent TWO days III debating the question: whether it
Is proper for members Of Congress to 20 into CAUCUS
nc sheetely believed that such subject was unbe-
oniing The dignity of the body, and that i. wcud
lace the members in very elevated view hcCore
me pubic. His object was, to put an cna to the
discussion lie suggested to the consideration of
The Senate whether it was not better 10 let il end
iere. lie moved that the resolution be ordered to
lie on the table.
The question on Mr.. E's motion, was cut. and
Fassea lii the negative. The question then REQUIRED
On Indefinite postpouement.
Mr. Macon of N. c. next addressed the Chair
lie SAID, that these resolutions had been referred t
selectcommittce; they had been n,aturelv cops;
oofea ana reported upon by that committee; and
cw, because certain other subject, not connected
,'h 'hehn' had been introduced, no vote was to he
Z; Ken upon them. What is the question befnr. Tho
senate! 1t is upon the indetinite pos,nonou,er, cf
inc resolutions; and not upon their subject matter
why shouiu not a falr vote be taken on them Ger
ueheh VINO arc not entirely decided on business bc
iofe the Senate, generally vote for postrnue,nor.
ne 'hought no proposition amend the. consti,u,;
on, that had ever been before the Senate had ca
iuch IN FAVOR OF 1t, as the that had been reDo,
ed by this committee. 1t had first or I,e, 1,cor -,
commented by almost every one of Tho s,,tce 81
'"' diei dii the Time that has been spant abo, II
after one of the propositions had been discussed ,
uii .ength, they arc all to be thrown by IL VOL
Fhev, that men would do, in relation 10 these tb;r
10
~ unfortunate circumstance that /, s,,b;oc, hit
.ac nothing TO do with the real que. t;on bnco,o H.
Sehote, mad been introduced. and was aLou, tn do
stroy all chance of considering the amendments ,
| the Constitution. "
hif. NJ. sad, he knew that no amendment could
no" DC made to affect the next election Tbcrc
must be concession of opinion some whore o,
nooy reels the embarassments we are Iabo,;ra No,
uei ana yet we arc not permitted to 20 OH mi III
c"ss me amendments by which these evils rn;gh, L
N"eueu. MS amendment, he thought wo,il a.,
>''e an election, without going to the House or r.
PFC sen'atiVes and he hoped it would NOT be ros,
Foned. 1t is time enough to pos,uorc thor, Ill.,.
ma that we cannot make ono that i; ST TO he
opted. We shall, then, have don, ot:r ,,,y -,
constituents, as faithful men. But, now ,r. arc
ai out TO postpone them, the very thu. ;bcld n
there ever was time when the st,iect conII he var,
S'aVeiy' IL Is the present. What was the condition
me country, at the time of the difficulty in ,Js
ction OF Jefferson and Burr Great auy;stv 81,
spread from one end of the country to the otber
hc ffouse OF Representatives was VOTING tbir,,
times without coming to a decisiom-tbe most s,;
ou' "'arm pervaded the country. And vet. ,yi,b
'his ledge before us we not willing to make
proF'~'"" against similar occurrences. There yyos
charge of foreign partially, on eocb s;,o 49,
great par ties existing at that TING. Ono ,y,s.
sea OF iondness for the Eritisli the Other. f,[ t.
ficncn. There is no disposition of tbai Kind nov.
ne aye peace, and we haze plenty to cat: nod
THINK Rcavcn Z q 1. - y ~ ~ ''.l'