Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-01-20
PHILADELPHIA TOWN MEETING,

| u'"oeiPhia, Ian Orabie To the good old mode
at nominating Democratic candidates to the
office OF President and Vice President held
IN pursuance of public notice on the 9th day
of Ja1. IS24.- Timothy .nailack, Esq. was u
unanimously called To the chair and Hugh
ferguson and .Samitei Badger, Esors. were
appointed Secretaries
The call of the meeting having been read
The following preamble and resolutions were
offered for consideration by Thomas +. Cor
don, Esq. viz:
Whereas, IN crisis like the present, when
the monarchs of the civilized world have con
spIred against the liberties If all tn. nations of
the earth when the shouts of the people for
liberty are made signal cries for their mmo-
iation when the mighty efforts of Europe 10
SNAKE on the Impressions of her thrones, haze
ended IN the prOstration of her dearest politi-
cal rights, and when the shores of America
are threatened by the united monarchs, il is
the first duty of the people of these free and
independent states 10 guard against disuni0n
oil Their force, and distraction in their councils
! And whereas History admonishes us, that,
IN tne dissentions OF rival cbieftains the public
veal Is too often forgotten, and that the pre-
tenders to the first Offices og the state fire.
quentiy produce disastrous divisions among
the people by refusing to submit their claims
To oIice to proper arbtrament, il becomes the
uhty 0i the people, who are Interested only i'm
the Constitutional administration of their 70
vernment, To protect themselves against dan
gers arising from contest Tor Office, by CON
ceniratinG public favor upon some one candi-
date.
And whereas, we believe il Impossible, and
u possible, unsafe, for popular go, eminent
To be without parties, and that parties rallying
round the standards of principles, are much
more desirable than parties devoted Il pledged
To men only, because in the one case the friends
anu opponents of the peoples rights are
brought mic open and public conflict, and their
cause and their conduct may he surveyed, and
umir' stood whilst in the other, all distraction
! OF principles Is lost, in subs-r,i-nt adhr-
renee 10 IN fortunes of individuals, and Tree
ana thinking Citizens are converted into the
slaves and paPpeis Of single will: There
fore. Ne deprecair, as national evil, the dis
snluiion of The Democratic party of th,s.
United STATES. and hold that due regard 10
religious, political, and civil liberty, al a sea
son IKE The present, "h hen all may be jropar-
d'ztd, imperIously requires that e,e cry mem
her of that party should exert himself TO pre-
serve us unity and power unhrukrn
Aud whereas we hold that the probable il
NOT inevitable consequences of au election for
President of the United States, at which IN.
Democratic party has not designated and
exclusive candidate, will break he fractions of
tha' party 'nto powerless aud pitiable frag-
inenis-conier ptihlr for their rancour to
wards each Other, and their s,fts-rvitnce Ia
their political fues-
And .'heseas, there are many disting uishcd
DHtncrsiIc Cill2rus, named tn th,. urop,e f,r
the office of President of the IT, States, whose
| .'ai Claims may divide the party and distract
IFS councils: Therefore,
| Bel resolved, That il is The sense or tb;e
meeting, that Caucus Of the Democratic
Members OF Congress should he held al th..
Cliy oi Washington, for the purpose. of nuni-
i'a,'ng 10 the Democratic party a candidate
10 ne supported AT the approaching election Tor
the office u President of the u. S.
That convention formed of such demo-
cratic chiZens AS are members uf Congress, 10
ht held al the City of Washing ion, is the besl
adapted Tor the selection of such II candidate
because, such members have The coniidruc.
Oh tir propie-are distinguished for their A.
bIliy and patriolism-hahe been elected win
"Niew To The Presidential Qurstiom-arr pos
| sessed "i the sentiments ui their constituent,
ana Responsible 10 them for their conduct
because, from this mode Of sercinn often
'rItd, and always successful, no injury has hi
thrrto been sustained by the country.
| Bfcausr, II is utterly iInpraclicalle Ia con
Venc any other body of citizens having an a.
qnai portion OF the sulfrages ufthe people, or
having such opportunities To Judge OF the can
ddatcs
| Because, This mode of nomination bas 60.
cured the election ef Jefferson, The restorcr
of republican simplicity and ecunomy-rf
MADISON, who guided safely the baruue of
state through prrllUus war, amid the shoals
oi treason-of Monroe, who, pursuing the wise
! policy OF his immediate predecessors, has
maintained for The country the high charac
| ter they had established, aud who, as,icipat-
| ing the voice of the nation has declared her
readiness Ia defend her freedom against The
oppIessurs of the world
| Resolved, That, in n caucu7 ur democratic
members OF Congress, we recognize, a uarty
"i parItZans, meeting for the purpose of pre-
serving Tie integrity and strength of their
party rot congressional Caucus forestdlliu,
pnhhc opinion, and Imposing President upon
inc people ana IN the appreciation which the
electors ut lhe United STATES iHay give TO the
candidate of the democratic party thus select
I'd, we Joyfully recognize the devotion of
lh0se electors To political principles " hicb are
The sources Of their unr,ailed happiness.
Resolved, That, in the PRONUNCIATION of
grnundirss approximations of dangerous CON
sequences fiOm democratic couyentinn ai
Washington disapprO'ed by all experience.
wr behold the efforts uf ancient. io,Idious
and often discounted pnpnries, co, ertIy to dc
| stroy the power which openly they rannotl
Withstand, and the laburs Of aspirlng indi,i-
dna's who have merged their sense OF the rub
tic veal III their own seIfishness And that il i,
| tie duty, as % is the interest nf the great de-
mocraIlc party, by cordial nnIon. to teach
ne one That their efforts are vain, aud that TN,
ainhiiOu OF meH must b. controlled by urin-
cipie."
This preamble and The resolutions having