Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-02-06
THE TOPIC OF THE DAY.

We mentioned the other day, Tumor of Cau-
Gus having been held 10 prevent Caucus. Though
such rumor was current, however, we hardly gave
any credit TO it, until found, in the New-York
American, which came to hand on Saturday, "con-
hrmabon strong" not to the jealous merely--for
such there are, even among politicians-but to the
most guileess and unsuspectng, to the honest Peo-
pie, who put their trust in the professions Of men,
and will believe nothing but what they see The
following is the passage OF the NewYork American,
(omitting irrelevant sentences) to which we refer
We have received from Washington several let
tiers. The amount of the intelligence impaired to
US, and it may be received as authentic is as fol-
lows: The friends of Mr.. Clay hare had u meeting
in relation to caucus, and hare positively decided
that they would mt attend one, unless for the pur-
pose of defeating its object, by voting against any
recommendation by the members of Congress-
Whether the latter course would be adopted, or
whether the unconstitutional measure should be de-
feated by absentng themselves, not finally de-
cided upon. The friends of Mr.. Adams were also
to meet during the present week, for the pur-
pose, /. e. to determine whether they should doom
the caucus to a positive or negative DEATH or, in
other words, whether they should kill the monster,
or let it kill itself"
This information, the Editor intiates, is from the
best authority, and may therefore be implicitly reli-
cd upon. Upon these assurances at least, we shall
take its truth for granted.
portion Of the members of Congress, then, are
privately celebrating in classes, each class de-
cided minority of the whole, whether, upon grounds
Of expediency, they shall attend, or absent them
selves from, a General Meeting of members of Con-
gress. In this we see nothing to condemn. The
right consult together in distinct coteries, stands
upon the ground the right, exercised by all
parties, in all governments, to consult colecttLy
Besides such consultations by members in Congress-
there is not State in the Union, in which such
consultations have not, in some shape other, been
held by the members their respective legislatures
Sometimes they are public and general, as in the
General Meeting Of Republican members Of Con-
gress; sometimes confidential and secret, for other
than general objects; but in all cases they rest on
the same charlottesville right Of opinion among
individuals, and the right to compromise that opini
on for the general good. These principles arc the
foundation of our government, and Of all free go
vermncnts, as well as of caucusing.
In what this s1Lb-cauc,lsiRg is to terminate--to
what extent and in what manner, persons arc pledg-
ed by it, we have no means Of information. But
this we freely say, for ourselves that it, on as
sembling in general meeting, according to former
custom, it shall appear that there is majority a.
gainst making any nomination, no harm, but some
good, will be done. A general Congressional norn-
ma ION, indeed, seems TO be more and more called
for by the voice Of the Republican party, and still
more, much more, by the national interest, to which
it Is hoped, none Of us are Indifferent But if the
majority be against any nomination, after a fair
trial Of that question, something will be gained by
ascortai1ias INC fact The suspenss on shatpoint