Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-04-27
TIE PRESIDENCY.


At a respectable meeting of the Democratic
Republican citizens of Newcastle county, held
nj the house OF Gen. j. Wolfe, in the Borough of
wilmington, on Saturday the 1.;li inst. for the
purpose OF expressing their sentiments i'm rela-
ton to the ensuing election OF President and
Vice Presiden: of the United States, Andrew
Gray, Esquire vas called TO The chair and Ben
jainn Whitley was appointed Secretary.
Nhercupon, the object of tue meeting being
stated,
On motion-9Iaior Caleb p. Bennett, George
Gillespie. Josiah T.. Clemet, Henry Head and
Thomas Baldwin were appointed committee to
prepare resolutions for the consideration of the
meeting; bywhom the following were reported
and unanimously adopted.
Resotred, That the character of ANDREW
JACKSON as n revolutionary patriot, a citizen,
soldier, and statesman j; his eminent public SER
vices III peace and in war; his pure republican
principles, and the unsullied integrity of his lfe
give him pre-ennent title to the first Office i'm
the gift OF Il free people.
fesotced, That we regard the nomination
made on the 9Th March last at Harrisburg, of
ANDREW JACKSON for President, and joins G..
CALHOUN for Vice President OF the United
States, as tie free and independent act of the
citizens of n great State, by which they asserted
their own rights, and raised n standard around
| which the citizens of the Union may rally and
unite IN opposition 10 the attempted usurpation
of their privileges by a congressional caucus at
Washington; and that regarding that nominal
ton as einphatically constituting the peoples tic
aei, we viii give it oar cordial and utmost sup
port.
ReSOlDcd, That tins meeting feels it a duty,
decidedly to protest against the proceedings of
| caucus and especially of the late caucus COM
posed of a small minority of the members OF
Congress, and assembled at Washington on the
| 18th OF February last:
Becausc---under any circumstances we con-
slider 1t practice of doubtful expcdicncy even
upon party principles, and as Involving dclibe-
rate violation OF the plain spirit of the Constitu-
| ton.
! Because-the late caucus was composed OF
but 66 out of go republican members of con-
grcss, ana was assembled in opposition to :, de-
claraton on the part ofthe majority, that a eau
Gus nomination was not advisable or eXpedient
under existing circumstances.
| BecauseWiiile all the candidates now be-
fore the people. profess to be republicans, there
can be no pretcxt for rcsortng to a caucus,
which ls only defensible upon the policy of unit
ing the auffrages, in favor of republican candi-
date against candidate supported by the oppo-
site party.
Because-Thc direct operation the caucus
system is 10 take from the people their right OF
choosing chief magistrate, and to rest it in the
members ofCosgress, in violation of the consti-
tuition, which has declared expressly, that g nc
/ member of congress shall be an cicctor;o and
although it is desirable that the votes of the cleo.
tors should effect choice, we would prefer sub.
hitting to the evils that may be hazarded by the
elections devolving upon the House of Repre-.
sentatives, in the last resort, and in the manner
provided by the constitution to voluntarily en-
Countering the same evils in the first instance b;
a violation of the instrument.
Because-The election may devolve upon
the same congress, and it is therefore highly i'm.
proper that abinding opinion should have been
previously expressed.
Resolced, That Andrew Gray, Henry White
iy, Major Caleb p. Bennett Major Peter JAG
quett and William Cooch, be a committee O
correspondence to communicate with sirniIa,
committees in this state aswell as throughout the
United States.
Resoiced, That the proceedings of this meet
ing be signed by the Chairman and Secretar,
and published in the American Watchman.
ANDREW GRAY, Chairman.
BE-lJAMIN WHITLEY, Secretary.
/ COT TON G. TADIyE