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

candidates and their friends will not consent 70
abide by it. But, let the principles of the GEN
,ienan prevail, and the President will hereafter.
DC c,'fuafty elected by caucus in Washington, and
nor ny the people. Now, said Mr. Hayne, there
NOT an object which applies to the election of
President by the National Legislature. which
! does not apply much more strongly to a virtual
ciecuon by Congressional caucus. Docs the
iorthcr disturb legislation, tnging every Iegisa-
stFe dct win party views and feelings So in n
greater degree, does the latter The letter and
spirit OF The constitution Is opposed to every spe-
cic' vi interference, by the Members of Con-
sIess n, Tue election OF President ercept in the
R,l.e"'a' case OF a failure by the people to elect
| Then, and not till then, are CONGRESS- norn,;tted
| 10 interfere; and the mode In which they are
Then To proceed is infinitely prescribed The
iiousc OIL Representatives only are to have any
concern IN the transaction, and they must vote
! oy STATES. They are moi permitted to elect ann
cahdidatc according to their ow II views feelings
| or OPINIONS but they are compelled to choose
ono q Miee candidates previously selected and
presented to them by the people. But Copgrcs-
sIonal caucus is composed of .Scua.ors, as vel
as members of the House of REPRESENTATIVES
inc former OF whom arc wisely excluded, by the
constitution, from voting on such subject be-
cause The tenure OF their Office renders them PC
culiarly liable 10 influence. They proceed to
nominate the PRECEDENT before the people have
proceeded To the election; they choose not from
the Candidates presented 70 them by the peopicl
put according 10 their own pleasure, and arc in
iinerccd Is Personal preferences and lastly
thcy make such nomination, not in the extra
ordinary case (which may not occur once in
century provided for in the constitutions but
at every eicction-cnce in ccery fou,. uears-
iNow, when to all this we add that, from the
very nature al things a caucus. never will be
composed oil more than portion of the Members
,,t( I,,t 81,
VIII be oi such consequence rs to Justify the e.
traorinaIy efforts 10 obtain il; when it is recoI-
iected that caucus nomination every fouryears
VIII Keep the matter constantly before CONGRESS-
can any man, who reflects on the subject fail to
see that Tie triumph and final establishment of
The caucus system i'll Congress, must not only
snpcTcsdc ard ontroi the constitution, but in
wolves Tie introduction, into the Halls of Con-
gross, OF cxcitcmcut, party feeling management
and finally of intrigue and corruption at the
bare contemplation of which the heart of the
patriot must scken, and his anticipations of flu
turc glory be converted into the most gloomy
forebodings.
Gentlemen tell us that caucus is necessar;
to promote Union. Should sucii-;l measure ever
promote union, it can only be by controlling the
viii ami sitting the voice of the psople. But
il seems to nc, said Mr.. Hayne, that, so far
(, from promoting harmony and union, caucus
| Is calculated TO SOW the seeds of dissenton and
| TO prevent the possibility of union. To all the
difficulties of selecting among. men, is super
added the hostility created by the agitation of
the caucus question. The degree of support TO
be yielded, or ofoppostion to be offered, to such
| nomination, will always be 4 fruitful source of
endless contests and animcsities
AS a Pasiyi,easUre, 4 caucus may in some in
stances, tend 10 prnote union. In such case
two candidates at least would be presented to
the peor.c, for their choice. But, where all the
candidates are OF the same party, the only effect
OF acaucus mnst be TO elevate favoutate indi
yId''al, by putting all the other candidates out of
the way, and Tins TO take the choice from the
people, or from the states. If a caucus is to be
rosorted 20 at every Presidential election. and
Congress is, by preliminary cote, I'm joint bal
lot, to determine who is to be supported as Pre-
sedent, If IS manifest that the effect will be, to
bring the election practically into Congress, vo-
ting by polls and not by states; and thus the wise
provisions Of the constitution will be ,epeaied
without the least regard to the forms prescribed
by that instrument. Gentlemenwll surely not
venture TO affirm that union will be promoted by
such means.
Much more might be said on this subject said
Mr.. III. but he had not only confined himself TO
the senerHt question, bat had merely atteInp-
tel 10 reply fothe arguments urged on the other
side. OF The particular character cf The late
6'ccti'lr an WdShtn@toJl, he had said nothing and
aiiu'cu I'd IL nov oriy 10 GSclaiED any intention
To wound the feelings iinpeaci the motives of
any of the gentlemen connected with it, Tie
cntertaincd for them, collectively, much respect
and cherished for several of them, individually,
sentiments Of great esteem.
In the coursc Of Mr.. Haynes remarks, he
was interrupted by Mr.. King, of Alabama. who
rose to Il point of order. Mr.. X. stated that he
was not nhealth TO attend the Senate Yesterday:
and he did not know, precisely, thc course which
Tue discussion had then taken. But he co,isd-
cred the present topic as having no relation TO
the subject before the Senate; and consequent
ly, the introduction OF it as being violation of
the rules OF this body. He therefore, called the
gentleman from South Carolina to order.
The Chair observed, that wide range had
been allowed in the discussion Of this subject,
yesterday--ani, while it entertained the hone
that thatdiscussion would not be extended, was
at the same time, of opinion, that members had
right to be heard, III answer to any arguments
which had been brodght forward yesterday The
fnc'nocT from South Carolina was declared 10 be
in order.
Mr.. Taylor, Of Visginia, considered thi; de-
bate rs entirely ont OF order, and foreign TO the
subject before tie Senate. The question has
Been discussed, Is il Il were a contest for pow
cr, between thG large and the small statcs-as
II each was cnjcavouring TO effect the purposes
OF IFS own ambiton---as if these amendments
were so many nciaf;ous designs to satisfy the
ambition and avarico of 4Io one or the other.
Ii 1t he tri.e, flt llpa4l,csticn is not, whether
one state Is.t9Pilier from tie other, the great
from tlic small or the small from the great still
he asked what prospect there was OF adopting
any tbIn5 that Is sanitary under circumstances