Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-01-30
From the Easton Penaa.) Gazette.
THE PRESIDENCY


At Meeting of the Democratic Republicans of
Northampton, held at Easton, on the Goth inst the
following Preamble and Resolutions were adopt-
ed
When the immortal Jefferson was selected az the
candidate of the democratic party for the Prcsi-
dency, he was without competitor in his own par
ty, and the mode of nomination was matter of
little consequence, because he was the unanimous
choice OF mis- party.
In 1908, there wassome difficulty about the mode
of nomination and the assumption by the republic
can Members of Congress, of the power to nomin-
ate was denied, and its policy doubted by many of
the soundest republicans of our country.
In 1916, the caucus system had nearly placed in
nomination, a candidate for the Presidency.
man to whom the attention of the people had not
been directed, and who would not have been elect
ed, had he so far succeeded in his intrigues as to
have been put in nomination. Indeed, the result of
the caucus of 1916, which gave to the venerable
Monroe but majority of eleven votes over Will
liam II. Crawford, seems to have disguised the
republicans of the Union with that system, that no
one, the friends of the latter gentleman, are
now to be heard as its advocates. They, no doubt,
elated by their supposed prospect of success in
1916, are anxious to repeat the system under
which they, they then thought, I'd once so near
~ succeeded.
There are, However, some points of view in
which we think the holding a caucus for nominal,
ing candidates for the Presidency and Vice-presi-
dency, by the Members of Congress, is improper
and ilexpedien, were it otherwise unobjectionable
These are, that, supposng the republican Members
generally to attend such meeting the represent
tation of the democrats Of &c Union would not be
complete indeed. considerable portion of them
would he totally unrepresented.
In Pennsylvania, for instance ,,.a CITY and
csunty of Philadelphia, the cc,.ltes of Della
ware, Chester, and Lancaster, part of the dis
trict composed of northumberland, Union. Co
lumbia, and Lycoming, the district composed of
Allegheny, Bearer, Butler, and Armstrong
would be unrepresented in the convention these
districts being represented by seven federalists
Thus Pennsylvania, with twenty-eight electoral
votes, would gointo the proposed caucus with
only II representatives whilst Virginia with but
25 electoral votes, would carry the whole of
them into caucus, and out vote PENNSYLVANIA
by four votes. All the republicans of the Union
would not be equally or completely represented
were even all the republican senator's and re-
personalities to attend a caucus, and we are
assured that not even majority will attend.
The republican members from several of the
states, in pursuance fthc voice of their consitu
ents, clearly expressed, will not attend any eau
Gus Thus, the caucus, if any should be held
would be a partial one and were there no other
objections to IT, the two above stated are sufci-
emf justify our decided dsapprobatioB oft.
But the senators and represent lives have no
right to assume such power, and unless the au-
thority is expressly given them by their consttu-
ents, IFS usurpation by the senators and represent
tatives, is an tm,oarrGntabie usu,paiion. At this
time it would be particularly so. There are
number of candidates for the presidency, and
should no one have majority of the whole cleo
toral votes, the election must dcvolve on the
house Of representatives voting by states and the
representatives have right to select the candi-
date for whom the electors shall vote, when they
themselves may have the ultimate determination
ofwhich of the two highest candidates shall be
President. It's said that the members who as
se1nble IA caucus, assemble as private citizens,
not as the representatives of the people. If so,
then the caucus system is an attempt by 100 or
200 individuals, to dictate to ten millions of free
men, who shall rule them. We, however, can
not sepcrate the Representative from ne man.