Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-08-24


people? The answer must be obvious to every
one not blinded BY prejudice or self-interest.
but tss n"scusites answer our complaints &,
attempt TO quiet our fears, by pointing us TO pre-
cedents. They tell US Jefferson, Madison and
Monroe were elevated by caucus--and that
none OF the evils pointed out have vet arisen
they tauntingiy tell us g the ldcs OF March are
conceive entrcat them to remember. they are
not YET gone" We might admit, without weak-
emng our position, that none of these effects have
as yetbeen reaiised-that neither our presidents
nor members OF congress have descended from
their high estate to iningle in the system Of low
|electioneering intrigue. But will that Justify the
system! We had supposed that one of the
Characteristic cxccllences of good govern
ment was 10 be SO framed and SO guarded and
poised by checks and balances, as to keep the
pubic servants pure and u,corrupted, and that
that was the object steadily kept in view bv the
wise trainers OF ours. Can it be argued. then
that one departure from its principles warrants
another Surely not. Its principle of the
municPal law that conmu'is error non facit Jus:
much less that one violation of a funjamcnt,t
law will sanctify another. Indeed SO far from
its satisfying our objections, it but increases
theln--ft shows the dangerous teniency of pre.
cedents how political factions are prone te,
make them the foundation fright it admonisf,
es us that no sacrifice nor cxertion is too preas
to make IN the effort to prevent another precc-
dent of so banefuLa tendency from being estab-
hshed in our government. But we are not dis.
posed tc admit that Jefferson and his successors.
were indebted to former ca,fcusses for their eAs.y
vation, or tiat there is the feast analogy between,
them and the last Washington caucus II pro-.
iesses to be the legitimate offspring of lou-r
line OF INDUSTRIOUS ancestors; but be assuF-
cd, fellow citizens, it is spurious. In the first
place, we believe, in all preceding caucus nomi-
nations, that the voice q the nation had fixed
No IT.,
Monroe, and his worthy predecessors, aud doubt
itf. Who does not at once see the cause of
Their elevation! They were men of the reyo-
lution-of the seven years. struggle between n
berty and despotism "a constellation of the most
'i'ustrious worthless that ever figured on the
theatre of life; immortalized by their heroic
deeds IN arns; ennobled by genious and politi-
cal wisdom; and revereuced and adored for a
patriotism unparalleleun the history of man
They had been assayed by the touchstone of the
revolution, and found of virgin purity--By that
ordeal that @trred mems souls" their mel its had
been tested and their different pretcnsons In re.
gular graduation assigned them. The nation
pronounced them the most worthy-and when
our federal government went into Operations 4
burst.of gratitude the most simultaneous ancY
universal, as well as the most noble-a graft
tudc that redeems the character of republics
from the imputatiof of northumberland
them successfully to the high Office of president.
beginning with the father of his country and
coming down to the present chief magistrate.
We can admit no other causes for the elevation.
OF Mr.. Monroe and his predecessors. We are
unwilling to stigmatize the people of the Union.
or the objects OF their gratitude, by such an ad
mission--as that they are the creatures of cav
Gus nominations. We can admit this much of
former caucusses-they were harmless, becaus.,
they followed instead of dictated to public opin
ion-they might have been usefulin promoting
perfect harmony and sileucing every note of
discord that might have interrupted the calm but
sublime spectacle of a nation honourine its
benefactors, by elevating them by one consent,
TO the highest Office of their gift.--But where,
let us ask, rs the analogy betw these and the
caucus of 65 ?--lt is but in name. If the first
were inadmissible, though harmless and well IN
| tended, what shalt we say of thisl The MEM
bers of it forgetting the objects and principles
of the caucusses that elevated the former presi-
dents-forgetting that Monroe is the last of the
revolutionary stock, and that in the choice of
his successor, there would necessarily be greater
diversity ofopinion, averting the principles OF
former caucusses, and arrogating to themselves
the right ef controlling opinion rather than mo-
destly assuming the character of mirrors that
retiectit-they have erected themselves into
self constituted and permanent body of electors
they have BY the influence of false pre-
cedent been taught to look tliro' an inverted
telescope, that dlniDisbes the power of the peo-
/ pie and magnifies their own--that exhibits them
revolving obedent in the orbit prescribed by
themselves, themselves the source of erayitation.
Like the followers Of NIahoinet, they have be-
gan to regard the people as the mountain and
themselves the prophet, who by nod can bring
them to his feet. Former caucusses ifnot con-
sisting of majority of congress, numbered i'm
their rank at least majority of the great repub-
| lican phalanx. How stands the account with
| this? Sixty five members out of 261. not one
fourth of that body, nor one third of the republic
can ranks--a rneagre band of seceders from
these ranks, we should more properly style them
who seem to have set up for themselves new
formulary of political faith the first article of
which is war redistribution against the present
administration the grand object Of which is to
| force out the present iucumbents to make rsorn
for themselves meagre association for the
purpose of fastening upon the country new
species of party distinction-the ms and the oats
the most banefUl of all others, because not
| founded in principle.
Having pointed out to our fellow citizens the
dangerous and fatal tendency of caucus machi-
nations-the necessity ofopposng the encroach-
nlents of power in the begInniug--tbe means in
| our power in the natural and chartered right of
suffrage-and the necessity of employing these
means In the free and unbiased choice of our
ruers-aDd having succeeded, as we hope i'm
convincing you it is the only means of correc-
ting past evils and preventing future ones; we
conJure you in the name Of our forefathers-jn
the name OF our constitution, the work oftheir
hands, and the monument of their nat riofisr