The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1824-04-20


resolutions, to be proposed to Legislative
Bodies. had any resemblance 70 Congress
sional Caucus intended 20 transfer from the
States their constitutional check and Inilu-
eDce in the election 81 President, 20 Congress.
II had been said indeed, that Congressional
Caucus acted only in their private characters.
To illustrate this assertion: We have all
heard ofwhat is called bull da7ce-Suppose
sixty Or seventy Of Tie gTavcst and most res
pectable private citizens should assemble aud
entertain the people with iigs, rigadoons, and
hornplpes. Would not their private charac-
tiers be estimated 10 contemplating the exhi-
bition But IL the same number Of members
of Congress should assemble and present a
similar scene, would not their public charac-
ters be also estimated 50. when assembled
for nominating President, il is their public
characters, and those only, which are intend
Cd 70 influence the election, and such an in
fuence destroys that Of the States bestowed
by the Constitution for self preservation, by
Transferring 10 Congress a power conferred
on the States Their che racters will follow
them into caucus, either for the purpose Of
: bull dance, or for nominating President.
MIR. KELLY. of Alabama, remarked that the
wioie discussion on this Caucus Question, had
arisen from tie want Of fOrbearance on the
part of the gentlemen who had advocated that
measure. The gentleman from New-York,
Mr.. King, had been charged with change Of
opinion on the subject Of the Constitutional
amendments, and had risen in bis defence,
and justified his disposition TO delay acting
on the subject al this crisis, on account Of the
Central Potcer which now presumed TO select
candidates for the Presidency and NicePres
idenCy of the United States.-Whether he
actually used the Cabalistic and portentous
word, Caucus, or not, hold il, said Mr.. X.
immateriaL He certainly spoke Of a central
power that had arisen 10 this government, not
known TO the Constitution, and unfriendly to
the liberties Of the nation; and whether he
called it Caucus or not, he certainly did,
said Mr.. X. assure the gentlemen that he had
no unfrendly feelings towards any person
who differed from him in opinion. Now, said
Mr.. X. this remark was received with the most
extraordinary sensitiveness on the part of
these gentlemen--tbey had with an ultra
chivalrous esprits du corps, Immediately rush
ed into contest on the Caucus Question, and
had entered into arguments in support of that
measure. Mr.. Kelly repeated, that very
small portion Of torhearance in that stage Of
the debate, would have prevented the Discus
sion altogether bot as gentlemen had thought
proper TO assume a different course, it had
certainly become necessary thai their remarks
should be answered and their arguments re-
futed. This had been done by the gentleman
frum South Carolina, in respect to the argu-
nents which were urged on tile other side,
1-FvrV iro addressed the Senate. But other
arguments had since been advanced and as TO
these, MIR. IL. said, he would now proceed u
reply. Waving, for the present, the Consti-
tuuOnal question, he would notice the argu-
ment of the necessity of Caucus, as party
measure. Now, without arguing how far a
Caucus could be justified on that ground, he
would say that such a measure could certainly
not be justified as a party measure, where
only small minority cosd be got TO unite in
il. He had always understood that the very
first principle OF the Republican party TO
which he belonged was, that majority only
could act or speak for the party and this, in
deed, seemed, to be sacred principle that
could in no case be dlsregarded. But the
gentlemen of the present day have conquered
the difficulty that embarrassed Archimedes
when he stood solitary Colossus on the yer
tex Of mechanical science, lie exclaimed,
" give me place 10 stand, and I'll move the
world" Gentlemen have stricken from this
sentence the dos pou sto, and the article kai,
and retain only the ton kosmon kipc-o"
They now propose 10 raise tie world without
a fulcrum here MIR. X was called TO o rider bv
the Chair, and remarked, that the range az
lowed TO the debate, on former days could not
be tolerated. Mr.. X. then observed, that he
did not wish to speak Of gentlemen ID their
individual capacities He wished 20 contrO-
vert doctrines delivered on this floor. THE
Fice-Presldent said, that it would be out Of
order, 10 reply to such arguments made here
in relation % the Caucus Question-tnat ~
was not IA the Chair when they we're made.
or he would not have allowed it'll Mr.. X.
then observed, tina he could only regret the
absence Of that presiding divinity that could
have saved us from so much trouble, and took
his seat.
After the lapse Of few minutes, aud after
another gentleman had risen 10 speak, the
NTce-President observed, that the gentleman
from Alabama was entitled 10 the floor, if be
chose 20 progress. Mr.. X. then rose and OBJ
served, that he understood himself to have
been deprived Of the floor, by The decision OF
the Chair. To which the Vice President re-
piled, that the merits Of The question before
the Senate might be discussed, and that tie
gentleman might proceed. Mr. X. then ob-
served, that he would not attempt to evade
the decision Of the Chair, and that II be could
not be permitted to reply 10 political doctrines
preached here for home Consumption. be had
30 wish to speak
(" will now, Mr.. President" said Mr.
SMITH, take view Of the caucus system. a.
il has operated, and, trust, shall be able to
shew that hhas enabled he Repub uaa paTtu
70 mount into Potrer, and has teadsd. manly
TO maintain them "a a. Upon this theme 1
act as a party man, and have no hesitation ia
saying, that l0ish % keep nly party a. polrer
that bttieCe ne caucus system a. ne mos
efectuai means and that, lcherl zee cease q
ifss It, we shall deprive ourselves Of one most
powerful instrument Mr. Smith said ~
believed the Embargo was agreed upon ID
caucus.