Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-04-20
ONE OF THE PEOPLE.
wAsm,oros CRY, March 4 . 1891.

WASHINGTON CITY, March 4, 1921.
JMcssrs Il. II. Spencer and SAINT Hurts.
Gentenen-Your letter enclosing the addrese
Gas committee appointed on their part) of n pum
Der OF respectable freeholders and citizens of the
county OF King and Queen, approving of the course
winch have pursued i'll relation to the caucus
which has been recently held az the seat of the peu
erai government, has been duly received Permit
me- through you, to express to them the sincere prat
hcaton feel at this testimony of their Appreciation
10 representative who properly estimates the yir
tue and intelligence of the people, and the hisb and
sacred character Of his trust nothing can se more
Sra'eiuA thah the spontaneous expression of their
esteem ana confdence-nothng more calculated to
encourage and sustain him in the DISCHARGE of his
duties, and to excite in him honorable ambition
10 merit the continuance of their favor by uc,eas
"a perseverance and zeal i'll their service More
preventative has more senslbly experienced this truth
man myself, Tor none - more Indebted to the kind
ana sustaining appreciation of his constituents The
renewed instance of this approbation afforded nv
The address oil the reehoders and citizens of King
" Queen, will always be rccoiected bv me with
feelings OF gratitude and PRIDE
Calm and deliberate reflection on t}o sub;oct RI
congressional caucus for the purpose of nominate
ing PRESIDENT, has convinced me that il ha. none
OF the advantages intriniically or relatively which
have been ascliSed to it. caucus of members of
Congress to no'ninate a President, is meeting of
,.'e"' "o' ~ express tne oritIon OF the people,
but to direct and courol it, by virtue of the infu
ence and weight of their official character II is idle
and disngenuous to pretend that it is meeting of
INDIVIDUALS and not OF members. If an equal num-
Der OF the most respectable individuals from every
state in the Union happened to be in Washington
"heh congressional caucus was held, we should
perceive that they would net be permitted RI ,sss,
IN 1t nor would an independent caucus held by
themselves, carry with it the least authority what
ever. 1t IS therefore, to all intents and PURPOSES
caucus of members of Congress, acting in their off;
cial character; and as such is liable TO serous md
insuperable objections. 1t is a usurpation of tho
rights OF the people, and an attempt To substitute
nomination for election. 1t tends to dcorye the
state governments of their control in the election Of
president; and TO give the election to few indi
viduals, who are thus placed under the STRONGEST
temptation to promote their own interests at The
pense OF the public good One of the PRINCIPAL pre
texts for II Is, that it is atended to keep the election
out oil The House OF Representatives but several
conditions are necessary to enable caucus TO ha
TINS erect. 1t must consist of sufficient number
OF members who must agree to surrender their pye
iefences, and unite OIL one candidate however uu6t
many of them may deem him,-and that candidate
must be nominated by majority sufficiently nu,ne-
rous and respectable to give to their recommeuda.
.ion the force OF an edict with the people. Ono OF
these conditions is derogatory to the constituent
members, and the other TO the people. But if a
caucus could have the effect to keep the election on,
OF the House of Representatives the remedy is real
y worse than the disease. 1t is admitted thar both
the caucus and the election by the House are ev;Is
but contingent evil, which may seldom happen, is
attempted to be avoided by substituting one that is
to become regular, periodical, and that is more to
be dreaded. There can be no doubt that the mem.
oers, acting in the House, their ofical responsible
w. would be less exposed to the influence of intrigue
than acting in caucus, without responsibility. Bur
II is said, in the House, the little state of Delaware
VIII nave as much influence the great State of
Virginia. Now, strange as it NAV SEEM the verv
persons VINO use this argument, tell US that ON the
present OCCASION the little state of Delaware is po
ing 10 vote precisely as the great state of Virginia
VIII SO that whatever force this argument mirht
have In fdvor OF caucuses generally, it is deprived
OF all weight as respects the expediency of IN,
iate caucus. Buff 1t is right to against the
constitution, with view TO defeat one of its proyi-
sons, because it is thot to operate uneauaIly wby
not caucus against it TO defeat any other provision
winch we may dlsapprove on the same grounds, If
u right to caucus against the equality of the small
states IN relation to the election of President i'm the
House, why not caucus against their equality in the
structure OF the Senate, which is occasional as
the former, but permanent? Even if all the MEM
bers oil Congress had attended caucus as befnre
suggested, there could have been 10 nomination bv
majority, OF any one candidate and nomiDn-
ton 5y mere plurality, woGld not have the lea,
weight upon the people. The principle of the Pre-
sidential election is majority not plurality. So
lar rom any nomination by mere plurality having
tendency to keep the election out of the House.
X would be regarded by the people, as an effort of
minority to dictate to them, and would stinp
late them TO greater exertions to resist and defcat
their purpose, thus promoting division and dscord
instead OF harmony, has been pretended. But
say the advocates oil caucus, why do you dsap-
prove; Why will you not unite and vote for onp
candidate, guaranteeing your prcudces and prefer
cnr capipU IO,tbt
for oltr candidate, This to be sure would he \ 70
ry csctual way of settling all difficulty and doubt
less, to them at least very satisfactory one bu,
this enquiry brings up the whole question of the me-
rits of the candidates, on which / am persouaIlv
willing ocxpress my opinions, but the limits of this
letter viii not permit me to enter into so extensive
discussion. My preference has been openly avowed
and is well known in my district am Drcparcd
whenever the occasion shall offer, to Justify it
With regard to the part have taken in relation
10 the cau,us, l have some explanations to offer
which think would satisfy you of its proprietv e.
ven If you had disapproved of it. You will tax,
along with you, that for the reasons have stated
disapproved of a caucus, both on the grounds o
| principle and expediency. When Congress frs
assembled, it was evident TO every unprecedented
mind, that large majority Of the members wer,
| opposed to caucus and from the best information
that could be obtained, there was every reason Il
believe, that there at time more than seven
| ~ members in favor OF II. The Information cav,
tony constituents early in December, and frequent
y after, corresponds with this statement. The pub
| lie papers however, in many places, at a distanc,
from the seat of government, contained the mos
confident assertions thar large majority Of the re-
publican members in favor of IT, A little re
Fiction might have sewn, that the effort 10 get IN
state legislatures to act the members of Coneres
by recommending acaucus, "a course totally mpre
cedented IN the history of this country,) betrayed
. hat