Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-10-05
ENOCH REYNOLDS, Up.
F,'Om Tie .Naiionnl .Ion1nnl

1917
OF political coDtrareties, which constitute what
Is mos: appropriately denominated the CH,u ffc-
non. we mean the union which has been re-
Gently formed, between the oriremes of the two
great parties, which have hitherto divided our
country. These extremes are, those among the
republicans who protested to think the Admin
istration not republican enough and those among
the ederaiists who professcd to think il too erelu-
sirety republican. The more he mind dwells
upon the Infinite distance, which these fractions
of the two parties are separated an towtcssio,
the more difficult is ii to account. upon anv po-
litical, moral, or philosophical principle for the
phenomenon of their, open and avowed junction
and cooperation. five could believe the res
pective Drawings OF these two sides of an uni
ted faction, we should be ready to say with old
Kent,
"No contraries hold more antipatIy.''
They have heretofore agreed in nothing, but in
a noisy discomfort with the ruling powers And
IT is not the least remarkable feature in this
strange and Heterogeneous league, that the very
individuals among the republicans who have
been most clamorous against the Administration
and It's friends for a supposed tendency towards
an anatsaaation Of parties, by which, il was
said, all distinctions between republicans and
federalists would be broken down, are those who
have been the first to court such an amalrama-
tion:-not an amalgamation, how ever, with the
great body of those who formerly belonged to the
old federal party, and who are pure and honest
in their views and principles, but with the vio-
lent, the factious, the unprircipled portion of
them with those who have given to the world
unquestionable evidence, that they would rather
have surrendered the independence and the
honour of their country, than risk their lives or
their fortunes 10 maintain them; who would ra-
Their have yielded up all the fruits of our elori-
GUS revolution, than have taken up arms to pro-
tect them with those, in short, who now unite
in the support Of MIR. Crawford for no other req
son under heaven, than because they believe him
to be the 'cedhest of the candidates, and that be
| may be the most easily welded to their pur-
poses.
This recent union, however, of the detna-
eogues intrigucrs, and Soi-disant reformers of
the two parties, unpriGcipled as ii NAV be, is not
more unprincip!sd, tan has been the whole
system Of the cancus party, from lis first forma-
ton to the present time. We verify believe that
there never has been, in any country, so bold
and daring system of fraud, deception and i'm
position upon the public. as that which has been
organized and pursued, BY the political suppor-
tiers OF Mr.. Crawford. Most heartily do we
wish for the honour of the country, that we
could in justice eXonerate him, as member of
the Administration, from all participation in HE
infamous and unplincipled conduct Ofbis friends:
but the fact is too notorious 10 be concealed thai
if he did not originate, he at least gave his ap-
probation and cordial support to, the system of
fraud by which his partisans have sought 10 mis-
lead and deceive the people.
twill be remembered that the Caucus, com.
posed of sc out of 261 members of Congress, who
met iii the Capitol on the 18th Of February last
and nominated Mr.. Crawford and Mr.. Gallatin
for the Presidency and Vice Presidency of the
United States, put forth an Address 10 the
Republicans of the United States, nin which they
denounced the federal party, in terms that gave
just offence to some of its most distinguished adj
herents. 1t viii also be remembered that, con-
trary to previous usage, Mr.. Crawford made no
reply to the letter addressed to him by the Chair
man and Secretary of the Caucus, announcing
his nomination. He neither thanked his fellow
citizens of the Caucus for the honour conferred
upon him by the nomination, nor gave any init
nation that he would be ,oii;ing to serre, cleo
ted. Such signal mark OF disrespect to the
nomination of Caucus, had never before been
shown. 1t was calculated to excite, and did
excite, much curious speculation. Many per-
sons were disposed to believe, that the good
sense Of Mr.. Crawford perceived in this clean
and hungry" body, an intention TO Insult, rather
than 10 honour him; and that he meant, by
his silence, TO eyince the contempt which he
felt for the unfrieDdly exposure OF his weakness
with the republicans of Congress: Others be-
heyed, that o consciousness of the pTecarous
state of his health, restrained him from giving an
iUlinetldte ItplJ. Out unfortunately IDI tiie
character Of MIR. Crawford, neither Ofthese mo
tives influenced him. There was nnotSe,- reasQzl
for his apparent want Of courtesy TO this little
phalanx of his friends and to that reason ma.
be traced the origin qfthc system of fraud, de-
cepdon, and imposition, which has been ever
since unremittingly praCtscd upon the public.
by the advocates Of he caucus nomination.
Mr.. Crawford was well aware, from tire com
position Of the Caucus, that success TO his Dorii-
nation was not TO be hoped for, wlhou, the aid
Of the federal party, or, at least, Of those indiyi
duals Of the federal party who still felt inter
| est aud took an interest, and an active part in
the Presidential election. To ACCEPT Tire uomr
nation in the usual way, by Il letter Of thanks tc
the Caucus, "for the honour" sc. would have
i been TO subscribe TO the sentiments contained
in the Address which that Caucus bad promul
gated, and to join IN the proscrIl ion of the VIC
ry persons without whose cid he knew that vi
election could not be accomplished. IL becam
necessary, therefore, as preliminary step, &
heal the wound which the address of tie eau
! Gus had inflicted on TIC feelings OF the federal
ISIS; and a negotiation was Immediately set c
foot, for that purpose. The Address was repr,
, scented, as 6 raeTe T1tse de gUerric, desicnate
exclusively to entrsp the democratic states
i New York and Pennsylvania. The leading {
n derasts were assaGed tlat 60 far iroIaits bei'