American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1824-03-05
FOR TIE WATcHMAN.

Waterman, to the Republicans oil Delaware TO raj
lily round the nomination lately made at Washing
ton by caucus composed of slender minority o
the members Of congress. 1t is termed "regata'
nomination." and is said to have been made "accor-
ding to the inrariabLe usage Of the republican par
lty.' Let the Republicans of Delaware understand
all the circumstances OF this rery regular nomina
n ZION, and decide with the gravity becoming the &C.
cason, how far it is entitled to their appreciation.
II 1t is we'll known, that when the invitation, under
which this caucus assembled, was published, inior
, nation was formally given, in paper signed BY
twenty four OF the most respe cable republican mem
bers of congress, that this measure was in drec
opposition TO the feelings OF large majority OF the
members Of both houses and they had ascertained
that OF col members composing the present con-
gress, not than 80 at the utmost, would attend
Under these circumstances 1t was, that the eau
Gus assembled on the 14th ult But instead OF 80
members, the number conceded by the opponents
of the measure, only Go attended, and two oed by
proxy, one of whom is said to be in the Hest Indies!
II The whole number them in faVot of a caucus is g.
and opposed to it 1913. 1t is said there 40 feder-
asts in Congress; this will leave 1853 Republicans
Who did not attend, and who opposed to eau
Gus. 1t appears further, that oil the twenty -four
States, only fourteen represented in this eau
Gus; and that, with the exception OF Georgia and
virginia, the members Of the caucus voted in op.
position TO the wishes of their espectiye States.
And we told by the writer " no takes The sigma
ture Of" Detauare," that this is regular nomina
ton and ought 10 be supported by the Republicans
Of Delaware!
In opposition to this writer, think may say
hat it is very irregular nomination that it is
deeply hostile 10 The " inrarid6le uSage al the Re
pabtcaa party p and that it ought not and lCH not
be supported or, in the slightest degree, respected
by the Republicans OF Delaware. The caucus sys
tenn of Washington, in its best aspect, may be con
sldered as sore upon the body polite, 1t has
heretofore been tolerated, never appYoyed ause
the caucus nominations have been in accordance
with the public feeling, JEFFERSON, MADISON and
MONROE were elected, not because they were nomi-
mated by caucUsses, but because the people SO will
led ii. II any authority be attached to these sell
constituted tribunals, it must be only when they pro
coed upon principles which hayea semblance of
equity and decency. The caucusses that nomina
ted Jefferson, Madison and Monroe were composed
OF nearly all The republican members Of congress
In one sense, they represented the lChOte Republi-
can party OF the United States; and SO far their
nominations were regular and according TO inraria-
Die usage, II that term may be applied TO an event
which has occurred but three or four times since 4
we were a nation But whatever respect might be
due to the decision OF convention thus composed
Il cannot be expected that the people of this country
will be in the slightest degree influenced by The fail
= NSSN'Ai~AJt
orty, for the purpose of nominating particular
candidate, composed almost exclusively of the
friends OF that candidate, and in number scarcely
exceeding one tOurh OF the Republican members
u congress- such nomination is neither regular Ii
'or according TO 6 inrdriabie uSage," but the re
erse OF both and can only be regarded as the at
empt OF select corps OF the partlsans of single
andldate to dictate to the free people of the United
states AS such 1t ought to be resisted and will
p. fhr 4 /.
political liberties Of his country.
II is ridiculous to say as has been said by some,
hat the 66 gentlemen who composed .the caucus G
net simply as indiridudtS. We have seen that ,
he invitation was addressed only to members off
congress, that none but members assembled, and [
hat they met in the representative hall, which was c
Illliantly illuminated at the eapense Of the nation.
hese gentlemen, among whom it is humbng TO c
perceive the respected names ofJames barbour and |
tdcard Ltoyd, certainly intended that their nomi-i
alton should have all the force their official char
cter could give. l.
1t is no longer question, whatever may be said r
r done by interested individuals or packed assem-
lies TO the contrary, that congressional caucussesl
re unpaata5e to large ma lority of the Americana
eople. Since the nomination of President Mon. IL
De in 1916, the tide Of public opinion has been set
ng strongly against the practice and the large II
majority OF Republican members that refused to at
NV e"S atC CAUCUS, III 80 uOlnR, only ODeyeQ the e
impulse oil public feeling. In 1876 the peoples ewes
'ere completely opened to the injurious tendency n
this system: they then how easily congress II
Ional caucus might be managed and Influenced 10 u
ctin direct opposition to he voice of the nation. On
nat occasion, lis well known, that the voice of the
mole democratic party and indeed Of the whole Ih
alton had selected Mr.. Monroe to FIJI the Presi $,
entlai chair No other man was thought or dream La
q oi-every eye was turned towards hirn-untillt :,
mi nar, t.N H.
'hoe nation, it was understood, that another can.
ldae had been set up in the caucus against the G.
copies candidate, and that Mr.. Monroe had been u
early set aside in favor of gentleman whom ,he