The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1826-04-12


OF the caucus. believe il may reconcile. on
one great point, previously ascertained ma
jority, Of which the members had been sepa-
rated only by subordinate divisions believe
it may enable a previously ascertained ma
jority TO act in concert and ursson with each
other-l believe it may ser' to reduce a
question 10 an issue between majority and
minority. Farther than this, | cannot be-
lieve thai caucusing can go. 1t is game at
which more than one side can play; and, |
do not believe we are SO wanting in "politi-
cal magHians," or whatever you choose to
call them, that four or FIVE are all that tbs
country, r any State in it, at one time, can
produce I; and that they will all be on one
side. believe, that, taking things as they
re, the only way you cen put twenty thou
sand voters to fight, is ~ marching up TO the
polls with twenty thousand and one-that
will do it, and nothing else will.
But, how does the gentleman's system af-
ford any remedy to the evil of caucusing
The only effect Of the district system will be,
that we shall have two hundred and sixty-one
caucusses, instead Of the twenty-four already
provided for; or, (if you double the number,
that each side may have its caucus) the forty
eight now likely to exist. This would more
form district system. Another thing: what is
TO become of the minorities oD the district sys-
| tenn? | could here tell the gentleman some
thing about that arrangement in my own
Stale, TO which he alludcd-by a name,
which, out of respect to venerable patriot
and statesman Of the revolution, now no
more, and who had nothing TO do with the
| transaction, shall not repe at--at time
I,x,Lz Al -. l.. Ia,
balanced, there wss small majority on the
federal side /; hfty-one thousand, perhaps, on
the one side, and friy-nine thousand on the
other. In that stat. of public feeling, by vir-
| tue of a system of districts, consisting of ada
cent territory, and The same amount of popu-
Llation, (for in all tlese details, believe, the
division was perfectly fair,) it was so contriv-
ed that the minority chose twenty mine State
Senators, and the majority chose eleven, and
more votes were given for these eleven. than
were given for the twenty-nine. This is, in
deed, an effectusl protection afforded by the
district system tothe minority. The gentle
man from Virginia (NIr. Sterenson,) pointed
out to you, liz the State Of Maryland, at the
last election, a similar result; affording an H.
lustration equally strong, of the benign ef-
fects OF the'district system.
| In this part of the subject, the gentleman
made pathetic appeal 10 the political lead
ers OF NewYork. He told them they must
have felt, in the huctuatIon of their parties
that it was really better for themselves, that
they should not possess the power OF alternate
| ly WELDING against each other the whole pow
er and patronage OF that vast State. Sir,
care not how often the parties in New-Yorl
| have heen up and down. "hOt are These
fluctuations OF party in Newly York to us, t.
them, to any body? When look at New.
York, which always take pleasu,.- in doing
can see nothing but her magnificent metrop.
oils; her ever-multiplyins institutions fo
charity, for science, for the arts, for social im
provement; her western paradise of abund
ance and prosperity; and the glory of tn,
age, her grand Canal. These have gone on
are going on, and, trust, will go on, unde
all the fluctuations Of her parties; whilst
could name to you States, which have Away
marched to the polls in a Macedonian pha
lanx, that have fallen far behind New-Yorl
in these great objects of social organization.
As to the parties in Newly rk, | have reac
their papers, more or less for fifteen years, anc
| do not know the meaning of their little To-
cal appellations, nor am going to lay my
hand on the Constitution, and alter it, in or
der that the factions in New-Y York
"Msy fall with dignity-with temper rise. :"
| No, sir. this consideration will, trust, OF
mature reflection, have no weight, even OF
the mind of the honorable gentleman whc
suggested it, as an GrgatnleYliunl ad hOnlinen;
addressed to the politicians of that State.
The last chief argument of the gentleman
on this subject, was, (for must pass over sew
eral topics in this discussion,l that the admis
sion OF the district system was the only com
pensation which the large States could offe
to the small States, to induce them to give ~
their equality in the eventual choice of {
/ President in this House. Why should they
give it up9 The gentleman says, that they
should give it up. because, in the first place
| IT is an illusory power--power not possessed
by the State, but possessed by the single in
dividuals of that State, called to exercise i
on this floor. But there are States, which
have more than one Representative, anc
which are yet TO he called small and
think, on his own principles. could prove t.
the honorable gentleman that il is real sub
stan,ive power, possessed by twelve smaller
States; that, as such, they stand on an equal.
| ity with the large States when the election
comes to this House. AT any rate, il the
gentleman objects to the exercise OF the pow.
er here, he must consent to adopt the amend
ment proposed by the gentleman from Penn
sylvania, Mr.. Buchanan,) which, though il
takes the eventual choice from this House
secures to each State its equal vote. No
says the gentleman from South carolina, the
majority OF the people will not consent TO b,
governed by minority.
entertain high respect-the gentleman
am sure, believes that do--an unaffec eC
respect, tor his talents and political sagacity
hut when heard this proposition fall iron
hun, was at loss in whal light to regard
'l-serious could hardly consider it les
than serious, OF course, the occasion did mo-
admit.
The majority not submit to he governed by
the minority ?--Look at the other end Of THU