Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-03-11

gogues. ~ 49,
iheeihciency of the operation of political mar.
agement, must necessarily present an inverse pro
po'uon 10 the bulk and want Of conference OF ,ln.
little short OF truth of mechanical philosonhy
ne 'aint OF any mode Of corrupt influence, mus
Vi tue same necessity, present similar pronor,;o.
" u'e extent OF the surface il had to cover Tbi:
was nttie snort OF law of chymical affinity. 10
anirm that State was liable in less degree tb,,
1.s"'e', 10 an access OF corrupt influence. VIA
no more than affirming the inferior probability
an epidemical disease The air m;vb, he ;,r,,.,
Spots and districts, but let il ba left TO mix r;,b
o'eeees rom the ocean, and the currents from lie
mountains, IN the large sphere of a State ana H.,
e'u.' would De general atmosphere of salubrity
aPpeared' then, Mr.. A. said, that the moJc
s,eeuoh by general ticket had charac,cr
nt,;oa .onseniai 10 the nature of the Presiden,si
once and election than that by district svs,s,,
a"u was oetter calculated to elicit sound expres
SION Q! public sentiment. Then it was a preferable
mode for this election
mere was an argument, however, said Mr.. a
.npoyed always In a tone of triumph. in ob;ec,;,,
' .ae correctness OF this conclusion. The areu
nieht TO which he referred was tina, derived e.,
me necessity for political mapaoem en-, ,nd -
,au oeen denominated CAUCUS MACHINERY. mad
-. opeia'ion OF the mode of election by gener,,
ucset system The allegation admitted The c.
PeiofHy OF the general ticket system in other res
pects. In relation 10 this much 'enduying tor;..
siI .,i'e ~oin-analosy ofJugging and wires never
- =. ~ oe employed. MIR. a. had no desire T.
eiuoe inns objection, and it was his intentio,
Meet II directly. He admitted the inevitable occ,r.
.ehee Oh me mode OF proceeding by caucus a
lang ements, whenever general ticker svs,eu
e'ec"on was established. And who. he askeT
were 'ne e'nrIent operators, the jugelers in tb;l
.i'.-'ee ana what was the real effect ana
CT tne operation thus contrived and put i;
araf ha
attained the general confidence: for this mnst H..
W., me ground OIL their aretension to the offic,
" nenceado they come? From dispersed n,,ces
ana the body OF thel People Where do H..
convene! Under the eyes of the peopye ave.
NAT 'heir temporary function is 10 UNDERGO 81.
instant ordeal OF the judgment of the commup,v
= huer what responsibility do they act, Of 81.
forfeiture OF the object at stake on their nroosa,;
'he reputation they have acquired, and their inf
ehce IN future BY what process are tbe;r g.;
men's cemented, and their nomination ev.yraI,
mere can be none other that the con,narison' -,
coia'ioh OF the popular opinions they brine aloe
WV WIN mem 4 hen, with what propIiety could
,hs De arFaisned as an engine by which
the pubic opinion was countetacted Sc onnressed,
In reiation to the correctness of this imnu,.,;
mere happened, Mr.. "A. said TO be fes, h;t
was decisive. suppose nomination in a cauc,e ,
IN uhdoubted contravention of public sen,;,,
,ba, s,rt, PeIs1h commit himself by affirming
:. .i"' such nomination could be made to realu;,
us ooJect, no matter who,might be the agents
Pioyed In directing it! Then a caucus mach;ne-,
was MOI equal 10 The counter traction Of public GEN.
liment' Ia his own State on the occasion of The
lHsl election OF Mr. Madison TO the Presidency.
caucus nomination was made of Mr.. Monroe. b.
persons highly respected, and some of them dis
'insuished by previous political influence as wei
as talent. What was its effect? The consign-
'neht OF ITS agents 10 unpopularity aid not tbe
counteraction OF public sentiment Ano.be
couhtervalAng nomination was attempted las.
year, when Mr. Crawford commanded the real sui
RACES Oh the stare In favor of q gentleman also
native OF the State. What did il produce,
nusement; but no effect OF the contraven,ion =,
he public will "
1here IS indeed, case in which caucus mav
nave influence over public opinion land that *
where there - no public opinion when the peo
pie themselves know not on whom to concentrate
In no case does 1t operate 20 counteract opinion
'nd, IL opinion remains TO be formed, no persons
IRE better qualified TO dictate it than those mon
who have the greatest stake of reputation, III
necessity OF an election requires thar an oninion
'hoE!d DC formed, and these are the men to concen
rate and give ii direction. This engine of can
ras, therefore, does not control opinion, except
where no previous opinion exists, and then IL
ought to control. The real objection, then to can
Gus, Is not that it suppresses public opinion 1t
IS the efficiency which il gives to public opinion
This 10 sufficiently evident from both the source
and Inc language OF the objections. The source is
he minofities OF the country; and the language
hat minoriiies are made victims by suppression
md mpressment When there was so great cJa
nor on The subject of Presidential caucus. what
vas the meaning of iil 1t meant only that one
candidate was stronger than the rest. Minori,ies
I'D not choose TO play game of certain loss but
o take the chances He lid not mention this by
Yay of blame. 1t is natural; it is thought right and
'erhaps il is right. Our inClinaons always appear
inder the mask oduty Partisans think that thew
patriotic, and this opinion makes them So They
- - - = 10 -af.e:---.- -. . IL
caucus under such circumstances unless 1t Is to OBJ
ain some great good or TO exclude some special
.vi, such as the election OF a candidate of
iifferen political principles, that Of The cleo
ion being brought TO the House of Represents
lives. All objections TO the system com
ing then from maorities, do not deserve great con-
sideration. They indulge, however, in fierce in
vectiye and formidable calculations of figures. TIE
gentleman from South Carolina has taken this
course. For himself, however, he objected 10 all
introduction Of figures into such arguments, H.
was a certain proof that the moral argument is
plain; and equally evidence that 1t is not just,
because il compcls usto borrow from fsse analogy
10 sustain it, For this reason, he would not fol-
low his friend from South Carolina through bis
calculations He had no great head for figures;
and il he could not explain moral argument
without them, he always gave it up. He would
never run TO strained calculation till the case is
desperate.
The calculations Of his friend from South Caro-
lima as the relative minoTities TO be suppressed bY
district or general ticket system, are entirely
iectura ii they rigb, the result in the differ
ent States all produce balance II he najo-
rity in the several States belong TO the same
side il is inmat erial in what way it is collected.
al. roIa. r.