Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-01-19
From the Constitutional Wing.
JACKSON CAUCUS.

JhChoON ShOSCo.
This Caucus assembled on Monday night,
pursuant TO Adjournment, in The Hall OF Dele.
gates, Mr.. Speaker Banks IN the Chair, and
Mr.Tbo. Richie, Secretary.
Our avocations denied US the pleasure OF
witnessing The organization of the Caucus, and
hearing It's first proceedings. The first step
taken, we learn, was the unanimous recon-
mendation of Gen acksoa as Pr resident in the
form of a re solution introduced by Gen. Dade
of the Senate.
When we obtained, seat in the gallery, Tor
though admitted into lht sanctuary by reso!u-
ton, we were unable to force passage with
out disturbing the tranquility oi the caucus)
we found Mr.. Ghoson the floor, supporting
proposition To leave a candidate !or the Vice
Presidency unde ,ignated. Thi, proposition
was opposed, and laid on the table, at the mo-
ton vi Mr.. Dromgoole Of the Senate; who
though very warm Stale r ght man, seemed
equally decided in fav, rof Mr. Calhoun. l his
being effec ,ed, Gen. Dade then moved resolu-
lion rec ommending Mr.. Calhoun to the People
Of Virginia as Vice President. To this MIR.
Booker Of Amelia, supported by Mr.. Nash his
colleague, moved an amendment TO the effect,
that the counties should be called in rotation,
and that each member IF the Caucus snpuld
vote for the Candidate whom he preferred,
To this Mr.. Goode moved an amendment SUBJ
srantiaIIy (as we un ierstood it in the gale
ry) |, aving the question OF the Vice Presiden-
cy open, and he electors 10 the discretion Of
voting for whom they pl' ase for that office.
This brought on a discussion Of The polite al
merits and drmcrlts Of MIR. Calhoun, in which
his claims were supported by Messrs. Dade,
Gholson, Dromgooe, Epes, Hunter Of Berk-
ley, aud Crump Of Cumberland and contested
by Messrs Goode Of Met klrnburg and Bryce
Of noochland, In favor OF Mr.. Calhoun it
was urged thai the Vice Presidency WAS but
secondary consideration, that the objeci Of
the Laucus wa, the election Of Gen Jackson,
and thai being ag, eed in this, II was the duty
aud he policy Of the Caucus to adop, all
means Of pr pmoting that Mr.. Calhoun had
been re- omnendrd by the Jackson party in
Penn,y ania and New Jersey-and there was
eve reason TO belle e. would De taken up by
tina, party generally-that not 10 nominate him
would be paying disrespect 10 The wishes Of
those VINO had recommended him and sowing
division in the ranks Of Gen. JAG kson-that il
was true, Mr.. Calhoun's princi piles Of construc-
llon were latitudinous, h.retica' and abomIna.
Bile, anG thai he had rendered himself obnox-
ious BY his Course towards Mr. Crawford, but
that hi, nomination was expedient to secure
he election of Gen. Jac kson-,hal he was i
Identified with the opposition, and had largely
contributed 10 fuil Gown the present mische-
vous administra ion-that the contest Was be-
tween him and Mr.. Rush, and that the enqui-
~ oug hi to be, not If he wa, abstractedly emil
tied to The support of Virginia, and those who
supported the principles OF Virginia; but IT he
was not prefe, able 10 Rich. Rucsh MIR.
Crump of Cumberland, went rather further
than other gentlemen who supported Mr. Cal
houn. He was Of opinion that there was an
end Of the question OF Internal lmpro ements,
which doctrine he thought, had by the lengths
10 which il was pushed in practice committed
suicide On the other great national question
of IN. Tariff, and congressional action on slave
property, Mr. Calhoun was with Virginia.
Such was The general char acter of the argu-
ment in favor of Mr.. , alhoun; dispensing with
principle, and resolving The question into one
Of expediency. But one gentl' man (to use
ph as, characteristic of the spirit Of Jackson
ism generality "went the whole hog" This
was Mr.. Hunter of Berkeley. The lat,itudin
Gus proprnsities and State Right heresies,
with which MIR. Calhoun was soundly whipped
in the course Of The debate even BY his advo-
Gates and apologis,s, seemrd to Mr.. Hunter so
many recommendations 1t required effort
from him to swallow Mr. Calhoun bu, his ul>
ira federalism and lattudinism, rendered the
dose sweet and pals,able. He asked if Mr..
Calhoun was TO be weighed against Dick Rush,
a shutting politician, whose meandrrings re-
minded him oft mazes ola country dance?
Mr.. Hunter expressed no little establishment
that State Right gentlemen (and we FULL agrt
with him) after swallowing Gen. Jackson
should boYgle at MIR. Calhoun--,his he
thought was literally ftralning at gnats and
swallowing camels. He said there was blue
and better blue, and he believed that of Mr..
Calhoun was the Better blue OF the two.
Messrs Goode & Bryce, the principal! speak
ers against The recommendation of Mr.. Calhoun
took the ground that he was opposed 10 the
whole doctrines Of Virginia-that his political
life proved him an ultra la,itudinarian in all
constitutional 9uestions-tha, he had been the
great enemy of Virginia principles and Of
Virginia's favorate Mr.. Crawford. They would
no, yield principle 10 expedency, and by the
nomination Of Mr.. Calhoun, manifest the deer.
minauon TO prefer expediency to principle.
They viewed Mr.. Calhoun as no sounder in o.
pinion ;han that administration which il was
the object of all presen, TO pull down--They
denounced discrimination by the Caucus. rs