Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1829-04-14
To the Editors of the Enquirer.

BEAUTIES OF CAUCUSsING.
Gentlemen The late proceedings to concern
frate public opinion, in the Orange Convention
District, havc exhibited some curious results.
This Is, perhaps, the first introduction of the
Northern System of Management into our cleo.
tions-other than the presidential. All good re-
publicans should pray to Heaven, and to the pEo-
PIE, that il may be the last The facts about TO
be stated, shew in a striking manner, how easily
the many may be guiled into submission to the
dictation OF fc,D. They are calculated to make
the friend of popular government tremb1e for the
permanency OF what he holds most dear; and to
excite IN the aristOcrat and monarchist (who al
ways look with jealous leer malign' upon effort.
ut self-government) the most joyous exuitation-
they are ominous OF fatal, though perhaps distant,
nischief.-But, iorbearing speculation, proceed
Jdcf. The incidents are local; but the principle
deduced from them, is not limited TO counties, or
districts il is extensive as the circulation of the
Enquirer.
The writer stood behind the bar in Louisa Court
house, when the " large and respectable meet
ing of treeholders was held at March court, TO
send committee to Orange, there to help in no.
rninating tit persons as delegates to the Conven-
ton. He AYERS, that not ono person voted or took
part In that meeting, who was not within the bar
This space could not have contained, it is believed
above 100 persons and of those, allowing for the
usual intermixture of non-freehoders, and OF
boys always curious, and in crowd, generally
Soremost) not. above one-third we're probably
ireehoiders. Judging from the sound of the vol
cos, the writer wouldjudge that scarcely twenty,
certainly thirty, voted upon the choice of de-
puties So much for the" LARGE" meeting in
Louisa. !.
The writer was assured, bya venerable and
respectable gentleman who was present, that the
meeting in Orange Court House 10 appoint SINH
lar committee, was much like the one in Louisa
That gentleman (who was far from hostile to the
proceedng) verify thinks, that not more than
TwELvE.v voted upon that occasion. The Orange
Committee then, in. the Caucus, whose nomination
hos been promulged, had twelve constituents,
and the Louisa Committee had Neutrality-suspicious.
thirty.
Ofthe meetings in Spousylvana and Madison,
the writer has no certain information but he has
heard. that they had not tenth, probably not a
twentieth part, OF the FREEHoLpERs OF those
counties.
Yet, (lnsrk the mischieG) some honest men be-
ficve the nomination by this caucus to bo absolute
ly binding, as the law of the land and the issue of
its assembling was watched for and enquired af-
ter, with the avidity that Lottery adventures
shew, to learn the result Of drawing awaited
with all the superstitous reverence of heather
Greeks, listening to catch the response OF an ora
cie!-" Whaf'-(a freebooter, of average inteni-
gef,ce, has said to friend OF the writer) we are
obliged we not to vote for the men that these
deputies may appoint"'
Mr.. Editor, protest in the name Of the people
who know how, and have the right, to govern
themseIves.-I protest against the introduction
amongst US, Of system which has elsewhere
been the fruitful parent OF intrigue, and which
tends inevitably to pass the choice of public men,
and the direction of public measures, out of the
hands Of us, the people, into those of fer crafty
managers. acknowledges, nay, assert and vouch
for the upright intentions Of all $50 far az know
fhe1n) who took any part in either the county
meetings or the district meeting Many Of them
are nv personal and valued friends-their integri-
~ is adequate to any trust; and would be the first
10 vindicste them from the impuiation of attempt
ing to maneuyre the people out Of their elective
rights. But there is an Inherent vice in the sys-
fem of cducussuo. which no rectitude of purpose
in Its agents can clear away. system, whose
CHARACTERISTIC It's, that one o, tCo busy men get
ting togefher tretue, or t,oenty, or thirty Others,
fperhdps drilled for the purPose) may make
nomination, tchtch, by usage, comes TO hare the
torce of tau, and goUerns every sieciiOnis so liza
BILE to abuse, and when abused.is pre- grant with
danger, that 1t may be pronounced radically and
utterly unsound.
If a caucus is ever justfable, IL is under the
general ticket plan. in elections of President
There II is necessary TO concentrate public opif
ion. But, cannot the people know who, in three
or four counties, fit TO them, without be-
ing prescribed to by a caucus? Are there any,
eminent enough 10 be in the Convention, whose
names have not spread thro' their own Senatorial
District!
To the persons nominated by the meeting al
orange Courthouse, il is not my design now TO OBJ
ject Tor two Of them, and very likely for three,
slaii votej but, not because The caucus NAMED
tne"' That meeting is too liable 10 The exception
TAKEN 70 the late .4uti-Jackson COnUentiOn. a
wag, IN the Lobby, is said to have remarked, that
=" u was set Of clever fellows no doubt: twas