Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-03-20
SPEECHES IN CArCUS.

NJ iENpiE FoH said. that before tl.c 5 Ia
ken tpcn the proposition Hcf;,rc tl.c Convention he
begged leave to make . very brief explanation OF
the vote he should give. Those gentlemen (form-
ing as they did n large majority of this Caucus)
with whom Inc had had the honor to be associated
In this fall tor the last three months would reati-
y accredt the perfect sincerity of the declaration
that he arose under the embarrassmcnts of most
painful reluctance and dfidence He had an habi-
tual repugnance to addressing public bodies, the
force OF which nothing could enable him on this
casion to resist, but the deliberate conviction that
upon the course which this Convention should ulti-
matcly adopt, depended consequences of the most
interesting and enduring character. He most sin
cerely believed that the present meeting formed Il
crisis pregnant with results of Il more momentou GUS
import to the peculiar interests of Virginia and the
South and calculated to affect more essentially the
future political complexion of this Commonwealth,
than any which had existed since the establishment
of the General Ticket System of clecting the Elect
ors of President and Vice President of the United
States. With these impressions, solemny and
abidlngy impressed on his mind, he should be faith
less to those who sent him here, faithlcss to himself
and fathess to the country, if he did not claim as
much time as would enable him to make manifest
to the public the reasons of the vote which he, as
one of this body, should feel himself compelled to
give.
Sir, said Mr.. p, if the little party, so called
with which L have the honor to act, need an addi-
tonal motive for the free, full, and uncquvoca OK
preston OF their views it be found in the unox-
ampicd and unlusthablc course OF the public press
upon the subject of our previous meetings. That
party has been wantonly assaulted and denounced
throughout the United States, in terms of vulgar
| abuse, and in spirit of scandalous misrcprcscnta-
ton, for other offence than that of prcsumin
TO bear most dccorousy and respectfully the hum
bic contribution of their opinions and suggestions
the deliberations of this Assembly-an Assembly to
which they have been delegated by the regular OK
preston of the Will of their constituents and in the
deliberations of which they have upon every ground
rs much right to minge as any who arc here. A
few who have dared to oppose themselves to party
dictaton--who have thought tt to represent with
fidelity what they believed to he the interests and
| principles and the wishes of their constituents
who have manifested that all the t>rrors of threat
| cncd prescription shall not drive them from the
| standard of Virginia principlcs--havc been pro-
| claimed Cdthounites; have been denounced, i'll the
slang of the newspapers, the siarcs and pGrtzGus
! of Webster and Clay, &c. The odous term OF
qualifications" and every term of party conuraion
and magic has been invoked to excite against u,
the dstrust of the public, and the dissatisfaction OF
our constituents. We should deserve, sir The fate
which intended for u.s. yes sir VIC should deserve
l the contempt of the country and the exccration
of our constituents, were capable of quietly and
silently submitting ourselves to so unccTcmonious
| an mmoaton. hope that each and every ono oil
the little facfjon we have been called, vii
firmly meet the occasion-that all those who arc
determined not to abandon forever the ancient
doctrines OF Nirgna-who not yet prepared
to haul down that flag (which for fifty years Ia,
braved the battle and the breeze" will freely
! fully, and explicitly announce TO the world the
motives ~ which they influenced, and tho re
suits TO which they look.
Mr.. Chairman, | am decidedly, earnestly, an,
cordially, in favour Of the recollection of Andrew
Jackson to the Presidency of these United States
On this ground, claim to be n Jackson man. W.
have heard flat this is not enough. 4 now test o
genuine Jacksonism has been established. In orIc
TO be entitled to the full benefit and distinction o
perfect fraternity with the party claiming to he TIT
exclusive friends of tho President, I haze hear
that VIC must render an INSCRIPTIONS and unqraii
fed devotion to the purposes and the pCrton &c a,
individual who is said to have been so dcxtcro,rsc
solortunato as TO have enlisted the favor and par
tialitics Of the President.
[ might trcmblc, SIR, with the fear OF cxco,nnlr
nicatlon-i might feel that | was indeed liahl
to be "rcad out of church," under the opc
ration Of thcsc absurd and .traorGinar
conditions. if could perceive that those who Pre-
suuc TO prescribe such conditions, had any lust o
legal ti;a 10 thc supremacy which ;icy cIdnfo OK
orsise. Ia, nave not been able to ASCERTAIN Tia
cS;atcn,o Of any wIch title. J therefore plead T.
theJu.sdiodon. Say, sir. you have no right 10 81