Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-03-28
SPEECHES IN CAUCUS.


Mr.. DROMGOOIE rose and Observed that bc
had hitherto iOrbornc 10 obtrudc himself upon the
attention of the meeting, because he was we'll
aware that there were others moro anxious and
moro determined than himself to submit their
view" TO It's consideration. lie said IT was due To
hlmScii, that IT was due TO those with whom h, a..
Stc' 10 cooperate; I was due to the country TO
give some further explanation OF the course which
he deemed 1t best 10 pursue. has been moi
merely mSinuJtCd, but boldly asserted tina, thos,.
"ho are opposed to making specific Nomination
OF Wee President, are guilty of an abandon
Ino''t OF their political principles, and entertain =
|eSiEn OF paming upon the people of VIRGINIA by
management, Il candidate to whom they arc totally
opposed.
Mr.. Chairman, | will not on this occasion
render myself obnoxious 10 the application of ,hn,
iAvoTitH quotation of mine, to which my worthy
And intelligent county -nr,n has alluded viii
not, Sur, be one of those who suffer the .ardor of
passion To cloud their aud TRANSPORT Them
beyond the bounds OF moderation" Nothing shall
occur, on my part, to prevent this debate from he
ing characterised 10y "calmmess and dcccney
The course which have prescribed to myself and
watch believe tins meeting ought to adopt will
preclude he from going into Il consideration OF
The merits and prctCnSiuuS OF the different indiyid
ualS WHO have, in my humble Judgement, been so
unccrrnoniCuSiy and unnecessarily and lnius titi,
Ov brought under review and criticism during the
progress OF this discussion. Nor Sir, shall al.
led accusations against member of this assem-
by. viii charge none with inconsistency OF
conduct or with an abandonment of their po-
tiUcal principles. | will not enter into cri
mnatlons and recrimina;Ons. will not assert
ihat there Is among us Calhoun party, design.
ing to distract and divide us on the subject of the
Wee Presidency, and insidiously cndcavoring to
promote the views of him and his adhcrcnts who
have been aicnatcd from Jackson, and have de-
ciincd 10 uuitc in his reelection. repeat that
shall, on this occasion, urge charges agains,
any one.
/ shall consider the cxpcdicncy of making sep
ara;c nomination OF Vice President, in connection
with the provisions Of the Federal Constitution,
and with reference to the principles heretofore
avowcd and the practice heretofore pursued bv the
Republican party.
This Union is created by 4 confcdcracy of equal
and independent sovercigntios The government
OF the United States is mainly federal, but pos
scSscs some national features. The election Of
President and Vice President is popular feature
of the Constitution. The whole people of the Uni
ted States, and not the people of single State
are interested III the election In the language of
the Fcdcrast, ''it is desirable that the sense OF the
people should operate i'll the choice of Il person to
whom SO important trust is to cccontdcd." 1t is
Prim"Ty provision of the Constitution. The Con.
StitutIon desires and intends that an election
should be effected by the people. If the people
unfortunately fail in the eccIua exercise of this
night, then TO obviata the evils of this failure, the
Constitution provides u secondary, less lavorite
mode OF appointment.
The celebrated conilicl in the House of Repre-.
scntatives between Jefferson and Burr, will never
be forgotten. Both had received majority of
voics, but the Constitution had not enabled the
Electors to designate for whom they voted as Pre-
sidcnt, and for whom Vice President. For this
want OF certainty, the election made ky the people
was inconclusivc, and was carried into the House
OF Representatives, where the known popular viii
was braved, and nearly diSrcgardcd and defeated.
Onc OF the first and most prominent measures eff
tectcd by the Republican party, who had triumph
ed with Mr.. Jefferson, amendment of the
mode of cecting the President and Vice President
The designating principle was introduced. The
pI % ,tnrs trnI
paratcIy to declare the namo Of the person voted
tor as President, and the name of the person voted
for rs Vice President. The object was to ensure
an election by the people. The Senate and House
OF Representatives restricted to n fewer num-
Der of the highest the list of candidates. in case
the election should dcvove on either. This pro.
vision was intended to increase the probability of
an election by the people. These amendments
were opposed by the Federal party. And in The
Senate OF the =. >. 1t was cOntcndcd by Mr.. Ad-
ans that they would secure to a particular party
the election of both officers. He declared that
they we're calculated to diminish the probability of
bringing the election into Congress and 20 decrease
the chances OF an election by the small States
IS means, too. of concentrating the public
voice, aud OF preventing resort to Congress, the
HcpuDlIcan party had recourse to "A National Con-
vcntIon composed Of their representatives, in Con
grcSS. ihiS organization OF National Convention
was admitted not to be free from objection, bu; it
answered the purposes of its institution, and was
thought to be the most practicable and most
vCuicnt cXpcdiCnt.
The general ticket system, sir was introduced
into Virginia by the Republican party. 1t was do
signed 10 prevent distraction-to enable us to pre-
sent solid and undivided phalanx and by the force
OF popular members to effect election i'll the
}dJ0rHc mode proposed in the Constitution.
With the aid, Mr.. Chairman, of constitution
al provisions Legislative cnactments, and National
Congressional Conventions, elections effected
by the people until the close Of Mr.. Monroe's ad-
mInistratlon. Sir, it has ever been the effort of
in rriuin tp har, Xytb
their political brethren, and honestly to endeavor
to fulfill the high behcsts of the Constitution. |
VIII not dctain this assembly, with the recital of
the causes which it feared, would at the close
OF ur. MOnrOc's administration destroy our harmo-
ny aud prevent election by tho people The
republicans in Virginia scnsibly alive to our
situation. Before the nomination of electors, Il
preliminary Caucus was held on the 9th January,
1921, for the ayowcd purpose of recommending
hatlo'al concert, aud preventing the election from
being removed from before the people to other
branch OF congress. To the proceedings of this
Caucus, i wish particularly to call the attention
ot those now here assembled. In that Caucus you
hr. Chairman, presided; there are several now
present who member Of it, and sir, | wish
That we GN, but know that il is a vain vish)
now, as then, acting in concert. At that period
my political career commenced; and | feel soil
clIudc that may appear still to adhere to the prin-
pies which | then csPouscd. Having procured, |
" Ill read extracts from the proceedings of this
meeting Of Republican Members, held on the 9Th
January, 1921. Mr.. Dromgooc then read the fol-
loving extracts
At meeting of number OF Republican mem
bcrs, &c. held, &C. the evening Of Monday,
the 9TH OF January, for the purpose Of comforting
on the subject of Congressional caucus. The
names of the members were called, and 10 Sen.
4t2rS and III delegates apPcarcd.-On motion Of
Mr.. Tyler
"Resoircd, That committee be appointed TO
prepare AID report to this meeting such resolutions
ia bp adj tod