Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1836-12-22
ELECTION OF UNITED STATES
sen ATOR.

u
SEN ATOR
Ar animated debate occurred in tho
House OF Delegates on the nomination Of
Judge Parker, as Senator Of The United
known Tor some days before that that gen
iIeman had been chosen IN general caucus as
the candidate of the dominant party. TWAS
well known, likewise, that large portion
OF the party had decided preferences for
other gentlemen. Moreover, il had Just
been asceriained that Judge Parker enter
tains the here,ical and disorganizing princi,
pie avowed by Ingersoll, Kendall & Co. that
Legislature has the power of annulling
charieIs-a doctrine " hich we had hoped
could find no open advocate in Virginia, es
pecialy among the Intelligent and respecta
BILE. Under these circumstances, and in The
entire absence of any necessity for members
in the majority 10 sacrifice their indi, idual
preferences, or convictions Of proprieiy, 10
keep out Wing, or virtually sanction by
their votes The abominable hereSy espoused
by Judge Parker-they were strongly APP
pealed to by Mr.. Wilcher TO bring forward
Mr.. PATTON, a man of their own party moi
was understood many OF them Preferred
The appeal, however, was in vain. The
drill had been but too complete-the shackles
Of caucus committal were on their hands
4 20 -, .(o.t (, a,
ture had mel, NOT TO elect a Senator, foI thai
had been done already, but TO perpetrate a
solemn farce-to Iaiify in outward form that
which had heen decreed in secret conclave
If any thing were wanting 10 show the mis-
chievous influence OF this system, the events
OF this day surely ought TO lie enough. We
cannot believe that a majority Of those who
voted for Judge Parker approve his loco
tocoism, or that they even knew Of his in
incubation when they agreed TO support him
in caucus.-Yet, they acre comr'itsd !. and
no matter what new lights they NIGH. re-
ceive, they were no longer free agents
their right of choice was gone. As 10 the
poor Wings, they are efIectually disfranchis-
ed-they have no voice in appointments, nor
can they have so long as the caucus system is
persisted in and submitted TO. Nay, they
have even been told that their votes would
iJuTe any man Of The party on whom they
were bestowed Thus is the caucus ma
chnery compleie-submissio or denuncia-
tinn are the alternatives presented TO the
whole rank and file of the majority. And
why is this The Wings have not the nu
merical strength 10 elect man Of their own
party fear OF Them, therefore, is not the
reason. The answer is plain one. Tho
leaders are using the majority 10 accomplish
their personal ends. Were il not so, surely
they could have no motive for refusing 10
the minority the poor privilege Of choosing
between opponents.
While we say, however, that we do not
believe majority Of those who voted for
Judge Parker are imbued with his heresy,
we regret 10 state that there were fearful in
dications given In THE debste Of the spread
OF that res,lential doctrine. 1t is remarka-
BILE that not one of those who voted for Judge
Parker took occasion TO disavow The doc
trine for himseli-wbile Mr. Booker OBJ
served that be was not prepared 10 say the
principle was wropg--snd Col Watkins
boldly asserted that he held it both in re-
gard TO chartered rights and Uesied rights
The speakers on the occasion wero Messrs.
Watkins, Rives, Wilson, Booker, Cruich-
field and Chapman 90 the side Of the nomi-
nstion--and Messrs. Wicher, Moore, Bay
ley and Davenport, in opposition 10 ii. MIR.
Davenport charged home the hereiical opin-
ion above stated TO Judge Parker, from per-
soDal knowledge. Mr. Bayley is from Ac-
eomsc, and cousin Of the Hon. Henry A