Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-12-15

the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal COMPANY 10 the stock
! OF which The Stale of Virginia has subscribed The
question very naturally arises while considering OPT
MONS like those entertained by Judge Parker, whether
TINT charter can be taken away by Congress-whether
that great Company can be botted out nsuner? II the
doctrine entertained by Judge Parker would lead such
Consequences when brought into operation, MIR D. ASKED
the great Republican family of Virginia. WHITTIER they
would snsalu it by his clrclion He had expectation
that Wig candi!utr could be elected That >uffrsi.
lion was merely hug bear held up 10 tfighen HE
brrs of the majority. But Mr.. D. j'ncd his VOICE
that OF his friend from Accoac. and asked rvrry true
fgin'an to oppose this attempt TO establish system Of
! caucus dicatinn in ihs Legislature.
Mr. CHAPMAN said, tina, The cry Of caucus had been
raised on This occasion. AS If it the first time the
bers ola party in this House lad compare opinions
ana agree upon measures. The members of the self
styled Wing party denounced such proceedings if
they had never taken similar means u carry their party
uhjects Ii We lcuked back years where do we find
that same Wing party? In room in the Eagle Hotel,
Mr. Speaker caucusng to put you out Of the Chair and
10 put me:ber OF their own party into it. We alter
wards: during the session, find them holding ire
Gucnt caucu$es for the purpose Of eIeclng gentleman
now member o.! this House, 10 The Office o. Councillor
| OF Stale The gentleman from Acconac, has, there
fore fallen into al error in suppusing that this is the first
instance in this body, of fix upon candi.
date for Office. The system which he much dreaded,
had It's origin here with his party the
| 10 which Mr. &. had alluded
Mr. BAILEY said his riend from Monroe had mistaken
| his remarks: He did not say that this the
mencement of caucusing in Virginia; bit had expressed
his surprise that such system should have been
cd and defended by the distinguished gentlemen from
Abrmarle and Bo,ctourt There were many practices
10 which might yield, and yet be unwilling
them. There were many Ills IN which flesh heir,
that were passed unnotlced if not obtruded upon
attention; but which, if avowed and defended, be.
came the proper objects of anmndversnn. MIR b said
he was once member Of caucus, and had learned on
that occasion some Of the principles by which they we're
governed il vas when lie little more than boy
redhot Jackson man, fighting and writing night and
ifv + hp Han Henry
b. colleague and himself, then elected delegates
TO the first Jackson caucus al Baltimore. Mir. Is. owned
he little cked at the disnconi but bis ideas OF
changed for he had his fingers burnt
that occasion. If he might bc allowed he would state
what he there; and perhaps who heard him
would agree with him in opinion that caucu2cs were
only traps to catch gus His experience was this
land his friend from Chesterfield there and
would coEroborate his satcment) -Afl"r the general
organization OF the caucus, the Sirginia Delegation
agreed 10 hold separate nleetIng-a kind OF Caucus
within caucus-lo consult upon the choice Of candl
date Gr the Vice Presidency. In this committee, MIR.
BIS laniened friend Mr. Brown Of Petersburg intro.
duced resolution in favor of MIR Van Buren, and pro-
posed that the question should first be put on his non
naon as the majority was evidently tor hun; hut he was
told hy another delegate staunc friend of MIR Van
Buren, that it would not do-t!Ial such course would
b. ruInuus-and that they must frs. make shew oil en-
dravoring 10 run MIR. Barbour III order To satisfy the
feelings IF Virginia. and 10 make il appear that they
were forced 10 take Mr. Van Buren, And this said '!r.
b. was the scheme pursued. Afterwards another gen
| tlrman offered the resolution, and would not
withdraw it; aud the vote which given against
Mr.. Van Buren, by the Virginia delegation,
! merely given impression that the dele
cation was fox Mr. Barbour. 1t vas merely s,ratagen:
adopted for the purpose o.! quilting the people u Virginia
From tina! time Mr.. b. said he had washed his HANDS Of
caucuscs. If the gentlemen Of the majority OF this
House would be unmasnnic Is he (>lr has been.
perhaps it would appear that the caucus held ie"
evenings since equally trap. In the case which
lie had detailed, The course was sustained by mrn OF
Standing. Bat whatever defence mi ht be offered for
such proceedings OIL other healresin the Legislature
o! virginia they could not he necessary and their ten
dracy was ntroucc and render customary, the worst
! u! party uanRIvIng.
hlr WATKISs said he mea!brr of the Conyen-
ton at Baltimore, to which Tie gentleman from Geo
mac alluded, and his rcco!ecnEs not exactly the
same with those of that gentleman. MI Bai5nnr was
nominated in the Virginia delegation By Gen. Gordon,
an enemy Of Mr.. Van Buren, and it was represented
by the advocates of that nomination, that ii attempt
was made IN favor of Mr.. b il would have favorable
! effect upon Virginia. The ballot was gone into, and
the advocates OF Mr.. Van Buren, lost The vote il the
Virginia The gentleman from Accon'ac SAYS
! he then washed his hands Of caucuscs; but Alr. W.
feared he had forgotten his horror Of them: for he be-
sycd 'Ie gentleman present al caucus IN Gin" IN
favor of Gen. Harrison, during the last summer and
! that he played q conspicuous part IN Eaklng political
Developments that occasion Mr. W was sorry that
gentlemen had gone wide from the subject bcior" tie
House, and had not confined themselves to the discussion
! Of the merits nf Judge Parker AS 10 the opinions
W. had fear of their effect. lie sload vote
for Judge p, and he trusted would believe that
II. would give his vote for man who Mould wnn'o"!y
sanction the destruction OF chlrtertd rights.
ar. R!rTs said he again with great reicc'anoe
but nc had been held 10 the adherence OF III" itpuS"
By the gentleman from Acconac, and he was called -"
! To reply No doub said MIR. r.: the grnrman f"In a
thinks c has exhibited lis real s"nllmC ITS IN the rpuS
nance which he has expressed 10 the proceedings %! he!
majority of this House. But MIR. Il. believed I'll" gen
llcman mistaken, and that he Mr. Il rHui" shcw
where the shoe pInched The gentleman had torn the
passion taeIS and in his eager denunclaons OF Ne"
York tactics. and caucus dctaiion had shcwm The real
Of ali his excitement. HIS Indignation was mol
aroused b"cLuS. ne The enemy of Caucus"s; but be-
cause he finds himself in minority here, and hs proud
spirit frcus against the barrier which the Democratic ma
ority presents 10 lie Advancement OF his own political
| principles If that gentleman we're in maturity ne
would doubtless resort 10 the caucus system ana ma
both convenient and unrxceptInnaGlc but he would de-
ny that right thase whom the majority Of the people
have here 10 represent them. He has told uS that
! he iii Il caucus, and Ike child, thal
| his fingers had been burnt. But tie people were not
to b. iun,ugg ai-he people whom MIR. t. represented
never would be humhuggcd-nor allow their fingers
To be burnt by the devices OF an arl!ul party Expc'
rence has but recently shown that no 'nSId'ous Or,
vices could deceive the propc-and that they could
scr lhrouyh them. Recent Developments have shown
this in to encourage and cheer The friends at
the people, and TO increase their confidence ~ popular
intelligence and virtue They had sirwn that the party
trick OF double .raded ticket could not deiude tE"il
but that they we're true their prnc in spite of the
articles OF their enemies Where is the evidence Oh ihe
! management and dctaon, Of which so much has been
said: Are the Republican party to sfuabble among
themselves abonl candidates for Office, aud by d"lng 50
enable their opponents to take advantage Of their dist
sions: Are they to weaken their strength by d1ssen
si:ls which only serve TO beneh The "tner party
! MIR. R!vss trusted they would always be too wise 10
fail into such errors. He believed the gentleman
from Acconac had mistaken his own feelings and that
! the warmth lie had evnced, arose from the n'pa'
lcnce with which he contemplated the barrier 10
| his views: exhibited by the majority of the Democra
tic Republican party in this House. The nthr! patty
had INDUCED in caucusses whenever it suited their
nnxr.: huiihrv had avowrd L. Ihc CiMl" q me