Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1837-02-09
CAUCUSES.

and MALLoRr. delivered in the Virginia Ls
J gislaturc, ON the late election for Coverno
tho former neutral, the latter . 1ealou
supporter Of Mr.. Van Buren,:
MIR. HooE said he Was very feeble
scarcely able to sustain himself upor
his feet-but feeble as he was, he coulc
not abstain from asking the House if i
was not time. full time. TO arrest the
absolute party controul which has per.
vaded this body from the first momen,
Of ITS meeting until this day. MIR. II
said he had risen under the influences
OF feelings, which. IL practised upon
II allowed their just influence. cannot
fail to produce much public tranquility
and consequently much general good
He had risen to ask the dominant party
IN this House TO stay the action Of eau.
Gus dictation-to tear themselves away
from this degrading and odious system
Of party drill. 10 it not time they
should be wearied by the exercise OF
this uncompro missing spirit Of prosorip-
tion' They should DO counselled by
past experience. that such an unquali
fed party action as has been kept up
here during the present session, cannot
fail TO produce reaction in the minds
of the great body Of the people. I'm.
becomingly torpid as the people seem
TO be. they iriH be aroused by this un-
hallowed spirit Of party dicta,ion. and
display that power ofredemption which
they possess. and which be had never
ceased to have confidence in. II can
not be disguised that every legislative
action now is first passed upon by some
few who set themselves up to be the
leaders; and. vassaI like. the other
members OF the party are expected to
obey the mandaie-and Mr.. III. was
sorry 10 say this expectation was too
often realised. To establish this posi-.
ton. IL is only necessary TO stale, tha,
some thirty or forty individuals have
settled in caucus who 10 TO be the next
Chief Magistrate Of this Common
wealth. and the balance Of the party
are considered bound to accept this
nomination, and Mr.. ii. feared, from
the signs around him. that the result Of
this election would prove the recogni-
ton Of this obligation. However, he
would indulge the hope that this is the
moment-this the occasion. (for il is
entirely a fit one upon which gentle
men will commence the reformation OF
this heretofore unsparing intolerance
snd TO afford them an opportunity Of SO
doing. he would. without consulting
with any human being. take the re-
sponsibility upon himself Of placing in
nomination for the appointment, Viii
liam II. Roane.
Mr.. MALLORY said-When I came
to :he House. this morning. had no
intention Of saying q single word. II
was my design to be silent, and to
throw away my vote. The course OF
the debate, however, has made it me-
cessary for me 10 say something. The
imputations which have been cast upon
the party to which | profess to belong,
and the snimadversions 80 freely in
dulged, certainly do not apply to me.
| did not attend the caucus to which
alluslon has been made. and to which
strongly object. Sir. never will at
tend another, unless il be 10 caucus
against a caucus. Whence the neces.
slty OF caucuses by the dominant party
IN this House Shall we caucus agains,
ourselves, and thereby prevent the
claims Of different individuals from be-
lng fairly brought before usl Have
we any oppositioni Do our opponent
propose a candidate' They do not.
Shall caucus of one hundred men be
bound by the vote Of thirty-seven-and
the will Of the majority thereby be de-
featedl Iprotesi against it, depre-
cate such . state Of things. Gentlemen
who attended this caucus assured me
before they went, that they did not
mean TO commit themselves, and that
they would not be bound by sny thing
that should be done there, unless in
accordance with their views and opin-
ions. How these gentlemen will vote
to-day, ] know not. A fsi- opportuni-
~ viii be presented TO test The ques-
ton whether caucus dictation shall pre-
vail, or whether the election shall be
made purely in reference 60 the merits
OF the respective candidates. This
caucus system imposes on every indi.
vidual who attends, an implied pledge.
equal TO the force Of promise, to abide
the decision Of the caucus. II inyades
the right Of free choice. and disfrsn-
chIses the minority-and a minority
often binds the majority. We also, IN
effect. DENY to those who differ wilh
as. the privilege Of voting. Shall We
not allow opponents TO vote Tor eandi-
dates Of our own party Who a5e
these Wbigs' Are they not honorable
men like ourselves' Sir, mere differ
ence in political sentiment shall never
make me think the less Of . msn-it
shall never induce me TO break up the
social relations Of life. We are al
members Of the same great political
family, sDd have an equal interest in
the welfare aud happiness Of our com
mon country. We shall eli Be friends
and patriots in the hour Of trial. and
with one accord. 60 for our country.
Mi TTAnV C,FraFVrVHA TtneTc