The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-12-23
vAGARIES OF KING CAUCUS.


Ii is or was the CUSTOM we believe, at Denny
brook Fair, in Ireland, to introduce among tb,
sports Of the day, jackass race for pair o
leather inexpressibles-an article of some valu,
to the Irish peasantry, and when well made
transmitted from father 10 son as an heirloom
The peculiar, or as Lord Castlereagh would
have said, the fundamental feature of this race
was, that the hindmost donkey won the prize
This seemed kind of practical bull, and made
the sport strictly national. 1t might be sup
posed that IN such race there would either
be a general stand-still, or that the long-eared
coursers would be troited backwards in or.
der TO get as far from the end of their
journey as possible. Nevertheless the word
Cor the idea) was ego AHEAD" and all diff
Guilty was obvated by the simple expeden
of each man riding his neighbours ass instead o.
his own. OF course, the faster that Pat could
coax Murphy's donkey to go, the better the
chance was of his leaving his own jackass in
the rear; and therefore there was as much kick
ing and cudgelling, whooping and hurraing, as
if the sport was conducted according to the or
binary rules of Christian racing.
We have been thinking that the next Pres
dental contest in this country would, according
TO presentappearances, be considerably improved
or at least much enlivened, by introducing into
it the distinctive feature of the Irish jackas.
race, and making an arrangement that each par
ty shall vote against the candidate OF the othe
instead Of for its own, and the Presidency b,
awarded to the one having the fewest vote.
against him. We do not know any other mod,
so likely, as matters are, TO draw out full vot,
Of the People.
II has pleased the leaders and managers O.
both parties, in order to promote their own in
dIvidual plans and purposes, TO select on each
sides candidate heretofore decidedly and delib
era,ely rejected by the People. This, we think
shows very little respect TO popular opinion, o.
regard to the interests Of the People, as the PEG
pie choose TO understand their own interests
IL is attempting 10 coerce the People into choc,
OF evils, and leaving them merely the miserabl,
privilege Of selecting which horn of dilemm;
their interests shall be impaled upon-of decid
ing whether they shall have a set of principle,
and projects forced upon them against ihei
Presidency, unatersby fixed for as many year
as the Union is likely to last
This is the natUral result Of the degree Of per
lection to which party machinery and organiza
ton have been carried. This same machiner,
has often before been brought into play into GU
country, but never under managers so adroit, SC
INSCRIPTIONS, and so little deserving Of the con
fdence OF the People Its success now will trans
fer power from the mass to an aristocrocy Of DO
liical intrguers 30 efectually, that nothing shor
OF a popular convulsion could restore it to its le
climate possessors.
That the Caucus system should have so many
devoted, eloquent, and skilful advocates, is moi
to be wondered at IL is the only mode by which
men, whose principles, or manners, or past ca.
reer, would reGder them obnoxious to the P.o.
pie, can attain political power and influence
We thus see an editor of a paper, renegade
from his former principles, not distinguished by
talent, and still less remarkable for uncommon
personal attractions or insnuaiiug manners. ex-
ercisingtirom his position and occupation as the
tool and spokesman of clique, more influence
than can be commanded by men whose preten-
slons have been repeatedly confirmed by over
whelming popular votes, and venturinp even TO
denounce and accommodate such men. II il
within the limits of ibiIty if not of probabi-
liiy. that by means Of this system a man NAV
creep from the lowest to the highest stations in
the Republic, without ever having received so
much popular support as would be necessary to
make him member of city council, or hog
reeve OF town in New England.
In looking through some essays on the sove-
reignty of the People, written by old Hezekab
Niles, the founder of the Weekly Register bear
ing his name, and Published at time when
King Caucus seemed about to "ride rough-shodn
over the Liberties Of the People, we were struck
with the following anecdote, which forcibly H.
luslrales what we have been saying
During my late journey, fell in with legal
supporter OF the Caucus IN his own State who smoke
largely about the necessity of preserving the part,
and 80 forth after we had discoursed for some time
asked HIM, with much apparent csrelessness, in IN,
ssrsPsnged banner bad not been hoisted union down