The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-12-12
roa THE MAIDS OMAN.


PARTY TACTICs-THE ELECTION OF THE
OFFICERS OF THE HOUSE OF RfphE-
sENTATlvES-THE WAY 1T WAS DONE
No sooner was the election Of officers Of the House
completed, than the Globe RECOMMENDED the labor,
in which il is so well yersed from long practice, oil
deceiyng the People. That paper OF Thursday last
stated that there was ono bargsinngs-no eompro-
mises--no pledges made TO produce harmony The
great controlling motive which prevailed, and ad'
justed all differences, the public good, considered
by all only atainabe by sub~iiting 10 the iunda-
mental principles of our nsitutions-he wih Of the
mass We have never known this law so cheeriully
aequiesced in, or an occasion in which there were
greater incentves-we might say temptations-to re-
sst IT, than were furnished in the late organization
Of the House"
In place Of the action Of The Democratic members
of the House being spontaneous, as the Globe strives
TO convey the idea that ii was to the People, there
has been period, since the formation OF the
Government, when there were the like OF bargain
ngs, pledges, corrurtons entered into, or where
the tyranny Of party discipline was more ieariuliy
exerted than the late occasion preceding the cleo
ton Of the officers of the House.
Let the truth reach the Of the People. Never
were recruits newly enlisted into an army more Sc
verely disciplined than the newly elected members
Of the House, belonging to the Democratic party
Each one OF the most prominent Of the old members
had particular and appropriate duty assigned him.
One was to stand guard and discipline the new
members from this secuOn OF the country another
from that, &c. So rgidly was this system of guard
Ing and securing the yourg members enforced, that
their friends and constituents, in instances,
could not obtain opportunity ofspeaking with them,
excepting in the hearing of the sentinels who were
watching over them. Nor were those who had been
selected to act the part Of drill sergeants in the
neuvring referred to- confined to old members in the
present House. Others, some Of whom formerly
held seats in Congress, and consequently con-
verant with the chcanery Of party tactics and dis
cipline conspicuous in the parts they took in
producing the results.
Misrepresentation, di,simulaion, had almost said
fraud aso were resorted to, for the purpose OF Sc
curing the objects in view. The new members were
msed, deceived. We must adhere 10 the usages Of the
party was constantly rung into their They were
instructed to believe that the usages Of the party re
quired that every thing appertainng 10 party should
be determined in caucus, and that they would not be
regarded good and orthodox unless they submitted
to its result These representations were not found
ed in fact The Democratic party had abolished the
caucus system since the caucus that nominated
Mr. Crawford which resulted so disastrousy to him
and to the party in 1924 The usages Of the party
had condemned the us system in consequence
aver since.
The caucus system now revived again for the
purpose Of lashing all such refractory members as
could neither be coaxed nor seduced into the Van
Buren, ranks. That gentleman the advocate and
! supporter Of that system when the Democratic party
was defeated on a former occasion, and time will
show what will be the consequences to him on the
present. The publishers of the Globe aud the clique
that support it, knew full well that it only
through the discipline of party, exerted through the
system, that they could by any possible chance
secure the printing of the House. They ad not forgot
ten that, the extra session in 1881 notw outstanding
there was large Democratic majority Of members in
the House, yet, they failed 10 obtain the printing
Nearly forty of those members came TO Washington
dsgu ted with the reckless audacy, the mendacIty
l. 49, 49,,
editor of the Globe and, would on no account, lei
as they were to act from the Influence Of their own
I indictments and feelings give their votes TO him ioi
ninter. lie was defeated Such would have been
the now, Dul LOT tnt cuoItS '''
inaoence of caucus machinery. More than f1Ity
members OF the Democratic party of the present Con
g,ess can e here animated with the same feeling 10
wards the editor cf the Globe, as those we have r.
feir.d to were in 1887. They were driven to vote
| through the application of caucus influence, ogains
their WIN judgment, and n favor of one whom they
despise aud hold in u ter detesa 100.
And now, pu' question to the editor of ih'
Globe. Did you not promise the friends of Mr.. Cal
huun, that you Won support that gentleman Tor thu
succession in 1913 Will he venture TO deny II
We shall see. If he does not, how is the accoun
lie ween him and Col. Benton TO be settled TO whom
appearances would ju,tiy the belief, he has made
pledge of simlr character
There is ano,her fact connected with the recen
movements which have adverted 10, of more impoI
tince TO the rights and liberties of the People, tina
any thing else that occurred. State influence, an
that of some OF it, officers, brough, indirectly Il
bear upon the election OF the officers Of one branc
Of the General Government One of The Commis
sioners elect O. the u5c works ofihe great State
Psnn-yivania, was here actively engaged for seysr'
DAVIS pteviou to the elections of officers Of the Hous
in advocating the caucus system one Of the usag
of The party and creriing his influence to secure ii
r election OF I'll nds of Mr.. Van Buren, Is rol th
bringing State influence bear the purity Of Il
election of Government otfc,rsl
u And here lie, Us inquire whether tie Influence
! the public works of Pennsylvanis, costing neal
forty millions Of d.llars is 10 be brought 10 bear
favor of Mr. Van Buren, at the Presid, Ia electio
thi oueh the agency e the Coma -sioners elected
e SUI ernend ,hein1 Ii so, then il is in vain that Z
e People have wsuel sgaius, and subdued the mon
" power and fought agsins, and vanqiIshcd maj
10 moth Bank that existed in the same State that b