Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1844-03-09

a caucus; for they say no man has right
to become a candidate from the democratic
ranks unless he gets a caucus permit.
Hence they claim the right to control the
operations of government by their nomina-
tons; and if one should be independent
enough to announce himself as an inde-
pendent candidate, they say he is no demo-
crat because he did not obtain their assent;
and you will perceive that under this eau
Gus system, if the Father Of this country,
the immortal Washington, was here in full
meridian, these political gamblers would
throw the high trump on him, unless he
could wind himself into the good graces
of caucus; for the whole system is moth
ing but gambling machine for office, and
calculated to destroy every vestige of civil
liberty that is left with the people And |
such are the abomnable principles that
these would be dictators palm off upon the
people as the only true democracy.
But will the freemen Of Missouri suffer |
themselves to be thus guled and juggled
out of their libertiesl 1t is not by sudden
shocks that men are deprived of their
rights: it is brought about by imperceplible
degrees, step by step, until the citaders
foundation is cut asunder, and down falls
the superstructure. For eight years this
caucus machinery has been at work, and by
it the liberties of this country are to fall,
unless rebuked by the people. And how
is this abeminable evil to be remedied!
By the people at the polls putting it down
by voting against caucus nominaton-by
taking the elections into their own hands
by making candidates appear before the
people, that they may Judge of their quail
fications for office--and by districting the
State for the election of members to Con-
gress, which will give to the people of each
district a representative of their own
choosing who will be acquainted with their
local interests, and feel his responsibility
to his immediate constituents, &c. What,
let me ask, does representative, elected
by general ticket, living in the North.
know about the local interests of the peo-
pie of the South West? He does not owe
his election TO them nor does he feel that
responsibility TO them as a representative
would to the people Of his immediate dis
trict. | am therefore in favor of district
ing, in order that every portion may be
represented; but the caucus dictators, in
order to give the question the 60 by, Qor
they are piebald party any how, and non
committal) say they are willing to district
but vote by general ticket Fellow citi-
zens, that sort of districting carries Jug
Cling on its face. And their reason is, if
the State should be districted, Wing may
be elected Well, be it so. If any portion
of the State want Wing, they have a
right to him. Are they to be prescribed
J because they are in a minority! Have
minorities no right! Are they not free
citizens! Do they not bear their proper.
ton of the burdens of the Government
Do they not, when the country is invaded
/ assist in fighting its battles! And after all
i are they to be told that they are TO share
none of the privileges and benefits of the
government under which they live? Is thai
equal rights and privileges! Is that the
I principle which fired the bosoms Of OH
i, revolutionary fathers when they burst the
trammes of British tyranny, and announced
), to the world their independence as free
, men7 No, no such spirit of intolerance
governed them.
, And who are the men that cling TO this
system! The small fry, little dandadrica
E fellows, Office seekers, ruffle shirt aspirants
I who know they have neither talents mol
: merit, and who never could get an office
: by the votes of the people. and all whose
: hopes depend on intrigue and nomination.
1 of a caucus. Yes, they consider a nomlna
e ton an election. whether qualified or not
f They say to the people, you must vote fo
t our nominee, or you are no democrats: thu
e caucus have nominated me and say yo,
t must vote for me, and therefore you arr
!? bound to do il. And thus it is the caucu
It men share the loaves and fishes, and a
: others in the community are prescribed
n And this is to be paImed off on the pee
e pie as true and legitimate democracy; whe
" in truth il is the most abomnable of a
d driStocrdcy.
IS | am also in favor of re-modeling tn
l. constitution so as to give equal Representa-
y ton according to numbers, reserving to III
lie small counties one representative EACH
Dt The spirit of this government is. that taI
I'd alton, population and representation sha
n. be equal and uniform; and am sure ther
y is no Justice in county with only abou
~ three hundred voters having as many rel
I'd resentatives as those counties possessin
Or one thousand. 1t is anti democratic
il. should be so.
n am opposed to that infamous currenc
n bill, which has for its object the infiiction
It. pains and penalties on any one who ma
IS; deal in bills of the denomination of Fl,
c. dollars and under, issued from The banks
~ other States, &c. | have read of FrenC
re conscriptions, Spanish inquistions, an
,le Alien and Sedition laws, but none stril
ey more vitality at the principles of civil libe
ed " than that odous BILL 1t not only SUI
1t ects to forfeiture, fine and imprsonmer
,ct all that Violate its provisions, but also