The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-09-09
REPUBLICATION No. 9.-FRoM THE MADsoNIAN OF
APRIL 81, lS42
THE CAUCUS SYSTEM.

1t is currently reported and believed that there
lists among the members Of Congress, with few
honorable exceptions course of procedure atogeth-
novel in the history of the Government, at least
not dating farther back than the extra session Of
glorious memory We do not mean to say, that the
has not been resorted upon particular
sions by both parties in the country previous to the
last summer session, but we believe that rigid
system of Iarty tactics the origin and honor of its
constant justly ascrbable to the members Of
the present Congress.
The practice to which we allude, is that Of going
into secret party meeting generally at night, for
purely party Objects and deciding by majority Of
those present, the minority yielding their conscences
and judgments and of course their duties, and rights
and responsibilities into the keeping Of the party
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. any question of importance
arises for legislative action, whenever the Pres
dent of the United States submits a nomination to
the Senate in which any faction feels interested.
This we have reason to believe, nay, 10 knop, was
the great engine put in motion by the party now
claiming the Independent newspaper" for their or
gan during the extra session, 10 "head Captain Ty-
Ter" Under its maevoent and grinding influence,
the last Bank bill, without reflection, in spirit Of
party insanity, the jority Of the party uen
sisting Of efhgy Wings, passed through the two
Houses. 1t kno,on to many leading men in Con-
gress that the President anxious that the Fiscal
Corporation Billr should not be permitted to pass yet
under the controlling pledges exchanged in the secret
inquisitorial chamber, the Wing members OF the low
er House pushed il through that body, under the
previous question, in as hours from the time of
its inception in committee. .Nsuiy the entire Sc
knep the wishes of the President for its post
ponemtnt, and his unalterable resolution TO veto
the bill If presented in unsmended form and
yet under the deadly influence Of the eau
system in that body, at the head and front Of
which presided Mr. Clay and the I" illusrious retired
1t was presented under such circumstances, by Wing
Congress, to rsry ireaehrop President. Truly
John Tyler should blush for this act Of ngratiude
and irsaohry 10 the Wing perty and his friend MIR
Clay Mr.. Webster's letter to the Massachusetts,
Senators urged reasons for its postponement, which
IN free and dsenthralled minds would have insur.
ed co-ope alton from the Wing party. But the So.
Tenn pledge had been gwen in Caucus, and many
stood aghast, ridden by majority, booted and spur.
red for mischief into fsthomless qusgmre with out
the liberty to oppose.
Mr. Ewing, in his famous letter upon going into
that retirement from which an infamous reveser OF
pretended Cabinet secrets emerge tells the
country enough to enable it 10 dread the informer
hat the pos ponement Of the Fiscal Corporsthn Bill
might have been accomplished IL the President had
gwen pledge to permit things 10 remain unchanged
10 otter words il the President had consented TO part
with all control his Cabinet, promising to retain
them in office until the re-sssembling OF Congress Yes
I" the President" would not guarantee that he would
make "bos,le moveme mt ithey consented to post
pone. What is Inc inference from this language Does
not breathe the spirit Of Bolts cof,e house episte
Does It not say distinctly, W. did pass the blu for sin
ster purposes we did strike at the President, and
attempt to head him. because he would not guaran-
tee that no hostile movement, should b. made; vel
the President was pey frtoehero,s to Mr. Clay, the
"retired Cabinet" and the Wing party, and what is
| too bad there are many honest in the country
who have been imposed on to that extent to believe
all this The above condition was doubtless agreed
on in Caucus, to which no President could submit
without the creates, possible degree Of degradation
The consequences Of this caucus commitment
should be well. known TO, and appreciated by, the
country. The consequence Of foistng upon the Pre-
sident weak snc puerile measure Is now felt and
seen by the country. Shall not condign punishment
be visited those, the malicious and rabid spirits
Of the Wing party, who have brought the cause and
the country IN equal distress and Disgrace Will
the People submit to have their rights and interests
bartered away in eouewl Will they send public
gents here who yield up the right Of speech at the
dictation Of a caucus, that caucus controlled by
some ambitious Presidential aspirant' Let the Peo-
pie put their feet upon the " hole syster Who that
is acquainted with the character for intellg nee and
honor Of many members, who thus, during the extra
session, p.rsecutsd the President, believes that this
thing would have been done. but for the imperial