The Empire County argus., 1854-02-11
LEGISLATIVE CATCTS.

LEGISLATIVE CAUCUS.
On Tuesday evening of last week, majority of
the democratic members of the Legislature met in
caucus to decide upon the course to be pursued by
them in relation to the election Of a S. Senator
this winter. After full and ample discussion of
the matter in its different phases and bearings. the
caucus agreed, unanimously to bring the election
Of Senator some time during the present session of
the Legislature. In this decision they but followed
out the dictates of sound political doctrine, and on
its consummaion in opinion, rests the success of
the democratic party
All acquainted with the workings of the caucus
system, must admit its necessity in times when the
party is distracted by conflicting interests, that
harmony and concert Of action may be had on all
questions of interest to the State or party. And
more especially is the agency of the required
in times like the present, when fcuds are springing
up in our ranks, threatening to divide us in twain
or to cause breach which will take years, perhaps
to mend.
The legislators Of the Older States and even the
members Of Congress are won't to meet in caucus
to consult on the measures to be advocated or op-
posed by them during the session, and no one has
ever had the crontcry to ccnsuro them for the act
This last has been left to the rcry ,rse politi-
clans Of California to make. The democratic party
in the Atlantic States for series Of years, have
regarded the caucus the legitimate place to coun-
sci togcthcrto compare views and to heal differ
cnces, and the individual who refused to abide by
the decision then and there arrived at was properly
held disatccted towards the party and its inter
csts. The genuine democrat can appreciate this
view Of the case; those who do not belong to that
class, we expect will diif.r with US.
There was another feature Of the legislative
caucus with which we coincide and is in accordance
with democratic usagcand that is the resolution
declaring it the duty Of every democratic paper in
the State to support the caucus and its measures.
To this resolve we grant our hearty concurrence.
and believe it tie duty Of every democratic paper
in the State to do the same. The caucus was conf
posed Of a majority of the democratic members Of
the Legislature, and therefore its action according
to party usage is binding upon the party at large.
1t is al unGisputed fact that those who went into
the caucus, did under the pledge to abide its de-
cision and as honest and honorable men they will
do So Party usage has also made it binding upon
those Of the party who neglected or refused to join
in a caucus, to abide its decisions. This is the
only way to preserve harmony in the party. It is
the true democratic doctrine, and has been one Of
the main supports of tie party since its inception.
In this connection we must say, that we believe it
the duty CT the Legislature to carry out the decision
Of the caucus, and also, that is binding upon the
poople-the democratic people, to sustain them in
their action. Tie principle upon which they based
their action is purely democratic, in accordance
with usage and precedent and in that light if in
no other, they should be sustained. Those who
now refuse to abide by the decision of party eau
Gus, and denouncc it as tyrannical measure, are
the very men who would be the most strenuous for
its Observance; provided they were sure that their
ends would be subservod by it.
The is the legitimate place to settle differ
cnccs opinion between members of the same PARTY
They can meet there on equal terms, and discus.
the measures to be acted upon by them, dispasson-
atey, and after dolbcratng upon them, and COM
pairing views, be enabled to ac, with unanimity and
This has been the custom in
other States IL is & purely democratic mode of
settling the ditleIonccs which might arise among
members of the same party and it behooyes all good
and true democrats to adhere to this time honorcd
custom, one of the household gods Of their reli
gon. By SO doing they will preserve unity, peace
and harmony in the party