Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1854-03-22

1 NuWY PActOt TUG JuuENs = TT
to that of the caucus ! venerate and prefer
the time-honored usage ofrepublican govern
meDt to any Of the corruptions and contrivan-
ces Of Martin Van Buren, to cheat the people
Of all real power and to put it into the hands
Of train bands Of politicians. The time hon
ored usage of the people Of this free country,
was, to select, 10 their elections, their own
agents, without the intervention or dictation
Of caucus. The caucus is an innovation on
their time honored usage. and usurpation
of their rights. George Washington. Jeffer-
son, Madison and Monroe, were all elected
without caucus And the people remember
too when their Congressman. members Of the
Legislature. Governors. and. in fact, all off,
GERS, we're elected in the same way. Has the
caucus--Martin Van Buren's time honored
caucuSAever given as purer or better men?
Away then with the pretension that it comes
to the people with the prestige of 'time-
honored usage!'' 1t is time rotten usage.
Time has proved / to be worthless and COR
rupt, and it is high time that the people of
I'll parties had consigned it to oblivion
What mockery, what perversion of Ian
guage, how hot aud cold 10 the same sentence
aye. in the same breath--to call thing
'time- honored,1 aud then to tell US that lit
has been soabused that is has almost fallen
i,,to disrepite." that "the manner in which
,ha,- (conyentions) have been usually gotten
=, and conducted has justly excited opposi-
tom that .'they seldom express or represent
popular feeling or sentiment" that "many
GOOD and true Democrats stand aloof from
Them" &c.
Now is moi this precious confession p
Oh! But til. committee are going to change
,be whole thing They are about to do ifu
drown" They are going to oring back "the
convention ,ystem to its original purity
Tba t is to my, l suppose. they are going,
with their pitchers, on apilgrimageto the sa-
cred e uutais Of Kinderhook. to replenish
them ON ce more with its "holy water Pr
Hear the m, however, in their own words;
and, by tn. lye, just after and following their
Indictment "a inst the manner in which they
(caucuses) h,ve boen usually gotten up and
conducted :"
.,In view Of A II these facts and difficulties
and in order 10 q btain our just and equitable
share of the COUNT Offices, to heal the dis
seusions that exist in our ranks, to unite aud
harmonic th. party and restore the convea-
ton system to its or 'ginal purity. we recon-
mend to every iudin dual Democrat OF the
county of Clarke the q doption Of the follow
ing resolutions; -,
LIST. RESOLVED, That ave will cast our votes
and use our influence to p remote the election
of a Democratic candidate, for the oftice OF
Sheriff. at the ensuing elect ion,
I'd. Resolped. That Co. nvsntion OF tue
Democratic party. of this coul 'ty. be held 10
this place. on Monday, the 2. TIN OF March
next, composed Of delegates to | e selected oy
the various precincts Of the coun ty, 70 nomi-
nate candidate 70, said office
Sd. Resolued. That we recomme nd 70 the
Democrats of the different precinct OF the
county that they meet at their usual 'lsces Of
voting, in said precinct on Saturday, 10Th OF
March, 1854, and select - delega tes TO
said convention"
Now, fellow citizens of Clarke. you s'aVe'
in the identical words of the committee, the
objects in view, and the resolutions by VIII. 'ch
they are to be carried out. Do you see any
thing new in them? Any thingthat promi-
ses to bring book tho convention system to
its original purity?" Do they rot propose
to get up caucus in the 'manner in which
they have been usually gotten up" and SO
condemned by The committee? Is it not the
old trick of the cat, who hung herself and
pretended to be dead. when the rats would
not come out of their holes? Are you to be
come over in this fashion Why, even the
old rat, who peeped out and saw the strata
gem. told pussy as she hung there, that be
would not come out or trust her if she was
stuffed with straw.
This is, then, an old fashioned caucus, and
nothing else, to which you are invited lao
net mean to reflect on the committee person
ally. am attacking the caucus. but, |
tell them they are getting up caucus IN
the manner in which they are usually COTTON
up" and. however honest their intentions
may be, they will not be able to prevent its
being conducted in the manner in which
they have been usually conducted" In its
enumeration of objects, by the committee,
there is one cxpressed-"to obtain our just
and equitable share of the county offices, to
wit-which, both in Wing and Democratic
conventions, is, aud will ever be found to be,
the main spring of the caucus system. But
for this, lappeal to all candid men whether
they would see such deep interest taken by
particular persons in organizing conventions
atfha. oroo.- tNL.os or DamoeratS The !