Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1857-04-07
CAUCUS sYsTEM.

Thos II. Benton in his Thirty Years in the Q. s.
Senate aud speaking Of General Jacksons message
1888 has the following remarks:
The message concluded with renewing the recon-
meudation, which the president had annually made
since his first election, favor Of amending con-
suon m the article OF the presidential aud
officers of the government direct of the peOpEe
aud that every Intermediate agency the OF
those officers should be removed This rsenmmenda-
ton, like all which preceded remained whou,prac.
teal results For years committees had reported
amendments, anl members had supported them, but
without obtaining in Congress the requisite twothirds
refer the proposition Of amendment the
people. Three causes cImbined always TO prevent the
concurrence Of that majority. II Tue conservative
spirit OF many who are unwilling. under any circum.
stances, TO touch an existing Institution. g he
emIes oil popular elections, who deem II unsafe 10 lodge
the high power OF the presidential election, directly
the hand Of the people. The intrIguers who wish
manage these elections .os- their benefit, and
have means Of doing it except through agency
ofintermed ate bodies The potent these agen.
Gle the 10 fact which controls all The others
is the Of latest and spontaneous growth called
adopted supersede the eau
Gus 81 stem of nominations but which retains ali the
evils Of that system and others peculiar itself They
are still attended by members OF Congress, and with
less responsibility their constitute when
ing IN congress- "A large proportion of the
delegates either self appointed intrgirgIy
apPonted and by such small numbers as TO eonstLte
burlesque upon popular representation. Delegates
even transfer their functions, aud make
IogatiVe only allowed peers of the realm in Eng
iaud IN their parliamentary SotinS because they are
Legislators their right, represent each one
himself his eo0stitueH1 body, and owing Tcspon
blOlIIlY no one 1heY meet taVSF the dele
gates of some of the large Sates attended byoue or
two thousand hackers, Supplied with money and max
ing all the public applianeeso eastiDg and to
eOHettfate control votes, which ample means and de-
termned zeal can supply, case which personal
benefit IS expected The minority rules, saw,
battles the majority uhtil II yieas, aud consents to
eomprornise, accepting for thar purpose the person
whom the minority has held reserve for that pur-
pose; and this minority Of third, which governs
two thirds, itself usually governed by fe1r mama
1gerS And to complete the exclusion of The oeonIe
from an ethc emit OIL the selection of
tai Candidate an InteT0crtory committee is eenera
appointed out OF members convention
to the whole interval Of four years be-
tween their periodical blages-fo guide and con-
duct the public mind. in the different States TO the
support OF the person whom they have seeystl,,
agreed Alter the nomination over and the eIeetio1
ehected, the managers IN these nominations openly re-
pair to the new president. If they been
aud demand rewards for their laboF the shape Of Of
hces for then selves and Connections. This is he way
that presidential elections made in the Unite
States for, party nomination election IF Inc
party is strong enough make it; and If one e mot
the other ISL for, both parties alike and thus te
mass OF the people have part in SELECTING me
who to be their president than the Subjects of
hereditary mouaSeAs have in begeins the child Ts
TO rule over them. To such point Is The ereatest az
our eiectioas now sunk by the OF Intermediates
agencies and it may be safely assumed that 1he he
tory OF nee elective governments affords NO instance F
sueH an abandonment on the part Of legal VOTERS ~
privileges, and quiet sinking down
OF the millions the autornato6 performane, III;
eIlng lnelr votes as the few haye directed 1yoi 4
Page 1923. ~ va ~
Is NOT this exact picture of the connection of the
millions with all elections and from eons,abIe
" =. ptes'asnts OBSERVER.