The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1859-02-26
THE TWO CAUCUSSES.

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We are n little curious to know what action
those Jealous Democrats, who wish to prescribe
Douglas, and other Northwestern Democrats.
with an eternal ban Of exclusion from our mar.
ty, will take upon the recent course pursued by
the Democratic congressional delegation from
Pennsylvania. a caucus of Democrats, invited
by those opposed alike to an increased tariff.
an increased debt and specific duties, was held
on the 9Th, and adopted resolutions in accor.
dance with these views. After canvas,ing all
propositions, they came to the conclusions that
means ought TO be provided for the payment Of
the outstanding treasury notes, and that the
deficiencies of the treasury Shonld be met by
reduced expenditures of the Government. al
though the resolution expressive of the appar.
ent sense Of the caucus was deferred TO another
meeting. Various items were pointed out
which might be reduced without serious dctri-
mcnt 70 public interests The Eighth house cs-
Enlistment it was urged might be made self
sustaining by 4 small tax on commerce, which
alone was benefited by IT, An increase OF the
rates Of postage would enable the Postolicc
department TO live within its means. The all
clifton OF the ranking privilege would operate
in the same way Much that was sonandcrcd
on public printing, might be saved to the treas
ury The army and navy appropriations might
he reduced, Suspension of work on the Can.
itol extensions was suggested Ten million,
might be taken from the appropriations asked
for by the departments. All seemed to con.
ccdc that return to Il strictly economical point
was equally necessary to the public welfare
and to the continued prosperity Of the Demo
cratic party, None proposed modification
of the tariff, and areturn to specific duties was
not even suggested
But the Pennsylvania delegation kept aloof
from this caucus and held n meeting of their
own. One Of the Washington papers reports
their proceedings as follows:
While the above mentioned caucus was in progress
all the democratic members of the Pennsylvania del
cgation convened ia the room Of the committee of
ways and means They unanimously rcsoved: J.
1hat the creation OF permanent national debt i ut
war with the principles of republican simplicity on
which our government Is founded, and dangerous to
future prosperity, and that will earnestly op.
pose any a'tcmpc to inangurale such policy End
That we esteem the recommendation of the President
in his last annual message the subject of the revision
of the tariff cminently wise and poitic-that the
best Interests of the country demand legislation in
accordance Herewith, and that We will all icgi
innate means to secure such legislation at the present
session Of Congress. That do not reco gnze the
the House of Representatives binding on in any
manner whatever. !. That committee OF three he
appointed to confer, from time to time with the De-
mocratic members Of the delegation. and to take such
steps rs may be necessary to obtain united action.
Messrs. Chapman, Florancc, and Dcwart constitute
shc committee
Here appears to be an Infringement Of Dem
ocratc usage, u boiling from regular Rcmo.
cratic body, and direct antagonism Of views
upon vtal and .time.honored principle, more
cherished by Our party than almost any other
The party that permanently sustans protee-
tive tariff ceases to be Democratic.
What, now, will Democratic journalists and
spccch-makers, who ransackcd their dictona-
res for terms Of denunciaton Against Douglas
and others who refused to support Demo
cratic majority and the President in the matter
of the Kansas bill, say of the Pennsylvania
members? They cannot pretend that the issue
is an unmportant one A strictly revenue
tariff is q fundamental tenet in our doctrine,
1t is a question which comes home to every
man, woman and child in the Republic No
bonnties for Yankee wares or iron manafac-
lures can be taken from the public treasury in
any shape or by any process, without making
the tax-paying millions contribute for the ben
eft of the owners OF mills, shops aud FORCES,
For our own part, having had no share in
denouncing the Democratic opponents of the
Kansas policy Of '5S, decming it dead issue
devoid Of practical Importance, We have no in
clination to attempt to denounce the protective
tariff or specific duties Democrats. We will
not accuse them ola design to subvert the party
or to form coalitions with onr enemies. We
will not parade their refusal to join and act
with the Democratic caucus as an unpardona.
bic sin. Experience has taught us that tha
members Of party representing constituencies
of diverse interests cannot always coalcsce even
upon important points We may regret these
temporary differences, but they do not call fol
abuse, reproach or persecution, Though the
people ofthe agricultural Southern States are a
thousand fold more interested in having duter