The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-08-13
The Caucus System.

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party are not permitted to control its de-
liberatiops or action. Willy, active and
INSCRIPTIONS politicians manage the pri
mary caucus, secure the election of their
own favorites, pack the central commit
tees, and thenceforth have the manage
ment of the party in their own hands.
The appor.ionment of delegates to differ
ent townships is varied just as these men |
think their necessities require. If the |
county seat is safe for the clique which |
has the reins of power. it takes the lions
share. If uncertain, it is stroke of policy |
to reduce its representation one half.
Men, who belong to party for the sake
of the principles it processes to be devoted
to, are summary showed one side by these
office seekers, and their voice stihed
They cannot shape and mould the county
or Territorial conventions, because they
are not members ofthe packed delegation.
Principle is lost sight of in shaping the
measures of the party, because it is made
subservient to the policy which will best
secure the spoils of Office for the hungry
aspiTants who have had an eye single to
this one object.
He who can affiliate best with the
lower classes of society-who can secure
the support of the frequenters of doggeries
and brothels, is the most available candi-
date for the floating vote at the command
of the keepers of these dens of iniquity,
who exert far greater influence on legis-
lation and the public morals than most
men are aware. The platform of the
party is changeable, and its moral power,
as the representative of a great principle,
ceases to be acknowledged.
Measures are decided, not by virtue of
the principles involved, but by their bear
ing on party success. Take the late Con-
stitutional Convention as an example.
The caucus system sent up, as the repre-
sentatives of the Republican party, body
of men who had no capacity for the work.
There were a few exceptions; but the
men of foresight in the Republican wing
were unable to control the Convention
Taking the constitution of Ohio as basis
the members should have made better
; work than they did. The chairman o.
the committee on legislative department
} characteristics the twelfth section of tina
article, which prohibits the Senate from
, originating bills, as absurd. Yet he, on,
of the acknowledged leaders of the party
, had not influence to secure change ever
! with majority of eighteen in the con
5 vention. The annexation of Nebraska
in favor of which both branches of tn
: Territorial Legislature petitioned Congress
2 last winter, now is measure which tn
t success of the party demands should b
, rejected; and the fifth-rate politician
having discussed the question in caucus
and decided that such annexation nigh
increase the Democratic vote, almost to
man sustained the caucus decision in opel
! convention.
i When such blind leaders of the bin,
! attempt to shape the destiny of the party
f they are too apt to reveal their ruling mo
f tive. Such men are approachable wit
Il "pecuniary compliments" Well awar
: of this fact, members of the conventio
were offered corner lots and cash for vote:
Y True, the affair was not prudently KEEP
r quiet. Topeka hoped to make capits
0 against Lawrence, and the respective pal
ties against each other, by an expose
:. The affected horror of the Topekaites o
the one hand, at the idea that member
we're supposed to be susceptible of pun
chase, and the equally scrupulous sens
tiveness of a leading Republican that hi
vote was purchaseab!e for Southern Ne
braska, only seem ridiculous to those VIII
know 10 how great an extent sculdugger
rules Kansas politics. Men of know
> iucorrsptiblity are not apt to receive eve
the offer of bribe Mere Office ker
who will stoop to any depth of meanne:
to get Office, will not scruple to sell the
votes when they can turn penny by it.
. We know Of no better check upon sue
men than to fall back upon the indeper
y dent system, and let every candidate bull
his own platform and canvass for the SUI
port of the people. If conventions al
held, let them be the spontaneous EXPIRE.
sion OF the views and wants of the masse
Then the best men, those who posse,
. both foresight and honesty, can ming
in the deliberations of the convention
, and shape the action of the party with
wise and prudent reference to its futur
positions as well as its present accepte
: principles.
:, Whether the men of Douglas county
who have the principles of freedom trul
at heart, will continue to submit to th
tyranny of caucus nominations any longe
. is yet to be seen. They can gain nothin
but disgrace and ultimate defeat by sui
a mission to the clique which rules the RI
d publican party for those men who ar
P so very bitter against every man who wi
not sustain the caucus nominations, do nc
hesitate to say that if candidates, who ar
obnoxious to them, are put in nomination
n they will bolt. No permanent success
e will ever attend their leadership of tn
$ party, and the sooner there is an uprisin
of the masses against their domination
the better for the interests of he party @
freedom in Kansas.
~ Mr.. Plowman informs us that ther
- -. oko,,k o oO0 rar,as $4,000 ::