The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-03-14
The senatorial Caucus.


The Senatorial Caucus.
As 10 the transactions of civil life, the !
agent frequently exceeds the authority given
him, and travels beyond his proper field to
the great detriment and dissatisfaction OF his
principal, so, in this representative democ-
racy of ours, the servants of the people
through forgetfulness of the humble relation
which they bear to their constituents, some
times transcend the powers conferred upon
them. and placently assume the discharge
OF duties which those for whom they profess
to speak and act, are in blissiul ignorance OF
ever having burdened them with.
Perhaps the most striking instance ofthis
latter kind that has occurred for many years,
is afforded by the recent action of the ma
jority of the Democratic Senators at Wash
ington, in presuming TO enuncinte in ad-
vance for the great Democratic party of the
country, shortly TO convene by its specially
constituted deputies at Charleston, the SEN
tments which that party is there 10 avow
upon those voxed ard delicate queetions of
domestic policy which now sgitute and di-
vide into distinct and hostile parties the peo.-
pie Of this country. The object which these
Senators propose for themselves, 10 attempt
ing to foist their programme upon the Ma
tion8l Convention, is charged TO be the de
L. (,b, ~,
date fer the Charleston nomination. We
know not, nor do we care, whether the OBJ
iect of these Senators was only the en-
lightenment of the Democracy as to their
duty, with no uIterior object, or the shelving
OF a rival candidate for the Presidency, who
is beginning to loom up threatenngly in the
great north and north west; whether the one
or the other, it is alike short-sighted nnt
preeumptuOus, as it will doubtless prove i'm
potent and abOrive. In saying this, we do
not touch upon the merits of the resolutions
but only upon the presumption of our Sena
tors in attempting to forestal the action o
that Convention, by urrogating TO themselves
dictatorial powers over it. Whether such {
platform would be proper one for the Con-
gention to adopt for itself and its candidates
is one question whether such platform OF
any ether should be made for IL by corpo'
rails guard of United States Senators-ser-
wants only at second hnnd-is another
question, and it is with this other that VT
have here to do.
SSch action as this on the psrt of Sen
otorial caucus might, at another time, GnI
under other and different circumstances, b.
regarded nth comparative Indifference, bu
it cannot be so regarded now. There neve
has been, until now, in the history of De
mocTacv, q time when it was so vitslly i'm
portaDt that there should be Cancellation ant
concord between the Democracy as now
and as mesnS to this, when all the mem
bers of that party should be left free to cx
press their sentiments upon the great qpes
lions of the dsy-the questions of the aye
This campaign will be one CommeR:uratt
in its esrnestness and fsrceness, with tht
great Interests at stake. And in it. no DO
ej;ons can be expected to be maintained b.
the Democracy with such zeal, determination
and success as thosc which they may bt
allowed 10 choose for themselves. En-
trenched behjud these, they will caIml
awai; the onset OF Rtpu b'lcanisn, AID scat
ter its nongrel crew as the chaF is scatter
ed by The mighty wh;rIwiDd,