Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-01-12

ments. As for the Lccsburg baud, they cci-
tainly did their duty, and Il more social set ni
Young gentlemen ucvcr visited orr town before
Long may they waive ana pay us another visit
soon. CITIZEN.
A Virginia Caucus i'll ''ssid Tirmc*.''
The Caucus, as our readers knew, is an
American name Tor an institution as old az
man hiurselI-whu, be ii remembered, is not 81,
'uld as the hills" Men have met in large aud
small bodies openly aud secretly at ali times
under some uumc or other ior all SORTS Uf pur
poses Here we have the names meetings,
''caucuscs," and conventions The Daue
"caucus" is said to have originated in the last
century from the meetings of ''calkrr>' iu l}os-
tou then the great place Of shipping an! ship
building, and their assemblies finally came to
be dcnouiuatcd "cuucuscs. 1t is therefore a
slang phrase But its brcylty and its arplica
bihty to the meeting of class soon adapted it
to wider use, and parry preliminary meetings
were in time generally called 'caucuses. The
term is appropriate 10 one sens for In those
assemblies men let themselves out IN "caucu-s-
ing and ''cusslng' with i spirit that is pecu
liar to bodies OF one way Of thinking on general
principles, but differing about the men that
shall stand Tor them IN representative posi-
tons.
The first caucus we ever saw was the Jackson
CAUCUS III the members OF the Virginia LeglS!a-
turc in March. 1882, when, owing to the tr"u.
beS grown out If the rivalrl''s between Calhoun
aud Van Buren,, the Republican, p"rIy failed TO
nominate candidate t',r Wee President, ami
contcntcd themselves with nominating Andr.w
Jackson for President. The Republican party
then was widely different affair FROM he so
called Republican party Of thl, day. The con-
trlst between the two Is II wide as you can
nnaguc IL 10 be.
Linn Banks, speaker Of the House Of d ic-
gates, presided, aud Thumas Rltcnlc, editor Of
the r.uullircr, acted As secretary. Ii was an
opcn mccting-i e., the Legislative seats were
occupied by the Legislative tucGuocr> of The Re-
publican party and the privileged seats and
galleries were filled with Spectators. Among
the speakers that night were some OF the most
brilliant men that Virginia ever produced -
Dromgo0le. aud Ghol-nI, aud }. Thompson
Brown, and others, who-c power and skill ~
debate have rarely been cqnaIlcd
Williams, OF Harrison. was one OF the most
gifted men OF his day, but most -,iIly irregular
in his habits. He calll3 III Intoxicated, ;.;!d
claimed that every firgnian had right to II
seat in that bcav. He anGnuucrr tnal in con
lormity with 81, views he had hr ugh: n hi
friend on his right to take part III the night
deliberations. Ills irirul cssaycd 10 ''ss2 to
cxpIaiu," but 50 drunk was he that he failed.
or resumed his seat by gentle pressure Ironl
the hand 81 Williams, who Swaycd 10 and fro
like a piant tree in hard bow. His FREUD
was not disturbed, and he proceeded with one
of the rarcst speeches ever listened 10.
The party Opposed to Mr.. Van Buren, were
cndeavoriug to engineer Philip L. Barbour into
the Vice Presidency, and Williams had no more
inclination towards him than he had towards
Martin Van Buren,, whom he pronounced to b.
''rcpudacd On all hands. General Dad, 1t
Orange, was the peculiar friend nt Mr.. bar
bour. WIN ais, hailed from Orange. The
buttons, and powered head Was prominently
moving amongst the mcubclS, handing his
gold snufftox with Invitation to take pinch
to gentlemen.
Williams profts=,d to b.. disturbed by it.
He asked the gentleman from Orangc, who was
in his rear, if his remarks had any relation 10
him (Wllliams). The General, the very pink
of politcncss, bowing replied, None what
ever, sir Williams turning TO the chair
man Mr. Chairman, am always ready to
meet attacks in front, but 81 dtprscatc those
from the rear" Still pausiug and watching
General Dade, he at length Inquired "Wll
the gentleman from Orange be- 20 kind as TO
inform us how long it will take him to pcram
bnlate this rooln?' This brought down the
House AT length the General composed him
self and Williams proceeded. Among other
things he declared that he spoke from the in
most rcccsses Of heart not like the h nnra5!c
Secretary Mr.. Richie s. it was Somewhat
adulteraIcd." Aud he prlc'HIrnrd certain
oplnious Of his own those of Mr.. p p. Bar
bour or anybody else General Dadcl rom the
country of Orange to the contrary notwlth-
standDg!' These hits were irre>istlbIy udi
crous and brought down the House. lie de-
CARED addressing the chairman, that he had as
much respect for the Judgment Of Mr.. +. 7:
Barbour as he had for that of the chair
and. said he, "God knows have none for
that"
This is but touch of the humor Of the oc
cason The man who was present., II he sill
lives, will carry with him vivid recollection OF
the scene to his very grave
That was IL "high old night and all that
could get into that part OF the capitol devoted
to the House Of Delegates had the great Plea
sure of enjoying It,
Tine has presented the caucus IN various
phases but in latter days IL became a rat her
close affair. la the fifth decade party spirit
ran nlSh anu W hlSS anu hcuoclhiS Hdl 'uCli
caucuscs, which mutually excited the curiosity
of the parties, and SOM, times produced a dis
positson to rebellion against the arbitrary drcl-
sions OF "king Caucus.
But 10 each clusus it was customary to ad-
nit leading members of the party from the
ccuntr,, and always the leading editors allied
with the party were also admitted. The Re
publican, afterwards the ID mocratic party
would never have dreamed Of excluding Alr.
Richie, nor would the Wing caucus have eS-
Guided either Hampden Peasants or Alexander
Moseley. An army would as SOON have gone
into battle without its cannon as would either
party have thought ola secret concIavc without
the counsel and intercourse Of these gentlemen,
so indispensable to the maintenance Of their
principles. -Rrhmond Dispatch.
rH-Y. NJ. G.. A called mcnting of this