Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-12-06
THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS.

d OWcers OF the Rouse o. Representatives,
which met to-day, assembled iu the hall of the
House, in Washington, at Two clock on Satur-
day. and after nominating candidate for
Speaker adjourned until seven o'clock 10 the
evening, when the Remaining nominations we're
speedily effected, the successful candidates be-
ing Michael G. Kerr, OF Indiana, for Speaker;
George M. Adams, of Kentucky, Clerk; John
q. Thompson, of Ohio, Sergeant at Arms;
l.. H. Filzhugh,. Of Texas, Doorkeeper, and
James NJ. Steuart, of Alexandria, Va, Post.
master.
The floor Of the House was the scene of &C.
tive cauVassing before the meeting, aud when
the time arrived it was with great difficulty that
the hall was cleared OF all outsiders. A few
minutes after two clock the caucus was called
to order by Hon. Fernando Wood who nom.
mated Hon. L. @ Z. Lamar, of Mississippi,
for Chairman, who was elected by reclamation.
Upon taking the chair, Mr.. Lamar made
brief but eloquent speech as follows
MIR. LAMAR's SPEECH.
Gentlemen 1u c4llirg me to this position
OF responsibility and distinction you have con-
terrcd an honor which | appreciate most
highly, and for which thank you most cor
daily.
We here are confronted with crisis in the
history OF the Democratic party aud OF the coun-
try which brings to our party graod opportuni
ties, but is at the same time freghted for us
with solemn responsibilities, and if we do not
improve these opportunities and rise to the
measure OF these responsibilities the fruits of
the great political revolution which has brought
Us here today will be for US like tho fruit
which grows upon the shores of the accursed
sea.
The people of this country, by overwhelm-
Ing majorltes ofStateS and majorities 10 States,
nave placed the democratic party, after long
period OF exclusion from power, In possession
OF the most important department Of the Fed
eral government. When [ say important I do
not mean that the Individual members are 10.
vested with Imposing prerogatives or great
personal distinction. The departments Of pa
tronage, those which hold and command the
glltteriog prizes Of governmental emoluments
add honors, are the coordinate branches of
the government, which are still under the con-
troll of our political opponents.
The members OF the House of Representa-
tlVes have no patronage whatever beyond that
Of the appointment Of military or naval cadet,
and their compensation is barely adequate to
lite OF republican simplicity and prudential
economy. There are many Offices in the gift
OF the executive far more profitable, and, in
the public esteem, far more distinguished, than
that of a seat 10 the House of Representatives.
But this braDch is, nevertheless under our
matchless system of government, the corner
stone OF our fabric of liberty, because it is the
only department OF the Federal government d.
rectly responsible to the people of the country,
and receiving its powers directly from
their hands. All the other branches of
the government are two or three degrees
removed from the people 10 the mode
OF their selection, or in the nature of their
responsibilities. But while the House of Rep
resentatlves Is thus i'm Immediately responsible to
the people, all the other branches of the gov
ernment are responsible to this body. The
people OF the country have charged us-have
charged The democratic party in the House of
Kepresentatves-wlth the important duty of
bringing these co. ordinate branches of the gov.
ernmeut to their just responsibility, and thus
by an unerrlng instinct, or by keen intelli-
gence, have blended together our duty, our iu-
terests and our incnations.
There has been for some time in the public
mind u conviction, profound and all pervadiug,
that the civil service of this country has not
been directed from considerations of public
good, but from those of party profit and for
corrupt, selfish and u0patriotic designs. The
people demand at our hands a thorough and
sweeping REFORM which shall be conducted in
a spirit that will secure the appointment to
places of trust and responsibility Of the honest,
the experienced and the capable.
There is also an imperative demand that a
vigiant examination be made into the admin
istratlon of the public revenue of the country.
both 10 its collection and its disbursement: that
all the public accounts shall be scrutized by us.
as 1t Is the solemn privilege and duty of the
House to do, and that corruption be terreted
out, and wrong doers no matter how high or
low, shall be tearlesSy arraigned and fully ex-
posed and punished. There is a growing and
irresistible sentiment In the country that under
speclous theory OF protecting and fostering par
tlcular Industries and loterests, system of mis-
called revenue laws has been In operation detri.
mental and blasting to all the other good in
terests OF the country, and maintained at the
expense OF the general revenue, and to the in.
jury, OF the great majority of the people, aud
OF those classes, the farmers and laborcrs, who
are least able to bear the burden Of oppressive
laws
One of the highest and most pressing de-
mands upon us will be not only to Insist on
bringing down the expenses of the government
to the needs only of economical administration,
but to perfect aud adopt such system of tax
alton as will bring in the required revenue with
the teWest restrictions upon commerce, and
with the least burden to the people, and that
burden equitabIy distributed and skillfuliy adj
justed. Owing to the exigencies of one of
those great interneciDe conflicts incident to the
life OF almost every country, and also to per
nlclous system of legislation, our people, our
business Investments, our commerce and all
the diversified interests of the country are suf-
ferng from the evils of an irredeemable cur
reacy., ln meeting aud graphing with the
difficulties of the vital and perplexing question
1t will be our duty to take care that nuthing is |
done which would impair the good faith of the |
country or tarnish the public honor, or lower
or disturb the credit Of our government, but
We are to remove those Instructions which bar
the progress and check the prosperity of the
American republic. 1t is our duty as demo. |
Gratis. 1t is the duty and is to be the glory of
The democratic party while it controls the |
70 bat h. 4 l.