Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1882-12-20
POLITICAL CAUCUSES.
The Subject COntinued-The
Time Has Come to Wipe
Them Out.
To the Editors o fhe Commercial Ga

y
zette:
1t is very certain that the caucus
system meets with but little favor
among the people who prefer to see all
the acts of the representatives conduct
ed openly in the light of day, as more
in harmony with q republican form OF
government, where It is the clear right
of the constituency to know all the
official acts of their representatives.
The question is frequently asked, when
mate? The best information we have
is that it originated in New York M
der the leadership of Aaron Barr ~
the hotly contested canvass for Cover
norship of that State between Burr and
Julge Lewis 1t was in that cam
paign that General Hamilton used Ian.
guage offensive to Burr that led TO the
fa.al duel. Few politicians of his day
were equal in dexterity OF management
to Burr, and he always preferred Sc
cret TO open acii N. He was the acknowl
edged bold leader of his party, anC
would have continued as successful
leader but for the unfortunate meeting
with General Hamilton. With thai
sad event it fell for time, and Was
never revived under the same name
1t was then called the New York Jun
ia, whose secret deliberation and intrl
que for party purposes were much
fashioned after the Jaco1in club o
Paris in compelling the action OF tho
representatives of the people, and was
important in deciding the fate of mer
and measures in New York, and t.
some extent at Washington. The sys
tenn was revived after many year:
under the name of Caucus, under The
leadership of Governor Marcy, tht
man who charged the State fifty cents
for mending his pantaloons (perhap'
mad advertently), and Martin Van Buren
They were bold leaders, and in orde
to perpetuate their political power al
dictators they established the secre
mode as more effective to that cad
The system as well as the name became
odious to the people, and as a counter
acting powes a regency, called the Al
bany Regency was established. 1t b'
came great power in the State, ant
after few years reign it was over
thrown by party within the Demo
cratic party called Barn Burners,
under the leadership OF John Van Bur
en- and Silas wright, with the sympa
thy of Governor Seward and Bouck.
Turning to Pennsylvania, we believe
the caucus system did not exist prlo
to the election of General Jackson, il
1928. 1t was soon after that tha
Gov. Marcy proclaimed "to the victor
belong the spoils, " and in order to maxi
distributions to those who had o.
would best promote the success of tn
party. selections were made of ware
and county politicians rather than t.
good and able citizens The question
was not, is he honest? is he capable
Bat, what is his political influence, ant
will he exercise it under dlctation
To such an extent has the latter princi
pie been carried that it is believed tn
whole system should be abandoned.
The best and most talented men G
our State have suffered defeat by it
power. The voice of the people ha
been stIAed and mediocrity has game
the ascendancy. Union and harmon,
of the Republican party demand de
parture from system that has beel
mainly the cause of division in th
party.
The practical workings of the eau
cuses may be illustrated thus: Tax
tho case Of Hon. Jones II. Hopkins
IF he goes into caucus-which be
bound to do, or incur the wrath of hi
party-he virtually binds himself to b
governed by the majority, and If b
should vote in open session for a pre-
tectiye tariff, if that would be the sui
ject Of caucus, he would be denounce
as traitor to his party. On the othe
hand, should he vote for tariff fu
revenue only, his constituents woui
denounce him as traitor. Now ca
any system be fair and just that place
Representative in such an inextrica
ble position of degradation p.
BUTLER PA, December 10, 1882
The aboVe is another communicate
of General PurVianCe to the Pitt5burg
Commercial Gdzeite, which we tax
the liberty of copying and at the sam
time approving But few persons ar
better posted on the political history {
the country than Gen. p. In th
above he gives the origin Of the treact
erous caucus system" No less ma
than Aaron Burr was its originator, an
almost equally bad men have re
vived and are now trying to kee
it in existence.
| That old established remedy Downs