The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-09-05
4ifhuund Dispatfh.
WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMBER 8. 1888.
Tho Caucus.

purely political. They decide IN caucus
the fate OF any sort OF bin or scheme that
NAV be proposed In either house OF the
General Assembly. The caucus, as II is
used by the two parties in Congress. is
different thing. II leaves the members
free 10 vote for or against many important
mea.urcs which have no necessary connec'
ton with parties or party politics or party
policy. The proposition to reduce the
tax upon tobacco would have been de-
feated i'm the last Congress II 1t had
been made the subject Of caucus
action. and the members had been bound
by the fact Of participation in the caucus
TO vote as the caucus directed. The Re
publicans had a majority in the House OF
Representatives, and as a large majority OF
the Republican members voted against the
reduction OF the tax on tobacco il is evil
dent that the same members would have
constituted a large majority in any caucus
which might have been convened TO con-
slider that subject. In a Senate Republican
caucus the few Republican senators who
voted for the reduction Of the tobacco tax
to eight cents per pound would have been
in 4 woiul minority.
IL is al wrong, this habit OF caucussing
as party on subjects in which politics
ought not to be allowed TO interfere. Our
readers know how the Coalitionists in the
last Legislature acted; how every sort OF
measure was made 10 turn upon partisan
considerations. Bills were passed upon
by the Readjustor caucus which ought
never 10 have been considered outside OF
the two houses OF the Legislature. Coali-
zionist members had bound themselves by
a written obligation 10 be governed in their
action in the Legislature by the decision
of an irresponsible caucus. 1t was all
wrong.
There is another feature which differen-
.iatos the Coalition caucus from the ordi-
nary par,y-caucuS. In the ordinary caucus
the members are free TO retire before deci-
sion is reached or vote is taken. II they
see signs OF unfair intentions, or evidences
that perfect good faith is not to be OBJ
served, they may withdraw before action
is taken, and thus reserve their right to
act and vote as they please in the Legisa-
tlre. But not so with the CoSlitioniSts.
They bound themselyes-nOt all OF them,
We are glad to be able 10 y-to abide by
the action Of the caucus of their party
without knowing even wha: subjects the
caucus would act upon. Such a pledge no
man ought ever to give. Here it is:
IL hereby pledge myself to stand by the
Readjuster party and platform, and to go
into caucus with the Roadiustcr members
OF the Legislature that meets at Richmond,
and vote for all measures, nominees, aud
candidates to be elected by the Legislature.
a. the caucus may agree upon"
That is the most sweeping pledge which
was ever taken by men chosen by the people
10 make laws for them. It's almost iDcredi-
bic that any self-respecting man should
have givcr such a pledge. 1t binds the
obligor in every way. lie first pledges
himself TO 90 into caueus-what he ought
not to consent TO do without first deciding
for himself whether the subject to be con-
sidered is one which he is willing to leave
10 the decision OF a caucus. He then BINDS
himself hand and foot by coming under
solemn obligation 10 - vote for all mea-
sures. nominees, and candidates to be
elected by the Legislature as the caucus
may agree upon"
The moral to he drawn-thc lesson to be
learned-fr0m all this is that II will be dan
gerous for the voters OF Virginia to confide
their interests 10 men who think so lightly
OF the trust Of legislator as to throw all the
responsibility for their votes upon an ire
sponsible caucus-who put such body
between them and their constituents, and
resolve 10 do, not what their own sense OF
duty tells them to do, but what the caucus
NAV tell them TO do. Especially will it be
perIlous to elect such representatives
this wear, when there may he Il
half dozen or a dozen negroes in
the Coalition caucus whose votes may turn
the scale in favor OF measures which no
one now expects TO be adopted either in
caucus or in the Legislature Itself. The
Franklin-county pledge may be required
of Coalition candidates who are ashamed
and refuse to sign the pledge Of two years
ago. But really there is no difference be-
tween the requirements OF the two
pledges. The difference is in the man.
ner OF taking the pledge. The Frank
lin pledge is not TO be signed, but is
To be considered rs binding the man who
accepts the nomination for the Legislature.
In the enc case, the man pledges himself,
In the other case, the Convention makes
the pledge for him; but if he accepts, It i,
OF course with the understanding that he
will carry ont the undertaking Of the Con
yention. Mixed school-boards may result
from one Of these caucuscs. In fact, 81
many Of the Coalition canyasserS attemp
TO Justify Governor CAMERON for putting
negroes upon the School Board OF Rich
mond that the Coalition candidates for tn
Legislature may themselves come ont OF
the same side.
Beware, then. OF candidates for the Gen
eral Assembly who have promised, or ar
willing 10 promise, that they Will go int
caucus, without regard to the subject to b
considered, and vote as the caucus may dc
eide, without regard TO any other tina
mere partisan considerations.
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