The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-02

that Aaron Burr received the votes Of hvc States
for the ylcc-Prcsidency, showing tho existence
of some previous understanding. Moreover, ono
of tho chief reasons urged for the holding OF q
caucus In 1900 was the complaint made by the
Northern Republicans that Burr had not boen
supported In 1895 "as he ought to have been
by tho party In the South. This indicates that
Burr was understood to DO tho regular party
candidate. Whatever may have been the
case in 1906. there Is no doubt that, In 1900.
tho candidates OF both the Republican and Fod-
eralist parties wcro nominated ut caucuses OF
tho party members OF tho two houses OF Con.
grcss. Tho Republican caucus. which was
strictly private. and tho proceedings OF which
were never published. is said TO have been held
In May, 1900, at Maracho's boarding house In
Philadelphia, and to have been attended by
forty.three Republican nembcrS OF Congress.
besides many distinguished cit!zens." Accord
Ing to another account. there were present
thirty.sevcn Representatives and nino Sena-
tors. In speaking of this caucus in 1884, Sem
ator Smith Of Maryland said: 1T was believed
that tho success of Adams in 1706 was owing to
the want of n conjoincd effort, tho concentration
of force, on tho part of tho friends OF Mr.. Jcfer-
son. A caucus was, in consequence. hold In
Philadelphia, the object of which was to make .
conjoined effort to concentrate tho strength OF
the party and to bind each to the other. that
they would use their best cxcrtions to promote
the election of Mr.. Jefferson. / did not attend,
but 1 believe that every other member Of either
house friendly to Mr.. Jefferson did attend" Mr..
Dallingcr has made good tho deficiency in Mr..
Smiths testimony by consulting Hammond. the
painstaking historian of the politics of his ma
tive State of New York. According TO Ham,
mond, two caucusos wero held, or rather two
meetings OF the samo caucus. At the first It
rrua arronI that Tho ,aplilata f-s "a, I1rNat-
dent should be taken from New York. But,
as tho members of tho caucus were ignorant
OF the wishes OF the New York Repub-
licans, they requested Mr.. Gallatin to COM
Iuunicate with the latter. Accordingly,
Gallatin wrote a letter to Commodore Nicholson
of New York requesting him to converse
frankly and freely with the gentlemen who had
been named as candidates." and. nfter consulta-
ton with others. to inform him tGallatin, of tho
result Of his inquiries. The Commodore, after
looking over the field, arrived at the conclusion
that Gov. Clinton would DO the most available
candidate, and was upon the point OF sending a
letter recommending him to the Congressional
caucus; but, before he sent the letter. he showed
1t to Aaron Burr, who expressed himself as dis
satisfied with the recommendation. and. after
some consultation with him and his friends.
Clinton's name was erased and that of Burr in
serted in its place. On tho arrival OF tho COM
modores letter ut Philadelphia, a second or ad-
journed meeting of the Congressional caucus
was held. at which Burr was nominated as the
Republican candidate for Vicc-Presidcnt. In
regard to the Federalist caucus Of 1900, our
information is mcagre. Mr.. Dallinger deems
1t certain. however, that the meeting was
held, probably in the Senate Chamber in the
early part Of the year named. Whatever its
proceedings. 1t drew down upon itself the anath-
ema Of Benjamin Austin, n prominent Massa-
chusetts Republican. IF anything" he said.
" wilbnrouse the frecmen Of America. it must be
the arrogance Of a number OF member Of Con.
gress to assemble as an c!cctiohccring caucus to
control the citizens in their rights. Under what
authority" he asks. do these men pretend to
dictate nominations DO We send members to
Congress to cabal once in four years for Presi-
dentl Or are we arrived at such a pitch OF Con-
gressional influence that what they decide on Is
to be binding on the United States Is there
any paragraph in the Constitution which gives
them such an authority. or even countenanccs
such a proceeding 7 After Congress have at
tended to their legislative business. have they q
right to dictate the choice Of an Executivef
II SO. what nm imposition on the people to talk
about the freedom of election. or OF what conse.
quencei is it that the State Legislatures should
concern themselves in the mode Of choosing