Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.

DEBATES OF CONGRESS. 703 MARCH, 1826.] Amendment of the Constitution. [H. OF R. The bill was then about to be read by sec- the end, fatal to that sound public opinion upon tions: when which the Government was founded. Mr. LIVINGSTON, after paying a deserved trib- Before he paid his respects to his colleague, ute to the efforts of the gentleman who had (whom he was happy now to have in his eye,) presented the subject to the Committee of the he would, as first in order, turn his attention to Whole, moved that the committee rise. the gentleman from South Carolina, (Mr. The motion prevailed and the committee McDurrIE.) It was probable that that gentlerose accordingly, and obtained leave to sit man and himself had before them a long jouragain. ney to perform together; but he was apprehenThe House adjourned. sive they would make very unpleasant companions. We shall, most undoubtedly, said Mr. TU-ESDAY, March 7. C., unless he learns to treat my old friends with more respect; for, unlike some others, I never Amendment of the Constitution. desert an old friend. At the very outset, the On motion of Mr. McDrrFFIE, the House then gentleman had made an attack upon a venerresolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on ated and respected friend-he was about to say, the state of the Union, to consider the resolutions now no more-King Caucus. Now that the offered by him for amending the constitution. election was over, we could take a more sober Mr. CAMBRELENG said, the character of his view of the past. This was a spectre raised State had made so prominent a figure in the de- during that election, by certain men, for certain bate, that it could not be necessary for him to purposes. A union was formed: each of the make any apology for addressing the committee. parties to it had his distinct object, ultimately, He had supposed the peculiar circumstances of in view: they were united in but one, the the times would have admonished gentlemen of overthrow of King Caucus. We know the rethe propriety, nay, necessity, of exercising mu- sult-a result little to the satisfaction of most of tual indulgence and forbearance. He regretted, the parties to the compact. lie had expected however, to perceive, from the course of this from the gentleman from South Carolina a debate, that while we were generously disposed sympathy for King Caucus-a sympathy arising to overlook the errors of the public men in out of similarity of condition. He never repower, and the conduct of all other politicians, flected on the fate of poor King Caucus, withduring the late election, we were never to ter- out being reminded of the brief and splendid minate our animadversions on that class of poli- career of an illustrious exile. He, too, was born ticians who alone could be proudly denominated a republican, among the wild mountains of "no man's men." The State of New York had Corsica:, he, too, played an unceremonious accordingly been selected as the theatre of the game with Kings and Emperors. He was, unwar; and that portion which had been left un- happily, made a monarch: he, became too ravaged by the gentleman from South Carolina, powerful-excited the jealousy of his neighbors, (Mr. McDUFFIE,) had been laid desolate by his and alarmed some of his friends. An alliance colleague, (Mr. STORRS.) He was little disposed was formed to overthrow him: each of the parto engage in a debate of this character; but, in ties had his own ulterior scheme: he was consuch a cause, he should be unworthy of his quered: an ancient family was restored-very station, were he not ready to break alance with little to the satisfaction of any, but one, of the either or both the gentlemen. The remarks he members of the alliance. Soon after the restorashould submit, would be applicable to the crisis tion here, another great man appeared, bearing and the question; for both had grown out of a strong family likeness to our late monarch: the late election by the House. In submitting but the name of Caucus having become somethem, he should not affect a delicacy he did not what unpopular, his sponsor gave him another feel, nor preach a political morality he did not name-they called him " Convention " —which. practise. He should treat it as every question to drop our diadem, means a congregation of should be treated, involving public men and deputies, who meet, intrigue a little, quarrel a litpublic measures. And, while he should exer- tie, and, at last, agree upon a candidate not much cise due decorum, he should not forget that the to the satisfaction of some. And yet, in the view question was one of the most important ever of the gentleman from South Carolina, there is a submitted to the attention of Congress. His wide distinction: a Caucus is something corimpressions on the subject were strong-per- rupt, something loathsome-an incubus; while hape stronger from the'circumstance of his a Convention is a harmless popular favorite! having been a member, he might also say a He would not argue this question with the spectator, during the recent election by the gentleman from South Carolina: he would House. He might be mistaken-he trusted he leave the distinction to his acute and discrimiwas-but he approached the question under a nating powers, referring him to the laconic and sincere conviction, that, unless the electoral facetious remark of the celebrated " Doctor office be taken hence, the time was not remote Ollapod, of the gilt Galen's Head, Cornet of when frequent elections here would produce a Horse," to Miss Lucretia MacTab —" Rhubarb revolution in the practical operation of this is rhubarb, madam, call it what you will." Government, destructive of every thing like po- If the gentleman from South Carolina, or his litical principle and constitutional law, and, in honorable colleague-who also seemed to think

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Title: Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.
Author: United States. Congress.
Canvas: Page 703
Publication: New York, [etc.]: D. Appleton and company [etc.]; 1857-61.
Subject terms: United States -- Politics and government

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Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.

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