The Virginian

CLARKSBURG, (Va.) August 21.--It will be recollected by our readers that some time since, notice was given in our paper, that a meeting of those friendly to the election of J. Q. Adams, would be held at the Courthouse of this county on Monday last, to adopt resolutions and to transact such other business as might be thought expedient. Although it is believed that there were a great number of persons, friendly to the meeting, at that time in town, yet from a misunderstanding as to the hour of meeting, and the county court being at that time in session many neglected to attend. Several resolutions were however adopted, but as the citizens of this county, who will support Mr. Adams were not generally present on that occasion, it has been thought better not to publish the proceedings, until a more numerous meeting can be had.

It is not to be wondered at, that the people should be so inactive on this subject--It must be recollected, that the presidential election, has always been conducted without the majority of the people's knowledge either of the time or the names of the candidates. This too, is easily accounted for, no systematic opposition to the Candidates who have been successful, has ever been set on foot. Jefferson, Madison and Monroe have been successively elected without an opposition ticket. At this time there are four electoral tickets in Virginia. The Adams, Crawford, Clay and Jackson tickets. It is in the power of the people on the first Monday in November next, to say which of the four shall receive the votes of the State of Virginia. We hope every voter on that day will be prompt at the polls.--If then Crawford's ticket shall prevail we shall be satisfied. The voice of a majority of the people is all we ask. Although we prefer Mr. Adams, yet against the actual majority of the people, we could not so far abuse our republican notions, as to murmur a single word.

A correspondent makes himself quite merry on the occasion. He seems highly tickled with the idea that a Caucus should be held to nominate a candidate in opposition to the Caucus candidate. Now it may be possible that the friends of Mr. Crawford will have no cause to make merry.--If in truth, a meeting of the people can be called a caucus, it would only be a caucus of the people to counteract the illegitimate proceedings of a Legislative caucus. We humbly conceive, however, there is a mighty difference between a Caucus of the representatives of the people to the exclusion of all others, and a caucus of the people themselves--the one is intended to have the force of a law whose influence shall extend through every state in the Union--the other is a mere expression of opinion, by a few individuals whose influence cannot reach beyond their own little circle.

The few persons who met in Caucus at Washington, have been greatly slandered, if the epithet Caucus, can be legitimately applied to a meeting of the people themselves.