A meeting of politicians in order to settle their combined plan of action. Hence to caucus, caucussing, house-caucus, &c. See Notes and Queries, particularly Series Five and Six. The word has been referred (see 1841) to a caulker’s meeting held in Boston, 1770; but “the caucus club” is mentioned by John Adams seven years earlier: see N.E.D. See also quot. 1774.
1774. He [Samuel Adams] conferred with Mr. Warren of Plymouth upon the necessity of giving into spirited measures, and then said, “Do you keep the committee in play, and I will go and make a caucus against the evening; and do you meet me.” Note: The word caucus, and its derivative caucusing, are often used in Boston. The last answers much to what we stile parliamenteering or electioneering…. The word is not of novel invention. More than 50 years ago, Mr. S. Adams’s father, and 20 others, one or two from the north end of the town, where all the ship business is carried on, used to meet, make a caucus, and lay their plan for introducing certain persons into places of trust and power.—W. Gordon, ‘Hist. Am. Revolution,’ i. 365 (Lond., 1788).
1799. It was said that a Tory caucus was held some nights ago at Mr. Craick’s lodging.—The Aurora (Phila.), Jan. 8.
1800. The bill was discussed at the Caucus on Wednesday evening.—Id., Feb. 19.
1800. The Caucusses are now carried on more cautiously than heretofore—they now assume the character of tea and card parties.—Id., March 29.
1800. They would recommend that the [Congressional] library be divided into several small apartments, for the purpose of holding Sub-Caucusses.—Id., May 10.
1800. Ross. Join the Caucus, we shall meet presently. Gunn. Pray what does Caucus come from? I have often thought of it and looked in Bailey’s Dictionary.—Id., June 4.
1802. As well might Oliver Wolcott publish to the world the bare-faced assertion, that he himself was the entire and sole author of a lame defence, lately published, of the late administration;—or have the effrontery to tell the people of the United States, that he did not come to New-York to get it corrected and amended by the centre flugel-men of all mischief,—who is still the rallying point for the out-casts of republicanism—whose meetings, Cacusses (sic), plots, and stratagems, are not so secret as the junto may vainly imagine.—J. T. Callender, ‘Letters to Alexander Hamilton, King of the Feds,’ pp. 8–9 (N.Y.).
1802. The disbanded few, who have lost their consequence, are everlastingly trumping up some infamous falsehood in the news-papers, in pamphlets and in treasonable night Caucusses, which it is certain are frequently held in New-York.—Id., p. 11.
1806. Would they not have assembled in Caucusses, and borne testimony against such destructive proceedings?—Lancaster (Pa.) Intelligencer, June 10: from Boston Chronicle.
1811. The electioneering caucussing will be over, and Mr. Madison still the man of the people.—Mass. Spy, Dec. 18.
1813. I advanced up to a caucus of gentlemen standing in the middle of the room.—The Stranger, Oct. 9 (Albany, N.Y.).
1816. It is said that a caucus at Washington is to be counter-caucussed.—Mass. Spy, May 1.
1817. Every individual of the Primary Caucus may justly feel himself offended.—Boston Weekly Messenger, Nov. 13.
1818. The defeated party complain of the corrupt influence of “Caucus.” I have often enquired the meaning of this term, or of the nature of the power exercised, but have not received any very satisfactory information. An American writer says it is “a cant term for those private meetings which are held by the political parties, previous to elections, for the purpose of agreeing upon candidates for office.”… [A man is quoted as saying]: “Only mind, I tell you Adams never can be president; for he will not be able to do any thing with caucus.”—H. B. Fearon, ‘Sketches of America,’ pp. 320–1 (Lond.).
1820. The libel on the Convention, which charged them with caucusing for the principal offices of the State.—St. Louis Enquirer, July 19.
1820. The caucus have met and met again, and determined upon what shall be done in Missouri.—Id., July 26.
1821. [Our cousin’s] bandboxes and wardrobes have been the subject of much curiosity and secret caucussing among my girls.—Mass. Spy, Jan. 17: from The Ploughboy.
1823. As Sunday here vanished with the daylight, I went in the evening to the Town-Hall, to Caucus, a grand political meeting of thousands of the Mobocracy, met to deliberate upon the choice of a state governor, &c.—W. Faux, ‘Memorable Days in America,’ p. 28 (Lond.).
1823. CAUCUS vs. CAUCUS. Andrew Gregg is nominated by the People’s Caucus as Governor of Pennsylvania, in opposition to the unheard of candidate of the Legislative Caucus, John Andrew Shulze.—Lancaster (Pa.) Journal, June 20.
1824. A tavern is a little republic, where you may caucus and nominate, and vote for yourself without a dissenting voice.—Mass. Spy, Jan. 14: from the Portsmouth Journal.
1824. There are 181 [members of Congress] who deem it inexpedient to meet in Caucus.—Missouri Intelligencer, March 13.
1824. Madam Caucus has ushered into the world another heir-apparent to the presidential chair.—Id., March 13.
1835. In caucus assembled, it was agreed that a favorable opportunity was now presented to wreak their spite upon poor Hill.—C. P. Bradley, ‘Biography of Isaac Hill,’ p. 46 (Concord, N.H.).
1835. Legislative caucuses [said Mr. Hill] should be considered as no further binding than as they express the popular sentiment.—Id., p. 58.
1836. Congressional caucuses were for a long time practised during the protracted contests for power between the old republican and federal parties. The practice was introduced for the purpose of concentrating public sentiment upon a single individual, to secure the triumph of the principles of the party, which might be lost by division. All caucuses, conventions, or meetings, of the dominant power, have had the same object in view.—Mr. Garland of Virginia in the House of Representatives, April 1: Cong. Globe, p. 258 (Appendix).
1841. The Knickerbocker Magazine, xviii. 185 (Sept.), refers caucus to the caulker’s meetings held in Boston in 1770.
1888. House-caucus.—Bryce’s ‘American Commonwealth.’ (N.E.D.)
