Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-10-03
sTATE CONVENTION,
From the Mem-.Leraeu Patriot.


The proceedings Of the late convention con-
stitute an important epoch in the history Of our
state politics We shall endeayor 10 present a
satisfactory narrative OF whattook place in that
body, Invested of that coouring which might
Justly be given to its extraordinary transactions.
That the true situation, views, and motives
of the respective parties may be better under
stood and more properly appreciated, it is ne
cessary, before we proceed 10 state what occur
red after The organization of the assembly, to
observe, tina. the Convention was ostenslbly the
great Democratic Caucus, which had, for more
than twenty years past, recommended the sue
cessful Congressional tickets to the people; and
that therefore the Administration men and the
Jackson meE were both DESTROYS OF having their
respective tickets recommended by majority
Of that convention.
The delegates generally had been appointed
with that view; which circumstance will &C
count for the appearance of two sets from md
ny of the counties claiming their seats.
The first question which arose, was as to the
appointment of chairman, and after some lit
tie discussion an individual was nominated by
one OF the Jackson men. 1t is proper here to
remark, that every person, OF both sets OF dele
gates, voted upon that question:; and it must
also be remembered, that the Jackson delegates
were made uncommonly numerous for that very
purpose. For instance, the delegation from
the county Of IHunterdon consisted of twenty
persons, which gave to that county ten or fiji
teen votes more than the much larger county of
Essex. Consequently, as the appointment of
Chairman and Secretary improperly depended,
not on the number of counties, but on the num-
Der of individuals of each county, the chairman
and secretary Of their choice were appointed.
After the meeting had been thus organized, it
wa: resolved, that each county was entitled
to, and should have, the same number of votes
that the undisputed counties should take
their seats, and that they should examine and
decide upon the respective pretensions of the
disputed counties. Up to this period both par
ties believed that they would nave majority Of
the counties, after the claims of the various del
egates had been settled; and the business of the
convention proceeded thus far without m UGH
disagreement or dissatisfactions But as soon
as it was perceived that the pretension Of the
Jackson delegation from the county of Cumber-
land were altogether frivolus, the appearance
Fittings Immediately changed. From concord
and good order the convention soon got into
anarchy and confusion. And we now call the
strict attention of all candid and dsinterested
persons to this period of the convention partic-
ularly; that they may the better Judge which
party had the first and greatest reason to APP
prehend danger 10 their cause from strict OBJ
servance ofordery conduct and thorough in
vestigation of the claims of the disputed dele
cations, and which party was the first wrong
door. The Jackson men were first alarmed *
dissatisfied undoubtedly: and the reason for
which was obvious, 1t was because the Cum
berland delegation, upon which they had much
relied, and which they had called up first for de-
ciSon supposing it 10 be decidedly in their ia
YOUR, was unequivocaly opposed to all their
and wishes. In this disappont-
meAt and chagrn of the party, even the chair
man, with every motive which ought 10 have
man Of honour, urging him to for
bear, could not refrain from participating, which
ne n contested in manner never to be forgot
ten; tort was done in violation, and in after con-
tempt the feelings of "a large part of the as
semby. We allude how 10 the phraseoogy as
well as the manner in which he put the question
concerning Mr.--'s right to address the
meeting on the subject Of the Cumberland del
egation:-He put il thus Shall Mr.. ---be |
heard, or shall he be Strangied.9''
After the person alluded 10, had finished very
laboured harangue, for argument it ought not to
be called, some of the Jackson men themselves
actually advised that their claim upon that coun-
ty should be Withdrawn. But it was determined
by majority of them, that right or wrong, it
should neither be Withdrawn nor re iected; but
a postponement of that case was moved by one
of them as the only method left to prevent the
administration men getting ma ority Of
the counties. II is worthy of repetition, that
this case, the decision of which they wished to
postpone, had been called up by themselves. for
decision contrary to former usages, and there
was no reason why it should not have been de-
termined-but that it would operate against
their party views.
The friends of he government now perceiv-
ed all rules were to be disregarded, all decency
condemned, when they conlicted with the
views of the opposition.
They perceived that they could not harmo-
Mise with men who came determined to sacri-
lice every thing to their own personal objects,
regardless of consequences. A motion to adj
Journ for the present, to give the members an
opportunity to deliberate upon the injustice
which was about to be committed was therefore
made in the spirit Of Cancellation by Mr. Brown,
one OF the oldest and most able & consistent de-
mocrats in the state This proposition was
hoOted at and called ridicuIouc -thev eyen