Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-06-05
THE BaL7yMoRE coNI.rN.Tyo,.


THE BALTIMORE CONTENTION
We have received numerous Letters from the Dele
gates to the Convention well from the
able Republicans in yaous quarters of the State NTH
out any with each other they all unite in the same
conclusion: Go for Martin Van Burcn-Rally upon
him, for the first Office But though GO for Col
Johnson, President, yet is but secondary of
flee and there is occasion Tor any immediat dis
cnsson of the question Let avoid every thing that
is irritating illileraall divisions among ourselves
upon the great obcctLet us keep the Republican Party
together-dsappont the calculations of the Wings and
by concert and harmony among ourselves, the
election of President TO the Pcope-prevcnt the re-
charter of the Bank-rcstore the construction of
the Constitution, and the great Right of In
structon.-ln the time, we must confer with our
brethren clsewhere-select some candidate who may
be more agreeable TO Vrgiuia-and either leave our
Electors uncommitted, committed in favor of de-
clded State Rights man.. In word, the more we con-
slider the ground have already taken, the more we
are satisfied that is the only which leads TO safety
to union to If our brethren iii the other States
viii but meet with the beality which we would
extend to them-avod all unnecessary aud irritating
discussion upon the Vice Presidency, and confnc our
immediate attention to the Presidency We shall sue
coed in great object and defeat the only hope which
the Wings INDUCING from divisions. In this
spirit, we address ourselves to all political friends.
IN tins or the other Staesto the Delegates of the Bal
timore Convention-or to our fellow citizcns large:
FOR TIE ENQUIRER
To tie Democratic Party Of Charlotte, Tirsinia
The accountability of public agents and public OK
position of their acts being the best safe guards against
abuses in any station is the only apology SHALL need
offer, for rendering you brief outline my own as the
representative of your principles in the Baltimore Con-
vcntion.
If shall have occasion in this letter TO refer TO The
whole Virginia Delegation, il will Ice deemed necessary
in order fully to explain my course and ST not be
considered (muc less the letter itsclf) in any man
interfering conflicting with any thing that may
be published the proceedings Of that body, it is
private account, which have fit settle in INV
own time my own way, and for my private reasons
In asce taining the sense of that body the Report
of the Committee consisting of Delegate from each
State chosen for the purpose of drafting rules and
guations for the government of the Convention the
Il In
principle If twothirds Of the whole Electoral vote i'm
favor of the nominee of the Baltimore Convention
sustained the wothrds principle in the first instance
reported by the Committee giving the greatest pos
sblc effect when made, and in the second instance ttr
you must understand the question twice before the
Convention) rs being best calculated defeat the no.
minaton of either candidate, but especially the one
which began to be feared to be the strongest; i'm
which latter event the door would be open for compro
mise and the chances multiplied of placing upon
the ticket against whose political principles there would
exist fewer objections, less ground of assault and less
necessity for defence. This resolution amended by
inserting the word 'najory, and the amendment pre-
vaedby small its favor Before the balloiing
commenced and the following day,
OF this resolution proposed and ably advocated by
Judge Strange of North Carona--and upon q second
vote the two,thirds principle was carried by large
ority the North and the West having counted noses
in the meanwhile, and doubt considered the nomina
ton of Col Johnson pretty certain, upon the wothrds
principle the first ballot. This is, to be sure mat
ter of Inference, though think, fully warranted by the
circumstances of the
Col Johnson received only four votes over however
and if of the electoral of the delegation from
Pennsylvania or each delegation gave the electoral vote
of their respective Statcs had been given Mr. Rives
in strict justice ought to have been DONE this num-
Der being in his favor, but in the scale of Col
Johnson under msapprehension that they were bound
by majority OF their own delegatona second ballot
ing would have cnsucd and the result might have been
different. This deuson supposed the time was re-
moved by the ellcrs announcing split in the Massachu
sets delegation, Four for Col. Johnson and
ten for Mr.. Rives. The attempt TO remedy it, encoun
tered some opposition, which resulted in withdrawal
Strange, one of the Vice Presidents.
For my part, not governed by personal pre-
erenccs or sectional considerations and prepared
TO compromise upon Judge VIM Smith of Alabama
Nathaniel Macon, or Thomas Benton or any other man
who would administer the Government accor ding to
the letter of the Constitution, without the aid of con-
strucuye powers had entered the Convention in a
spirit of Cancellation and compromise far might be
consistent with those principles for which Virginia had
been recently honestly and so arduously contend
ing. Beyond this could not go, in any could
not the responsibility of contributing place
upon the ticket, latudinaran in politicsone whom
we would have TO Defend and against whom there was
sdeir weight of moral influence every where. IL would
have rendered the ticket extremely vulnerable, and
might have contributed in no small degree to the defeat
OF the main object
There could be nothing equivocal in rejecting the no
minaton of Col. Johnson, this plainly indicated
by resolution adopted by the Virginia Delegation,
which had my hearty concurrence and which was read
in Convention anterior TO the balotting We offered
them man acceptable to awhose political integrity,
honesty, and moral conduct, irreproachabe. They
imposed upon offensive 10 many They might,
them without any sacrifice whatever have yielded us;
i
of principle The reposed in me (as unmerted as
nnsonght foI) is at an end and undertaken
with reference to any further Pecn action my part
have felt myself entirely exempt from ai Restraints
either growing out of the fear of defeat the expecta
ton of future favor.
would add, that am not insensiblc to the important
struggle which is now going among the great pot
cal parties of this country TO the essential benefit that
is to result from the decided triumph of republican pn
cipes the aids that flow from their being subvcrt
ed by their adversares To prevent the latter result any
sacrifices should have been encountered and to
stiluents leave the task of dcvsing plan of
tanning the party, at the head of which, consider Mar
tin Van Buren, of New York. TO stand conspicuous with
the least possible sacrifice of principle The party will
be sustained by the elevation of that gentleman to the
Presidency, although Mr. Johnson, the other nominee of
the Baltimore Convention should moi be elevated the
Vice Presidency
May 10Th, 1885 y J. GARDEN.
account Brought Fortcard!
(Er0M TIE Enquirer If tic gLi May
liz House. DELEGATES,
Elected 10 friends of the Administration,
- 5O ............. Opposition.