Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-06-07

conventions, or meetings Of the domiaan,
party have had the same object its view.
Since the congressional caucus has been put
down, conventions Of delegates from the
People have been adopted, to effect the same
object. These are all acts Of the People,
which they, or portions Of them, be they
many or few, have right to do. The op-
position have pursued the same course.
They have had their State conventions, and
their national conventions, and their legis-
lative caucusses. Even the Tennessee
Legislature has recently nominated cam
didate for the Presidency. By what
authority, sir? Not in the discharge Of any
Legislative duty, certainly. No, sir, but Of
their own free will and accord. Sir, did
not eleven highly honorable and intelligent
gentlemen, members of Congress, all from
Tennessee, among them the honorable gen.
tleman himself, hold meeting, and recon.
mend candidate for the Presidency, and,
| do not doubt, honestly and sincerely?
Why, then, is 'the party" complained of
for doing that which they have right to do!
Mr.. BELL said that the eleven of the
Tennessee delegation, to which the gentle
man alluded, was meeting of so many
individuals, who met not 10 nominate Judge
White; they had no organization; they
had no chairman, no secretary; they kept
no minutes, they adopted no resolution
they published nothing; it was not intended
that any thing should be published; they
only met as SO many individuals to ascer-
tain the views of each other and all they
did was to devise the means and come to
some virtual resolutions to make their sup
port of Judge White as effective as pos
siblc.]
1t is true, sir, they had neither president
nor secretary, yet their object was the same.
They intended to nominate and recommend
a candidate for the Presidency, and did so,
and this is all the caucusses or conventions
do. | am not complaining of the act for
the gentlemen did what they had a right to
do. / only claim that the party with which
l act shall not be denounced by gentlemen
who have done the very same thing in ef-
feet, if not in form. The parapherualia of
president an! secretary does not alter the
object in view. Now, sir, whether eleven
gentlemen, however honorable and respect
able, or six hundred, have the greater right
to nominate candidate, leave to the
American People to decide. But it seems
the Baltimore Convention is the devoted
victim of every possible denmciation. The
recommendation Of the Baltimore Conven.
ton stands upon the same footing with all
other like meetings, dependent for the force
of its recommendation upon the character
and principles of the nominee. But, SIR,
how long has a Baltimore Convention and
its nominee been odious in the State of Ten
nessee? I find meeting was held in the
city of Nashville in 1882, in which the fol-
lowing resolutions were adopted in favor Of
a convention, and of Martin Van Buren,:
ave shall, in all probability, be resolving
to no useful purpose, were we to act alone,
and nominate candidate for Vice President,
without concert with our fellow-citizens OF
the other States Of the Union who maintain
the same opinions, and are inclined to the
same political course with ourselves. They
might disagree with US as to the man best
qualified to fill the station. Several. can
didates might be voted for at the polls, the
election devolve upon the Senate, and other
injurious consequences might follow"
"Resolved, That in selecting proper
person to be supported for the Office OF
Vice President at the next election, We con.
slider it wise and just to act iE concert with
our enov-citizens of the United States,
who approve Of the measures of the present
Administration, and who are friendly to the
election of our present Chief Maglstratei
and that we will not determine on candi-
date without seeking their aid and advice
in general conversion"
"Ifthere be one political evil which pre-
eminently aflicts the country, it is angry
contentious and divisions growing out of no
differences of opinion as regards principles
of national policy, but such as are based
upon personal considerations-likes and
dislikes of political aspirants. This evil
we desire to avoid.
awe desire TO aid in the elevation Of a
citizen to this office, who is honest, discreet,
and talented, (Mr. Van Buren, firm ofpur-
pose, experienced as statesman, and digni-
fled as man; who the country, not him.
sell, will serve; one who, by his past con:
duct, shall have proven that he will advocate
and sustain, if elected, the political doctrines
we profess"
These resolutions embrace all the reasons
upon which the Baltimore Convention was
called.
Another meeting was held at the same
place in 1885, in which the following re-
solutions against the Baltimore Convention
and Martin Van Buren,, were passed.
"ResoEred, That, in the opinion of this