The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-05-09
THE NATIONAL FEDERAL OFFICE-HOLD-
Frs CONVENTION.


Frs CONVENTION.
oWhen / see an Office holder interfering in cleo
lions 1t always me, he is thinking OF his sa-
larry or his bread "-Senator Grundy.
The Globe Of Thursday contained report Of
the proceedings Of this curious Convention, and
il opens with the following paragraphs:
In pursuance of the notice given the delegates to
this body precisely at twelve o'clock on Tuesday
morning in the hall of the Musical Association
Felix Grundy, Esq, called the Convention to order
and then moved that Governor Hill, of N Hampshirc
take the chair and that General Dix, OF New York,
be appointed Secretary pro tenn which was agreeut
On motion, the Rev. Mr.. Burke offered up prayer
10 the Throne Of Grace.
And whoi Felix Grundy, Esq mem
Der Of the United States Senate, receiving eight
dollars a day from the Federal Government
man who has been in Office since our memory
runneth not to the contrary. An ex-Attoney
General fresh from the Cabinet of the Federal
Executive man who desires, no doubt to die
in office, and secure many as possible to his
friends during his lifetime.
And who is Isaac Hill? Another ex-holder
of a variety Of Offices, State and Federal bound
in some way to pay the debt Of gratitude to those
who have given him profitable chance at the
public Treasury.
And who is General Dix?" Another ex-
ofice-holder, who would have remained in Office
if he had served the country as faithfully as he
served his party. The people of New York con-
demned him, and, by their fiat, he is numbered
among the er-Regency.
And who is the "Rep. Mr. Burke who offer
ed up prayer2 Another ofice-holder, post
master at Cincinnati, receiving his $4,000 per
annum, besides valuable perquistes.
And how many federal loco-foco members of
Congress formed part Of the squad Of 240 De
legates Whose names are given)? Thirty !!
What was the sum paid those thirty members
of Congress for the two days they served in the
Federal Convention, by the Government -Four
hundred and eighty dollars,
Who is Sheldon Mcknight, of Michigan
Postmaster at Detroit, with salary of 1900
per annum.
Who is John !. Mumford? Deputy Collector
Of the Port Of New York, with a salary of $500
per annum.
Who are John J. De Graf, Henry Vail, Dutee
]. Pearce and Ransom II. Gillett Ex-members
of Congress, rejected by the people, and the last
also an ex-Indan agent.
Who are S. Medary and Phineas Allen
Printers of the laws Of the U. S. by executive
appointment
Who is John Brown Francis? A loco foco
candidate for Governor Of Rhode Island, reject
ed by the people by 1900 majority
And who are the rest of this federal conven-
tion2 Many Of them are offce-holders-
some have been turned out of office, and the
rest are office-seekers, or are paying in service
for what they have had before.
And what is the character of this convention
for veracty2 Felix Grundy, its leader, abiding
TO Gen. Harrison, said:
"They have shut him up CT will not say in a cage,
but he might well be in one) and will not let him
have the of pen, ink and paper, while his
science keepers say that he shall neither speak
write and they will not do it for him"
" Mr.. Burke the Postmaster at Cincinnati is here,
and intend, before leave this place, to ask him to
state whether the Committee does not regularly at
tend their candidate to the post Office where he goes
for letters that he gets that not such
as they are willing that he should receive"
But they open all his letters for him, and where
there is nothing to be said in reply they them
though when there is, they will not answer them at
ALL"
Whether Mr. Burke undertook to corroborate
Mr. Grundy's assertion, does not appear in the
report But whether he did or not we under
take to contradict Mr. Grundy. We do not be-
leve there is line of truth in either of the
above quoted sentences. We are authorized to
state by gentleman living in Cincinnati, and
who is as old, or older, than Mr. Grundy, that it
is fagtious libel without any akin to truth
The gentleman to whom we allude, knows Gen.
Harrison WELL and has seen him at the Post-of-
fee, within the last few weeks, taking his own
letters from the Office and opening them as he
stood or walked at his leisure.
Mr. Grundy is peculiar in his figures of rheto-
ric In the beginning Of his speech he says,
"Ianl a peterdn in the cause Of democracy J;
I,pas born so and hare hired So" Born We
teran He must have been prodigy in his baby
hood A born veteran What pity he had not
been put in the cage" he talks about, and ex-
hibted for four pence halfpenny; children half
price.
But such was the character Of the Federal
Loco-foco National (Heaven save the mark y
Convention composed of oficeholders and expect
ants, appointed by scarcely an assembage of the
people, but Ruckerized, and paid and order
ed, to nominate candidates for the Presidency
and Vice Presidency. And what was the re-
suit? They either failed to accomplish the OBJ
ject for which they convened, or they have hea-
sonably conspired to cheat the people of the
United States out of their choice Of n Vice
President What have they done