The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-12-09

cured the nomination for myself that IN my opinion
my name instead OF giving any strength 10 the uess
would probably weaken IT, even In virginia. and 'ha'
was resolved, for other reasons, that wouid no' ~
cepi any such nomination; q did not stats thoss res
sons and il would be idle TO state them nowl Anu
therefore, l suggesied TO the COMMITTEES from Massa
chusets that il should return 10 its Deegauon anu
suggest them the propIiety of changing .ne'l
That Committee saw at once that was s'noe'e anu
decided and adopting my suggestion, immeda'eiy &c
tired
II soon appeaied. that my "deicacy had been
oyerstrained" but for a reason very different rom
that which you, gentlemen, have sopposeu. ne
voting proceeded in he absence OF the Commlee Ho"
Massachnsetts The several Committees from the
other DELEGATIONS that from Virginia excepted) acting
under asisuclions given before had said word on
The subject and therefore uninhuenced by my decln-
ing the nomination, announced In order as hey were
called the of their respective Delegations mol
another vote given for Me. "A majority OF the
whole number of votes and large majority too, was
given for the nomination of Mr.. Tyler. The other
votes were scattering IL was then suggested 10 me
Committees which had given the scattering votes, that
they should return 10 their delegations, report tue
state ofthe vote whereby Mr. Tyler already nomi.
mated and propose that their votes should also be
given for him. Those Committees retired 10 pursu
of this suggestion, consulted their delegations
and soon returning, gave Their votes also Tor Mr.
Tyler
1 then said, that as Mr.. Tyler was member oftbe
Virginia deles alton thought that delegation would
best consult hi feelings and his dignity, by withhold
ing their vote altogether, SO that the nomination
should be entirely the act of the other delegations
did not take this course because thought the Nrg-
mia delegation would hesitate TO concur in the nom-
nation on the contrary believed il would concur IN
it, and that willingly and promptly, My real and my
declared purpose was, now that Mr.. Tyler had re-
ceiyed the nomination, 10 place him before the eoun
try on the most elevated ground on which he could
stand.
The Committee rose and Gov. Owen reported TO
the Convention, that MIR. Tyler had been nominated
for the Office of Vice President, by the unanimous
votes of all the Delegations except that OF Virginia,
which had not voted at all And then stated pub
l.cly in the Convention, the same reasons tor with
holding the vote of the Virginia delegation, which
hal declared in the Committee; and this was done in
such manner not to dsparage Mr., Tyler by with
holding the Of the Virginia delegation, but TO ele
vate him This the real motive and purpose OF
my conduct and this, am sure, was its effect; for
which appeal to every surviving member of the con-
vention. The scene cannot have been forgotten.
Saying this, il is proper should add that MIR. Ty-
Ter would not have been my choice for the Wee Pre
sdency ifthe state of the vote for his nomination had
left me any choice My own wish was, that MIR.
Mangum, Of North Carolina, should be nominated;
il the Vice President should be selected from Vr
ginia my voice would have been for the nomination
Of James Barbour. expressed these sentiments to
the few gem lemen with whom had an opportunity
OF conversing on the subject. But had such OBJ
dissent from his nomination when found il agreeable
tho Of the delegations from the other States
and think this the general sentiment at the
time of the delegation from Virginia Icerlainly act
ed under the impression it was
have not, any more than you, approved the con-
duct of Mr. Tyler since his translation to the Pres-
dency in consequence Of The death Of Gen. Harrison
yet would not, therefore, have him dsparaged by an
erroneous view of the facts attending his nomination
much more, BY my silence, as to those facts.
Ii .o Les ~ hat yxh nn
Tyler was nominated for /" Vice President" by the
Harrisburg Convention, neither that body, nor, be-
leve any member Of IT, looked to the contingency
of his becoming President Of the United States by the
death Of General Harson-I acknowledge for my
SELF that that unhappy event never occurred to my
mind. doubt very much, whether, in any election
since the amendment Of the Consttut of the U.
States touching the Of electing the President
and Vice President, the Vice Presden, has been
selected with any view to the contingency OF his be-
coming President in consequence of the death of the
President elected by the People.
B. W. LEIGH.
Richmond Dec 3 IS4l