The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-04-14
THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.

bile Register, and few other papers OF their
peculiar cast, 50 earnestly aud peTsesenngiy
contend hat the National Democratic Conven-
instead of the spring of 1874, aud that the vote
on the nomination for President MUST be taken
by States or by Delegations, and not per cap
ifa, in that Convention 2
These organs manifest teiLtaie tenac'iy
ugon the subject which, were they less known,
would be any thing but halterins 10 The hopes Of
union and harmony in The Democratic ranks
They do more--ihey assume to dictate terms.
and not only this, but boldly threaten rebellion
and, of consequence, the defeat Of the Demo
cracy, if those terms are not complied with
Among other articles upon this subject which
have been copied into the Globe, is one which
appeared ia that paper a week or two since
from the Mobile Register, endorsed by the
Globe as an deliberately written" and scare
fully considered editorial" The article relates
10 the late Democratic Convention in Virginia,
and the comments thereon Of the Charleston
Mercury.
| Without any design or idea Of defending or
adopting, or Conforming the positions OF the
Mercury, il may not be amiss, in combating
the doctrines of the Register, here TO remark,
that the editors Of the latter journal are both
New Yoik men. thoroughly imbued in what
has been called the "Albany Regency Tactics"
and devotedly attached, personally and POLITICAL
ly, 10 Mr.. Van Buren, In their editorial referred
to- they maintain, with no little obsiinacy, TO
say The least of j., that the contemplated Con-
venton should be held early as November
next, Notwithstanding the chosen organs of De-
mocracy in Tennessee, Kentucky, Maryland,
and Michigan, if not in other States, have
named the spring Of IA in preference they pro-
claim that "no other principle" in The manner
of voting than that which requires each State
delegation 10 cast its entire suffrage for single
candidate, "is just or likely TO be adopted" in
the Convenlon-and conclude with the follow
ing gratuitous and ill-timed threat:
of, then, we are told that this uniform and hith-
erto undisputed right Of separate action practiced by
| the Democracy OF the States for themselves must
cease at once, and they be subject 10 rule, in
the establishment Of which they were not allowed to
be consulted, and which they do not approve It is
easy foresee that the whole subject Of general
convention, with any hope OF acq,nescence by the
~,
and the consequences just easily to be fore
seen. 1t will not be difficult either, TO apporton the
responsibility rightly between those who make impos-
sible and inadmssible terms the conditions of their
continued support, and those who maintain just
self-respect, republican consistency of conduct
and conformity to the Constitution in repelling
1 this dictation."
Now, it would be well for the Democracy of
the whole country TO reflect upon this early
threat, and the circumstances under which il is
thrown out, and TO bear in mind the fact that
the faction" proclaimed in the extract to have
been uniformly adhered to- has nsver yet been
observed in any Of the National Democratic
Conventions hitherto held.
How was II in the Convention at Baltimore
in May, 1885, when Mr. Van Buren, was first
nominated for the Presidency Did the Dele
gates from each State represented first vote by
themselves, and then give the entire vote Of the
State 10 a single candidate for President or Vice
rIesuro,t ~ ~auoversy ouong
tb. Delegates on the subject Of the Presidency,
as all were il favor Of Mr.. Van Buren, but on
the question of the Vice Presidency there was
deep and long-conlinu, contention-and none
better than the editor of the Globe and Mr.
Benton know hoW the matter was finally dis
posed of-by prevailing upon Edmund Rucker
of Tennessee, who happened TO be in Wash
ington at the time GA b isiness, and not Dele
gate, TO 60 TO Baltimore and cast the fifteen
votes allowed to Tennessee State that had
no Delegates in the Convention-in favor Of the
Globes candidate!
The Delegates in that Convention voted per
capita, appointed most Of them were in a
most promiscuous manner and without regard
to Acknowledgements having some ninety re-
representatives., North Carolina very large num-
Der, and Pennsy lvauia two entire Delegations,
while Mr. Rucker, the pressed-in Delegate,
voted as the sovereign Democracy OF Tonnes
see
And how was it in the last Democratic Con-
vention at Baltimore, where no candidate for
Vice President was nomnaed7 Did the De-
egates vote by Ststes7 Had they so voted,
they could have nominated a candidate for the
Vice Presidency. But rather than do this, they
chose TO make no nomination for that Office
In the language Of the talented and amented
Grundy, on the occasion, they looked out for
the main chance; they wished to avoid a split
in the paryj they thought that if they could
get the head through the difficulty which sur
rounded them the tail would follow.
Every Democrat in the country, at all con-
versant with the matter, knows full well that
the principle, or course, laid down by the Mo
bile Register as having been uniformly followed
in the Democratic Conventions has no, been so
followed. Hence, then, il that PAPER and the
Globe, and others Of like stamp, now set up the
rule which they so tepaciously cling TO, as
sine qua non 10 the matter of securing harmony
in the deliberations Of the Convention, the De
mocracy of the whole country will very readily