The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-09-14

VI WIG DcuiOCIdtc party, 'Htt cacu Niitt snouIu DC
entitled TO send many delsga 10 the Convention
as II has OF electoral votes that each State ought
appoint It's delegates in such way and manner az IT
snail thlnk proper and that for other States well
as The State Of New York think the proper way
and manner Is to appoint them, not by districts, but
by general ticket and by State Convention
semoled as we are, or IN such the Demo
eI5cy may choose to organize their State conventions
And we offer TO our constituents and the country
these as some OF The main considerations for the
clusion have announced The Democratic party
owes its existence aud success 10 that Jealous and
Just fear of the consolidating tendencies of Fede-
| ralism Which, in the administration Of the elder
| Adams reused the Republicans of that pure pc
rod aud has ever since maintained the perpet-
nal controversy OF parties as To the consoiida-
! ting or conedcratpg character oil the Covert
ment To sustain its confederate character, TO pre-
serve the rights of the States and to fortfy State
| ton aud influence in all its constitutional functions,
| has been the unchanged creed and uhyared practice
of the Democratic party. We believe that 1t would
violate that creed and change that practice v choose
delegates by districts while the electors are chosen D.
general ticket We think that delegates to nominate
ought TO b appointed by the same rule and IN Tho
same way as are appointed the electors to elect a
| President. The President is now chosen by general
ticket III each State, and each clector votes Tor me
whole electoral ticket and the State gives her entire
vote in the electoral college for one man In this
State, tried the choice Of electors by districts,
but, after the first experiment. and it that
the State lost all or much Of its influence, 1t
abandoned by common consent, and the general ticket
system adopted in ITS stead The nominating con-
yention organized to enable the people
their constitutional power in the choice OF President,
| and all prime pie and consistency seem TO indicate
that he should be nominated as he is electedby gem
cra ticket; each State voting by Itself aud for itself,
and with an undivided vote III both instances Again:
it is important to the Democracy Of the Union that
lie Democracy OF each State KpgA be she - AAs
ascendant and in union and Hurnory S<sefs~und It
is perhaps undeniabc, that party can be long per-
| manent and paramount IN the Union, unless II has
1 -. ,F, Stnfau I,
] Presidential question is the great eXct topic OF
the country and must be so continually. he smaller
States, by size numbers identity OF interest, ana
frequency of intercourse, will generally be united
in the choice preference OF candidates, and Would
usually choose the delegates by districts as by
general ticket But it is not so with the larger States
which the district system would throw into collisions
and dssensons, that would unsette and distract any
party within them. We do not believe that the De-
mocratc party could long maintain in any OF the
larger States under the district system, II the Fede-
raj party that State adopted the general-tcket sys-
| tenn. We are aware that a remarkable unanimity
pervades the Democracy OF this State at this Time, IN
reference to the choice of Mr. Van Buren, our can
didate and we believe that if the choice was to be
made by districts that not district in the State
would send delegate for any other man. But this
may again; and that unanmity renders
this the suitable occasion 10 settle the question
in the Stale Still more Objectionable does the dis
trict system appear TO us, from the probability that
many of the States can never be induced to adopt 1t
and they i'll haze, from that cause, undue adyan-
tage over the others IN every convention. Nor do
we why niajorties taken by States not well
taken as by districts. 1t is often the correct re-
suit; and the only mode known in the election Of
President by the people or the Siates-that not the
smallest objection to the district s1s N would arse
/ from the impracticabty of a rational conventions
integently, satisfactorily, seasonaby settling
| the questions of contested and double delegations,
which that system would produce and encourage;
and such some Of our reasons for prelerrlg 10
adhere to the general and united ticket system for
each State, most convenient, fair, equitable, haI-
monious, CONSTITUTIONAL and Democratic.
Resoired, That this convention, while it appreciates
the action taken by the Democratic members Of the
Legislature in the caucus held bythem in Albany in
Apr last 10 the time and place of holding the
Democratic National Convention, and as to the wish
of the Democracy of New York 10 have Martin Van
Buren, nominated by 1T, do at tins time, and in view
OF that concession and Cancellation which belong to
all political associations express our entire and will
ling concurrence to have that national convention
held at Baltimore on the 4h Monday Of May next
and III behalf of the Democracy of New York we do
appoint the thrtysix delegates for this State
tend the same and do not hesitate to engage the
support and fidelity OF the Democratic party IN tins
State the nominations which that convention shall
makc-most confidently assuring our political breth-
ren III other States that the Republicans Oh n. York
look to that convention ap! roprate and nghuul
political institution, to lmbody combine, harmonic,
and cnergizc the action Of the Democracy OF the
| Union 10 give vitality and victory 10 principles
and measures and TO regain that republican ascon-
dency IN the government Of the country, which So
large a majority of the people seem anxious to ac-
quire.
Resolrfd That as to the mode Of action which that
convention shall adopt believe hat that matter
can be safely and most wisely left TO the convention
itscli TO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT as The delegates TO 1t
will be selected in each State with reference TO the
sentiments and preferences Of the States TO its
choice OF candidates aud general management Of
such proceeding; that while States do and viii for
ever differ such subjects, such convention must
| be the only competent arbIter Of such differences
land sefcompeicnt each necessarily It be) to
| decide Ill such matters for itself; aud that If each
State sends the number Of delegates chat II has
Of electoral votes (and that Is conceded 10 be
the proper nunber) 1T IS not to he supposed that the
convention will adopt any form of action that will de-
feat or evade tie will Of majority Of the dcltgates;
be- ause the question whether they viii vote 10 nom'-
nate by States or by Individual votes; ard as, whcth-
/ or they will vote per capita or by Staics-aud d hy
States whether hy one vote 10 czech State, or by
many az has OF electoral vote, aud If by many
as It has Of electoral votes then whether they shall
be given by each delegate for himself or by majo-
ry of the State delof alton for the whole delegation
arc with all ether questions q organization, such
as arc be settled by the entire body Of delegates in
| votes gwen per capita-each man Tor hiuself-wc
| cannot imagine that any majority Of delegates VIII
ever consent TO yield their power in such ccnyen-
ton TO a minority, or to take any mode OF action
which VIII produce q different result from that ola
direct per capid vote. We are satisfied with the mode
and principle Of voting per capua, and approve II
more than any other; bot IN such matter there
may be circums stances at The time which make II con-
,enIent and desirable TO adopt another mode
leave that subject TO the discretion of delegates
confident that they VIII never surrender the right,
and power, and principle, that majority should con-
troll the action Of the convention.
Resoircd That, having expressed appreciation
of the holding of a national convention, appointed
our delegates to the same, and thereby assumed the
obligation of fidelity and support to the candidate Of
lis nomination. We would in tho name and behalf Of
the unanimous Democracy Of the State Of New York,
recommend our fellow.c citizen, Martin Van Buren, to
the consideration OF that convention. He is our first
choice for President and has been made so, not less
by his long and tried and approved services in public
life and his admitted qualifications than by the man
ncr of that defeat which he suffered in the overthrow
Of our party IN 1910. That our defeat as par
tv and not his failure as a candidate and believe