Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1844-10-24
From the Baltimore American.
THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE BALTIMORE
-LOCoFOCO CONVENTION

4.
lately appeared. which discloses some curious
things. II is in the form of a letter from gen.
'tleman OF pennsylvania to another f.the same |
State. who desired some information as to the
singular course and action of the Convention in |
nominating man so little prominent as MIR. !
Polk. We'inier from the language of the letter
'that the writer was a member of the Convention.
lie appears to be entirely familiar with al, tho
secret Vaccinations and Schemes by which the
Southern leaders managed to accomplish all their
purposes; and his disgust a, the whole proceed
ing has alienaed him utterly from the suppor, Of
a nominee brought forward under such peculiar
circumstances. We quote some passages:
MIR. Van Buren, foresaw his inevitable defeat in
the Convention as early as February last: and
he accordingly prepared himself and his imme
diate friends for the event. lie had been Official
]y informed in the early part of this wear. that
the Democratic party In twenty-five GU, Of the
twenty-six States had appointed Delegates 10 the
Convention, to DO holden at Baltimore on the 9Th
'ot May, and that those delegates had either been
urinary instructed or recommended, to vote for
nam as the Democratic candidate for the Pres-
'uency. Mr.. Calhoun, sustained by President
Tyler, determined that Mr.. Van buren, should
not receive the support of the Southern and
south w esteIn States, and therefore introduced
."a' hfe.Diand, the Texas question, with know
the measure of Immediate Annexation and too
successfully enlisted the feelings of tho South
erners against him. Perceiving this intrigue.
and that several of the Southern States had re.
scinded their instructions to their delegates and
that this course would be pursued by others in
the West, MIR. Van Buren, determined that the
trap-setlers should fall into their own trap. He
accordingly despatched confidential and faith full
friend to The West, and the latter met at Cincn-
matt distinguished member OF The press who
n m fInnn of oC
Nlr. Van Buren,, on the 29th of March, and a le,-
ter was addressed to Mr.. Polk REQUESTING his
views regarding the Annexation of Texas and
oregon. Ihis friend took with him copy of
that letter, (the original being sent by mail went
TO MIR. Polk, and both gentlemen then consulted
General Jackson at the Hermitage where Mr..
FOLKS reply was arranged, but not furnished for
TWO or three weeks thereafter. | have reason to
beIieve, however, that General Jackson did not
entirely approve the game that was abou, TO be
played, and wrote to his New York friend fire.
4uently upon the subject. But it was settled by
MIR. an Buren, that he or Mr. Polk shOuM be the
nominee. With MIR. Polk, he knew the party
must be defeated; and this then was the alterna-
cherry.
Inc writer goes on TO speak of the state of
feeling at Baltimore and Washington about the
time OF the assembling OF the convention. The
impression generally among the delegates as they
arrived was that the adherents CT Mr.. Van Buren,
would probably be- able TO secure a new set of
rules Tor the government of the convention; a.
mong which would be one declaring tina, the can
dldate receiving majority of all the votes should
ne me candidate OF The party. 1t known
mat majority of the delegates were soemnly
pledged to use all honorable means TO secure Mr.
van burens nomination; and the first step would
certainty De 70 adopt the democratic principle of
the majority rule by which his nomination could
nave been ELECTED on the first ballot.
The following narrative is full of interest; it
may be found to be full of instruction, too:
Immediately after the arrival of some of the
southern Members on Saturday evening, thew re-
solved that Mr. Saunders, OF North Carolina
should be The leader OF the Southern Anti Van
buren, party In the Convention The game now
commenced; and the most important point was to
secure the vote OF some of the Van Buren, North
'ern delegates for The adoption Of the two.tbrds
rule. The Pennsy lvanians were attacked with a
degree OF generalship worthy of a better cause.
MIR. Hendricks Ii. Wright, of Penn, was select
ed by Mr.. Saunders to preside over the Conven-
ZION, because he was known TO be in favor of the
two-th'rdS rule, and his influence, as Chairman,
would determine the result Ii was known on
MONDAY morning that five members of the Penn
sylvania delegation would adhere TO the es,aJ-
iished rules OF former Conventions; and on Mon
Gay night the Tennessee delegation fell into the
measure, and being followed Tuesday morn
ing by seven more OF the Pennsy lyanians, the
death blow was given to Van Burenism
While the friends of Mr.. Van Buren, were busy
In marShaliIpg their forces against the disorpan-
2lng Southerners, the respective friends Of other
candidates were no less occupied in sratagems
against each other. The friends of Col johnson
were as Jealous OF the growing influence of Mr.
Glass; as were the friends of the latter anxious To
break down the former before the rage of the Van
Burenies. 1t finally assumed the character of a
cut throat game, each faction being determined TO
destroy the other. L have not deemtd il worth
while 10 speak of the Buchanauites because there
were really SO few, even among his friends, who
mentioned him with confidence in his popularity,
that there is little likelihood of his ever beinu Sc
Iiously considered by the party as a candidate for
the Presidency. Indeed, lis chance has, since
the nomination Of Dallas, forever passed.
The mastery manner in which Mr.. Saunders
conducted the incipient stages of the battle
proved him an able and skiiiul ,ac.;cian. The
Call Tor the Convention announced the hour of o.
pening at IL O'Clock on Monday. Mr.. Saunders,
with his watch carefully set TO time, arose on the
instant OF the first toll of The clock called the
Convention TO order, nominated MIR. WRIGHT as
chairman, and forthwith moved the adoption Of
the Rules and Regulations governing the Con-
yentlons of 1882 and I935-thus securing AN inn
portant basis for future action. Upon this reso.
luton an animated and Jealous discussion eDsued
principally between MesSrs. Saunders and Walk
er, on the part Of the Van Burenites, and Messrs.
Dutier ana hledary on the other part, which was
Continued with much aspeIity until half past II
on Tuesday, when Mr.. Saunders ascertained ,hat
a majority for the two-hirds rule could now be
relied on, and the debate was cut off by cries .of
question from the North Carolina GEORGIA and
Tennessee delegations, which quickly extended
10 other parts Of the Hall, and the vote BEING
pressed upon the Convention was carried Inv an
unex pected majority of 32-the delegations from
Massachusetts and Rhode Island having, by a