The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1844-01-10
PEEP AT THE MACHINERY-THE ALA
BAMA CONVENTION

Al the late Democratic State Convention in
Alabama Mr.. Van Buren, was nominated as the
Presidential candidate by vote of sixty
10 fifty; and the Convention appointed delegates
from each Congressional District of the State 10
the Baltimore Convention, 10 sustain their nomi-
nation. Mr.. Calhoun was denied even the
compliment Of a vote as second choice of the
Convention his name being stricken out of a
resolution offered for ,hatpurpose, and the words
"m Isl available candidate" inserted instead
We learn from the Montgomery Advertise
that out Of nine counties wholly unrepresentet
>.in The Convention eight are known to be in ia
yor Of Mr.. Calhoun; SO that if the whole had
been represented according 10 the average Of
delegates present from each county, (ihree,)
the vote would have stood for Calhoun "a Van
Buren, TO-. Thus-eyen packed State Conven-
: ton barely and accidentally escaped having a
decided majority against the packers Of it; and
yet their delegates are to represent the opinions
OF the State in the Baltimore Convention This
is sample of what has been done openly, in
the face of the public, even since the atten-
lion of the country has been reused TO the
mode of selecting the delegates TO the Balt
more Convention, and we may there fore Judge
Of what was done before.
We copy from the Montgomery Advertiser
The following comments on the proceedings of
the Convention
g Neither do we find so much fault with the Con-
Venton because the ma ority undertook to nominate
two delegates for the State to the Baltimore Con
venon, though, for the reasons as those we
have given above, think it would have been wiser,
II they had left that nomination for future day,
when public opinion would have become more de-
cided in this State and full representation of every
county could be had When the vote of both wings
OF the party was close when out Of nine counties
unrepresented in that Convention eight are known to
be IN favor OF Mr. Calhoun, and when, BESIDES it is
considered that since the last State census the east
earn and southeastern counties (and those are CAL
noun countes) have increased much more in popula-
ton than any other part of the State and therefore,
according TO the present legislative ratio, were not
proportonaby represented, cannot but think such
nomination not only Liberal and ungenerous, but
also unjust.
II, however, the majority in that Convention had
been content with carrying their victory thus far and
no far her, perhaps We would not have complained.
We might have felt dissatisfied, but we would have
submitted in silence. But no-they were not con-
tent with exercising right which would have been
just, II based upon an actual positive and bona de
majority, but were dete Mined upon the strength of
present majority, however doubtful it might be
throughout the State, to avail themselves of OPP
portunity which they thought probably might not
cur again, and that, too, five long months before
these delegates would be required go Baltimore
and to exercise right which, under no crcum-
stances, unless expressly delegated to them, could
have belonged TO them. In fine, they under. ook to
elect delegate 10 the National Convention to be
held at Baltimore in May next, for this District
Here II is evident that these gentlemen forget every
principle OF Democracy. They undertook TO elect a
delegate for District that was not presenf-for gu,
OF nine counties of which this District is composed,
three only were represented. But they went
still far her, and elected delegate for District
the people of which said, in their primary meetings.
that they should not do Where, then, did
these gentlemen get the right 10 elect delegate
for this District? Did they receive it from any
meeting held in this District; If so, we should
like very much 10 learn where the meeting was
held who were present, and what resolutions were
passed at IT. Did they receive from the delegates
that went from this District No for these dele
gates were elected for different purpose and with
an expressed different understanding and therefore
could not have invested them with a power which
they themselves never received Where then, did
they receive this right; Not from the people of this
District it is evident Where did they find their au
thorlty for the exercise of such right? Not in the
principles Of Democracy it is equally evident Yet
these men very probably would feel hurt if any per-
son was to tell them that, in thus assuming TO them
selves power not only not delegated to them but
expressly forbidden they had violated the very first
principles Of Republicanism"
But the nominations made by this Conven-
ton do not prove its Van Burensm more clear
ly than some OF its other proceedings show what
the nature of Van Burensm is, and what sacri-
hces the People of the South must be prepared
10 make, in order 10 secure the blessing Of /" a
Northern man with Southern principles" They
required in fact, to surrender their own
-
modatIng opinions of the Northern man or, al
least, TO refrain from announcing their principles
IN bold and manly language, lest they should
compromise the standing and prospects of their
candidate in his own section of the country
All the concessions, temporary or permanent
must be on their side in the hope that. after tn e
election shall have been secured, the Northern
man will consent 10 reward their fidelity, by
putting in practice the Southern principles
which he is neither willing to proclaim openly
himself, nor can afford to permit them to pro-
claim
For instance, this Convention, instead OF
adopting resolutions expressing their own OPT.
mons, IN their own language, respecting the
greaI.ques'ions of national policy, take refuge in
The cautiously worded resolutions Of the Balri-
more Convention Of May, 1910, which they
quote and adopt, withou, any addition or modi-
tcation, under the title Of sthe Democratic
Platform" The only one of these resolution
which has any reference whatever to the policy
of a Protective Tariff is the following, in which
II is merely hinted at, without being plan,
mentioned:
Resolved, That justice and sound policy forbid tn,
feqeral Government 10 foster branch of indus
Try TO the deriment of another or cherish the in
'eres oil one portion TO the injury of another portion