The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-04-18

cans OF the State were aroused by usupatons garng
and violations OF their wishes unqualified mass
convention OF democrats assembled at Herkmer on the
2oih october ls47, and, after declaring the views OF
those who composed II IN regard 10 great questions OF
principle Tepudated the action OF the Syracuse conven-
ton, declared its proceedings not binding on the demo
craiic party and called State convention to assemble al
ierkmer the 22d February, ls4s, TO choose thirty
delegates to represent the democracy OF the oe III the
national nominating convention. We do not stop to
discuss the propriety OF The action OF he tiekher con-
yenon but just those who participated IN IT, TO
state that action correctly.
II was a mass assemblage of democrats; not DEL
egated convention ltavowed principles dear the dem
ocrac party; nominated no ticket Tor the support OF
electors imposed dsqualfyng tests and the only
step which ii took touching party organization, the
call for State convention 10 which we have ad vert
ed The election followed, and the democratic par
~ we're overwhelmed in defeat far more disastrous than
they have before met Such the state of things
when the legislature assembled in November, 1s47 On
The 18th of that month, caucus of the democratic mem
bers convened under the call of the joint caucus
committee Thirteen senators and thirty nine members
OF assembly, comprising nearly the entire body of the
names The difficulties in the democratic party were
freely and kindly canvassed at this caucus. On The
hand, it was claimed that the Herkmer call for the
State convention proper and sufficient On the other
that the change in the mode OF choosing delegates pro-
posed at Syracuse would be adopted by the COMPRESSION
al districts; and that action ought TO be taken by the
caucus The discreet and prudent democrats, however
who members OF the Legislature, chose TO take
course which It was supposed would conciliatc all
interests, and disarm all opposition, They followed
le precedent Oh iSio anu, Dy an almost unanimous
vote. called the present convention. Instead OF call
ing convention absolutely to choose delegates, as
was done at Herkimer determining absolutely that
they should be chosen by congressional districts as
done at Syracuse they called This convention to choose
delegates to the national conventions determine how
they should be chosen. They wisely Judged that if the
Syracuse convention had faithfully reflected the popular
WILL majority OF delegates TO this convention would de-
ermne in favor OF the district SYSTEM if, the other
hand, majority of the democrats in the State desired
adhere the former practice, majority of this conven
ton would decide and that, in either event. every Sec
ton and interest in the democratic party that honestly in
tended TO be governed by the cardinal principle of sub
mission to the will OF majority, fairly and constitutions
ally expressed having once opportunity to be heard,
would quietly acquesce in the proposed arbitrament A
motion to substitute the time and place named in the Her.
kmer call rejected BY the caucus The convention
called at early day, that abundant time might
remain before the assembling of the national convention
TO choose delegates to it by districts, if the convention
Gus, equally full assembled under the call of the commit
tee, published in the Argus the 18th of December
following; effort was made at this to rescnd
the call previously made for this convention which failed
by almost unanimous vote, and the regular address
and resolutions reported by the committee appointed for
that purpose at the previous caucus were adopted after
warm discussion, BY vote OF twenty mine to seventeen
The address and resolutions were afterwards signed by
majority OF the democratic members of the and
sembly, and published
The present legislature assembled at Albany on the first
Monday OF January last and action has been taken
by the democratic members in regard 10 this SUBJECT
fair to infer that they approved OF the conduct of their
predecessors The call OF this convention acQuesced
in by those who advocated the Herkimer convention of
the 22d and that cOnveno has been formally and pub
lcly abandoned. We have therefore, every reason to
believe and do believe, know and declare that this con-
venton called in pursuance of established usage with
view to Cancellation and consultation truly represents no
section, clique, or personal interest," but the of pru
dent impartial intelligent, and dsinterested democrats of
New York. We have been thus particular in recalling
to your attention the usages of the democratic party AMI
thus minute in explaining the authority under which
act because we conceive OF audacity shame
less counteeing base, than that of those who
would, without warrant, and self constituted assume to
speak to or Tor you, as your representatives.
In proceeding to the discharge of the trust confded 10
OF determining how the delegates to represent you in
national convention ought to be selected we have re-
feed in the first instance to the previous of the
party These usages in subordnaton to principles con-
sttue the express law of the party, and adherence
them has well been termed the sheet anchor of its safety
They have carried the democracy through the ercest
ics often in victory, and always with honor We have,
therefore, supposed that you would not without good
depart from them We find, then. that your inva
rabe usage has been to select delegates TO national
vention by State convention This has been done from
the first national convention in 1892 to the last in Sll
and the State convention called in 1sl3 for the purpose
OF settling the question, under the full and mature DELHI
Grafton OF which we have spoken, embodying the first
ability to be found in your ranks and the most devoted
zeal, and presided over by the Hon VIM. l.. Marcy,
by vote OF 1903 to 49, to the conclusions embodied
in the following resolution
"Resored, That this convention have duly delberated
the question OF the proper and best mode Disappointing
the delegates from each State a national nominating con-
vcnton, and The number that each State houd DO entitled
land we,now the conclusion to which we
have arrived, with almost general unanimy, that be-
eve II most conormable 70 the principles OF the consitu
on aud most stent with the soundest doctrines of the
democratic party that each State should be entitled send
many delegates to the convention it has electoral
voes that each State ought appoint delegates in
such way and shall think proper and that for
other States well the State of New York MS
think the proper end manner appoint them by
districts, but by general ticket and by State
assembled as in such the democracy
may choose to organize their State convent Aud
offer constituents and the country these as some OF the
considerations for the conclusion have announced
jealous and just fear OF the consolidating tendencies of
eraism, which, in the administration OF the elder Adams
reused the republicans OF that pure period and has
mainta ned the pcinal of parties
the consolidating coniedeatlng character of the govern
To sustain its confederate character preserve the
rights OF the States and to Ortfy State action influence
all its constitutional functions has been the unchanged
believe that would violate that Creed and change that
practice choose delegates by districts, while the
chosen by raj ticket We think delegates to
nominate, ought be appointed by the role and in
the way are appointed the electors elect a
President. The President is chosen by general ticket
in each State, and each eecor votes tor the whole eeco
raj ticket, and the State gives her eeco
raj college for man In this State, tried the choice
of electors by districts; but after the first experiment
and il that the State Lost all much of it.
influence, it abandoned by general consent, and the
general ticket system adopted in its stead The nomna
ting is organized enable the people
else their constitutional in the choice of President
and all pnc pie and consistency indicate thar he
should be nominated he is electedcach State voting
instances Again: it is important to the democra cy of The
of should he kant in