Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-06-07
Democratic Congressional Com
- VentiOn. , ieasa y

A MS gatnerIDg oil the "unterrlned
came off at the Court House in this place
on the 3Oth of last month. After the
hurry aud hustle of organizing, appoint
ing committees, &C., was over, motion
was made to proceed TO the nomination
of candidate for Congress. Immedi-
ately an old Hunker, from Fairfield, who
it was generally understood, was the
special keeper of the HEM who was bus
| lily fluttering about for crunab, introdu-
ced resolution TO the effect that each
delegate should, when his name was
called, sing out the name of the person
he wished to vote for; anL that the per-
SON receiving a majority Of all the votes
should be the candidate.
| This took the Smith men by surprise.
Several made Simultaneous effort TO be
heard. Now came s'he tug of war"
Mr.. Shepherd, who was evidently in the
right, in effect told the Hem men that
the motion was contrary TO common u.s.
age, and the mover that he was a fool -
During this scene Of wrangling and
squabbling, Withdrawing amendments
and offering amendments and substitutes,
which was carried on for some time, and
it became evident that few leading men
in the convention had come "cut and
dried to nominate Hem at all hazards,
and that convention had been packed
/ for the purpose, Mr.. Shepherd, the fa-
ther-in-law of Mr.. Smith,-disgusted
with the low, cunning trickery that was
going on-jumped upon bench, and said
that he was authorized TO withdraw the
name of Mr.. Smith.
If any one had doubled before who the
Hem men were, glance over the as
sem5ly would have dispelled all doubt.
Some were modeslly smiling, the coun-
tenances OF others were lit'up with ex-
ulling satisfaction, while some land par
ticularly one "gimlet.eyed" old fellow
distorted their physiognomies by broad
exulting grin, as much as to say to Mr..
Smith and his friends-who behaved
with much decorum, fairness and nodes
ty, through the whole farce-"our pow
er has done this, and we want you to
know H."
1t was very evident that, by trickery
and name vering, the will of majority
of the rank and file Of the locofoco par
ty in the district had been defeated
And that while Dodge and his faction
had thrown the mantle upon Hem, they
had marked Mr.. Smith al doomed man.
We heard a very general observation in
the forenoon of the day thai the conven-
tion met, among Democrats, that they
| did not doubt but that Mr.. Smith was
the choice of the party in the district, but
that he uould not be nominated. Mr..
Smith, and every Democrat who wants
any Office, or TO run for any, in the State
or District, must secure the favor of
Dodge and few wire workers who bow
the knee to him, before they can succeed.
Who can point to man, with the ex-
cepiion Of Shepherd LETTER, in the loco
foco ranks in Iowa, who has ever risen,
until Dodge spoke the word and said rise.
LETTER triumphed over Caesar and bro't
him TO terms, while we were a Terrific
ry; and, at the pitched battle, where Mr..
Benton was brought before the conven-
ton as the Dodge candidate, Letter gave
him and his trained bands a Waterloo
defeat. Since that, Dodge has s.deemed
discretion the better part Of valor," and
is doubtless waiting favorable oppor-
tun:ty to take vengeance on his oppo-
nent.
Let the case Of Judge Wilson, Smith
and others be a warning, and teach Dem
ocra,s who would Use; the only influence
that will avail. To secure majority of
the Democrats is nothing. What does
Dodge and his wire pullers care for the
voters, who are never in majority in
the conventions. In the case of Wilson,
the entire district in which he lived,
north of the Iowa river, said Uilson;
but Dodge and his minions said "No,
sir, thus far shalt thou go, and no farther;
and here shall the waves of thy ambi
ton be stayed. Jones has been faithful
to me and mine. in small things, and I
will make him ruler over many cities"
Upon the withdrawal of Smith, Hem
was declared the choice Of the conven-
lion by exclamation! Soon a commit
mite Of two led him out. We had heard
good deal of Bernhart Hem and his
talents; and being almost strangers to
him mo avpoctad 10 l,o,r t, xrn a eraaob