The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-09-18
TING LETTERS
New York Poiitics-Ths Democratic State
Convention.

OOuvent1ons
OUR cANANpAIGUA CORRESPONDENCE.
CAsANDAIGUA, September Is, 1851.
The HwSkers and their M,veme~ts Some considerable
Juggling Hsmker Concessions SAFE Of Principles
By the Barwbvs~s-Sp Splendid Tactics Of John Van
Bwes-Not altogether Ssocessft9-Dcfaa Of Beck
xay, of KiMiuhook- Important Pledge Of the Brn
bsxw1s-Soms Chance gel for CasS, prhaps-Ihe
BakimWe Convention Of ", aud its Probabi!sties-
Dsey-laid policy of John Fan Bnrn, Cagga +
Co-Misnts analysis Of The Hhod Business,
and the Resuhs-Vhat Neu
Pausing here for day, on my return from at
tendance upon the Democratic State Convention,
ss an observer. | thought would put Oh paper for
your widely circulated and Independent journal, q
fbw thoughts suggested by what saw and heard
there. IL was, in many respects, remarkable con-
yention and cannot fail 10 be the subject Of much
Speculation aud comment, in and beyond the STAG
of New York 1t closed its labors at half past
o'clock, this morning and it really appeared to
me, that from y clock the previous evening" when
the work Of nominations commenced, to the hour
OF D this morning, when they we're concluded the
proceedings were far moro like bear garden, than
those which should characterize q deliberatye as
eembly, consulting to promote the hghes; financial
and pecuniary interests of a great people Disor
der, uproariousness and confusion. were the order
Of the night. But to that ! am Indifferent, as re-
suits only are Of permanent interest. | have
no "Miss Nancy" objections to the manner in
which things are done, deeming j. of most
Importance in this respect that these engag ed
mould be suited with themselves. 30. there are
matters connected with the practical FACTS of that
convention, too curious interesting, mpor .ant, and
may say, remarkable, 20 Dc passed over in silence.
The democratic ard The whig conventions, both pre-
sent, in some respects, ordinary features and
extraordinary contrasts; and they viii be widely
commented On. Both derive their interes. from
the stirring events, which viii trsnspire in 1852,
and their bearing on those events.
The Democratic Convention, Of course, met os-
tensibly with the view to give berth to q ticket
which the democracy cold elect in November
But the first stage of labor, was a "bad preseata-
ton" As to its probable effect upon the health
and life of the child which was delivered Of that
.ssemblage, this morning will express no opinion
will content myself with recounting facts and
such suggestions in reference to them have arisen
u my mind.
The national democrats or hunkers, or Cas-
men. held Q preliminary caucus on Wednesday
morning, attended by about sixty.eight dele-
gstes-s decided majority of the convention
including Thomas B. Mitchell, Robert Halsey,
Of political caucusss, nscessitats rsi, is, tina.
each individual, so lar as the open and avowod OBJ
jects of that are concerned, is bound by the
decisions of the majority and that good faith re-
qures that they should be carried out. Otherwise,
a caucus would b. worse than farce. II was the
intention Of some Of the leading men Of that eau
Gus, to nominate Halsey for temporary Chairman of
the convention. Bat, when inquired of as 70 what
he would do, his answers were not deemed salts
factory, and they declined 10 support MIN. and no
minated Hon. Thomas i. Mitchell. Mr. Halsoy
was nominated b. others Halsey received II
votes and Mitchell al The rest, aud the nomination
was declared unanimous. IIalseys friends had done
their best TO secure bis nomination by the caucus;
they failed, as others had failed before them
Mitchelrs nomination was declared unanimous, and
al was supposed 70 be well. Bat what revola
tion was in store for these gentlemen Inlsss than
two hours after, IN convention, Lorenzo b. She.
pard (bsrnburner eandidate) received 81 votes
Thomas B. Mitchell, 81 votes and Robert Hal
sey 9 votes, for temporary chairman. II was like
clap Of thunder in a clear sky, to the ma.
jority of an hour before and In an In
slant, debauched and demoralized that con-
vention, past all possible redemption The
first act Of that convention, therefore. was q
triumph Of bad faith. The hfty.two votes for
Mitchell, and the nine FOR lIalsey--sixty- one in
allan hour before By ell the honor that can bad
politician, were pledged for Mitchell. Il Is i'm.
possible 10 escape from the imputa.ion Of puaic
faith. IL may be said that the delegates were not
bound to 60 into caucus that they were elected
by Independent eonstitnencies Granted. Taos.
zine men, aRl sOne who did net vote, could have
gone into the banbarler caucus, could have re-
fused to go into any, aud thcn have settled their
hair f.ks
But they did no. so elect. They voluntarily went
into The caucus, Nominated he caHd tate oil sheir
choice, got for him all the votes they could and 4
were beaten in al open and manly fight IL needed I
no resolution 70 bind them 90 the result OF that
contest. To non who would no. observe the
obligation Of iecn like these re solution on paper
or verbal resolution adopted pro forna. would be
much ~ the green wthes were on Samson. + an
aware that there are tncse who believe that 4" all
n fair IN politics. that honor, good faith, the 70
pudiation Of t1c demands Of riga., work no mis-
chievous results ] 90 TOT 70 believe Mr.. Magrtce
gave the convention. az subsequent period Dis
tinctly TO unicrstaHd that hc did not 20 believe
lie did not believe IL would work good results. ! ]
do noe believe !; will toiiovc, nOtrtlst lndng we
hear so much ABOUT political cOrruptoa-sot-
withstanding there Is much political cor
ruption-that honor, hdelity and good faith
oannst be sacrificed In political association,
~ II on this occasion, without producing
disastrous consequence. I believe toe lesson
Il will teach will DC striking one, snd tina. i5 the
reason shy speak Of the trArsaciion with 50 much
Particularly 30 far ii0m the effects OF that dclibc-
rate reputation OF the obligations Of plighted faith
terminating With the election Of Robert Haley,
temporary sno permanent Presldcn; OF that Con
venton, and the appointment Of a fcr committees,
those VINO take the trouble 10 trace eecGs 10 the
causes, will 6nl the footpros Of that act Of delibe
rate betrayal lesiey IMPRESSED on the history Of
the democracy "a New 1fk Tor l-Jl aud i-S2, aud
resulting IL anything but profit 10 their interests
The lesson vii teach plainly that the adage, 'honor
among thieves" is rot mote rhetorical phan,asy.
Good faith u the vital breath Of all associations OF
men. When tsat Is gonc vitality is gone. By the
deliberate treachcry of The obligations Of phi GIFTED
faith, the power 20 control results was changed
Fron that hour, the convention possessed only the
forms Of life
But how Was such n result brought about AMI
what purpose was subserved by 1t twas brought
about By Q sale By the bsrnburncrs Of al the prln
pes they professed ron the hour they ascendei the
II. n rfaa |