Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1852-03-13
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR DATED
HARRISBURG, March 8, 1852

The late Convention held in this place, on
the 4.h inst, brought together an unusual
number of persons from various sections of
the State, among them number of promi.
nent democrats, from youthful aspiran,s 10
hoary headed sages, whose locks be,okened
three score years and ten. The friends of
Mr.. Buchanan having the power in their own
hands, were determined from the start, 10
WELD it exclusively for their own purposes,
without regard to the usages of the party or
the rights of the minority. The friends of
Gen. Cass gave timely notice to the friends
Of Mr.. Buchanan that they would not quietly
submi, in having their right TO select the del.
ega,es 10 the Baltimore Convention, by the
delegates from each Congressional district,
wrested from them. But some of Mr.. Buch.
anans friends, very indiscreetly, asserted on
the floor Of the Convention, that they had the
power and they intended TO use it, one of
them declared the only right Of the minority
was the right of being voted down. Such
feelings and such sentiments, publicly de-
clared, were no, well calculated to allay the
opposition of the friends Of Gen. Cass. There
were a nlmber of the Buchanan delegates
who disapproved of these summary acts, but
their voices were siihed by clamorous ma
jority. Had the delegates been selected by
Congressional districts, as had been the usage
for the last seventeen years, fonr districts
would have been represented by delegates
selected by the friends of Gen. Cass, under
instructions TO support Mr.. Buchanan. This
they would have done fairly But their
rights were entirely disregarded, and the re-
suit was protest signed by thirly-one mem
bers of the Convention, which will tell more
effectually against MIR. Buchanan, al the Bal
timore Convention, than if dozen out and
out Cass delegates had been sent 10 that DO.
dy. The Convention introduced another new
feature in the appointment Of Delegates
The anxiety and rivalry Of the different COM
peliors, for delegates and electors was SO
great that it was impossible 10 accommodate
more than a small fraction OF the expectants
and probably not one half who had labored
for the "fayoriie son" under the promise of
mission 10 Baltimore, were rewarded, In
order 10 make the distribution OF honors as
large as possible, it was resolved that dou-
BILE sci of delegates should be sent TO Balti-
more, each delegate having kind Of tender
or lay delegate TO accompany him, and TO
supply his place, should sickness or cham
paigne oveItake him. This | believe, has
been the custom of some OF the Southern
States, and certainly adds something more to
the aristocratic pomp and parade so congo
nial to southern chivalry, than The plain re-
publican rule heretofore praciised in Penn
sylvania Of sending but one, who is obliged
to do his own voting. Each pair of dele
gates, it is said must occupy one room and
perhaps one bed. Unless my friend, the
delegate from Lycoming, is endowed with
the somnolent qualities Of the seven sleepers,
he will have a hard time under the effects Of
the nocturnal music Of the Major, his col
league. The fifty four delegates of Penn
sylvauia, will have, Of course, but twenty.
seven votes, and will elect, from among their
numpet, Shaituap, VINO VIII cast 'ne en-
lire vote Of the delegation as the majority
may instruct him.
Who will say that Pennsylvania is not fast
progressing in refinement and civilization
under The benign influence of modern lead
er., and should her ''favorite son" be eleva-
ted TO the Chair, we nigh, probably be en-