The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-08-12
CIT Y NE W s



THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY MEETINGS.
= On the 10th Of July last, the chairman called {
special meeting Of the General Committee, at Tam
many Hall, simply for the purpose of accepting tho
invitation Of tho Common Council. to attend the
funeral Of Mr.. Clay. The committee is composed o.
national democrats in large majority, yet few at.
tended this special meeting supposng that the bust
ness for which it was specially called, would DO up
propriateiy done. But, to the surprise Of the few
whs did attend, it was observed that every one Of
the barnburners were in attendanco-a fact which
had not occurred since the first meeting in January
After the special business was closed, the secret
came cut. Mr. John A. Kennedy rose, and pulled
from his pocket carefully digested plan for the
primary meetings preparatory to the elections in
November. He was supported by Mr.. L Shepard,
and every one Of the barnburners in all numbering
II. This call was warmly opposed by the national
democrats present, who insisted that il was unpre-
cedeuted, and unfair to the majority, who could
have had idea, that at specis meeting called to
DO honor to the memory of Mr.. Clay, such projec.
would be brought forward But every argument
was in yain-and the call was passed under the
pressure Of the previous question-l7 to 10.
This call introduced, anu sought to establish
three important alterations in the practice of he
democratic party In the first place, it ordered the
elections to be held between five and seven clock
In the evening In the second place, il disfauchsed
the ware committees, ana TOOK from them the ap-
pointment OF the inspectors and. in the third place,
It conferred that power upon the three delegates
from each ward to the General Committee
These departures from usage occasioned general
dissatisfaction through out the city, and every body
saw that this was one of the tricks aud manoeuvres
by which the bGrnbprners would be enabled 10 con-
troll the primary elections, and vest themselves
firmly II power, from the Mayor down. There was,
however, good reason Tor one Of the changes they
had introduced, that is, taking away from the
" xea kA ptn ,ftp
And tho reasons were these--n some Of the wards
there no ward committees, and in others there
were two ward committees, both claiming to be
regular; Ill some, the Pierce and King associations
had taken tie place OF the ward committees which
had been discontinued; ana in others the ward COM
mittees had been organized by a few designing
men, without notice to all the members, and they
assumed the control Of the ward, in defiance of its
citizens. These were cogent reasons, and were en-
tirely satisfactory to show that the barnburners
were right in refusing to authorize the ward COM
mittees to appoint the inspectors. But what sub
stitute did they propose and passl To whom did
they give this important power of appointing the
inspectors! To themselves. They decided that
the three delegates to the General Committee, from
each ward, OF rather two being majority Of three,
should exercise this valuable power. 1t was in
vain that the national democrats argued that this
course was uDprecedenteG-that it was a bold and
selfish usurpation, ana enabled two men from each
ward to control the politics Of tho ward, and per-
petuate their own power. Their arguments were
treated with c0ntempt-the previous question was
sprung-ard the cali was passed.
On the 9th OF August, the irst regular meeting
Of the committee was held, after this trick Of the
barburners, and by the decisive vote of thirty to
seventeen their call for the primary elections was
reversed and new one instituted. The latter diff
fers from the former in two particulars 1t restores
the old hours of holding the polls to and o'clock,
thus enabling the working classes 10 have some
thing to say in the matter: and il takes away the
appointment of Inspector from the three delegates
from each ward, and gives IT to the whole sixty
members of the committee. The barnburners had
proved conclusvoly that the ward committees
could not be intrusted with the power. The ma
ierity in the General Committee did not think that
il would be tsr, or democratic, to al.ow two of
the three delegates from each ward to exercise
power csBied TO the ward committee, and deter.
mined to pursue the only other course which was
left. Acting as the representatives. OF the entire do
moc-acy of the city, they appointed all the inspec
tsrf selecting frcm each ward of chlr acer and
truth, who would rece We the vote fairly and make
true returns And thus commenced the first move
mert towarcs the fororm OF primary meetings go
much needed.
Tno action Of the General Committee has met
with the universal expectation of all true democrats
who understand IT'S history and object; but the
barnburners growl considerably, and conceal the
real motive Of their opposition to it, by pretendinga
warm zeal for the rights OF ward committees, who,
they now pretend should ha,e been ao we'd to select
tho INSPECTORS They did not think so On the 10th
July, snc gave them very conclusive reasons against
it. Why, then, do they growl The question is
simply answered. Their call Of the 10Th July Sc
cured to them fifteen out Of the twenty wards, ir-
revscabiy. By allowing tSo on. Of the three dele
gatee to select tie inspectors, and by connips the
selection IRON among those who were elected in
spectoIs lset fail, ty had fifteen ont Of the twenty
wards; and. for al the good wbich democrats could
have achieved at The polls, they night we'll have
gone to seop from that moment Take, for instance,
the Twelfth ward. The delegates to the General
Committee are national democrats, but all the in
spectors elected last Year in that ward, without q
single exception, are baInbuTners; and 10 give to
n, he rlvn of sell orrd
by the call IF 10th July, simply to allow them
to se.ect among their enemies And so on though.
out tho city. lfaDy will take up the returns OF
the County Clerk, giving the names Of the elected
inspectors, and compare it with the list of the
General Con mttee, he will find that the boast Of
the secret organization hat they would carry fifteen
out Of thet~onty wards for Kelly for Mayor, Coch.
ran and Fowler for Counsel, AID Purser for Comp.
trolier, true. IL the General Committee had
not stepped forward and checked the trick this city
he'd been sold and delivered To men who have never
had the confidence Of our citizens, and have never
gained any political adv antagc except by man@uvrc