Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-07-01
P O L I 7 I C A l..
Third Congressional District.

Third District We have taken no part in the
controversy, and wish to take none. We are
sorry such difficultie. should have arisen DUR
ing the pendency of the present important ma
tional election and so far as we are concerned,
feel no interest in the matter, other than to
give both parties fair opportunity for hear
ing in our columns.
A printed statement has been put IN clrcu-
lion by George B. Moore, Esq, purporting to
be .'report of the proceedings in the case of
the contested seat for the third" Congressional
t'disirict of Maine" in the Baltimore demo-
cratic National Convention, which we believe
is calculated to create division and disorgani-
zation in the democratic party in the district
In order to secure, if possible, the welfare and
harmony of the democracy of the district, we
deem it proper and necessary 10 present to the
people of the district plain statement of facts
in regard to the steps taken preliminary to9he
democratic convention of the third Congress
sional district, holden at Thomaston on the
25th of May last, and in regard 10 the pro-
ceedings of such convention and the proceed
ings at meeting of certain delegates in Jor-
dams hall in that town, out of which the con-
lest arose.
1t may be promised that the action of the
committee on credentials at the Baltimore Con-
vention, which is heralded by Mr.. Moore with
so much apparent satisfaction, however honest
and intelligent the members of it may have
been, can have very little influence on the
minds of the people of this district. The mem
bers of the committee, with one exception,
were from distant sections of the country, and
had the case presented to them in the hurry,
confusion and excitement incident to such oc-
casions, and as consequence could obtain but
an imperfect knowledge of the facts, and the
erroneous decision is not, therefore, so sur
prising as it otherwise would be.
The people of this district do not ask anv
foreign tribunal 10 sit in judgment upon their
proceedings. They will first investigate and
learn the facts and then decide for themselves.
TO suppose that their opinions and judgments
are to be controlled by the action of the COM
mlttee at Baltimore, situated as it was is an
insult to their intelligence. The only member
of the committee from this State and the one
who, it is presumed was most interested and
had the best opportunities TO learn the facts in
the case, was in favor of giving ]. G. Dcker-
son, Esq, his seat in the Convention.
Soon after the formation of the third con-
gressiona district by the last legislature, the
members from Waldo and a portion of the
members from Lincoln had a meeting and
made certain recommendations to the county
committees of Lincoln and Waldo, in regard to
convention of such district. The members
of lhe legislature did not undertake to cali
convention Or require the county committees TO
do SO. Their action was merely adcisory, and
was not regarded binding upon the commit
tees or the people of the district Subsequent
ly the chairman of the county committees had
some correspondence with view 10 agree upon
call for district convention. In accordance
with a suggestion of The chairman of the w al
do committee, proposition for call was
agreed upon at a meeting OF the Lincoln com-
mittee and forwarded to the Waldo committee
for concurrence or modification, and an answer
was requested. 1t was simply proposition
TO the Waldo committee, the Lincoln commit
tee all expressing themselves ready to adopt
any reasonable alterations or notifications
which might be suggested by the committee
from Waldo. The proposition was TO call a
convention on the State basis at Thomaston on
the 25th of May last, to choose delegate to
the Baltimore democratic convention, to uoml-
nate candidate for elector, 10 make arrange
ments for future conventions, and TO nominate
candidate for member of congress, or to de-
termine in what manner he should be nominat-
ed. Thomaston had been suggested by the
chairman of both committees, and was objected
TO by neither, and as to the time there did not
seem 10 be any difference of opnion. By the
above basis Lincoln would have been entitled
to ffty-three delegates and Waldo to forty
uine. No reply 10 this proposition was made
by the Waldo committee. The first intimation
10 the Lincoln committee that there had been
any action on the part of the Waldo committee
was an official call published in the Repnbli-
can Journal. This call differed from the prop
osition submitted by the Lincoln committee in
material parts. 1t was silent as to the nomi-
ration of member of Congress, and the basis
was entirely changed, giving to towns entitled
to send representative to the Legislature four
delegates each, and to classed towns two dele
gates each. The Lincoln committee felt that
they had been treated with an apparent want
of courtesy, but being very deslrous that the
action of the two committees should not con-
fict but be entirely harmonious, they over
looked the neglect and apparent want of cour-
tesy in the Waldo committee, and adopted their
call, that being deemed by the Lincoln commit
tee as the only alternative to calling separate
convention. The idea of having different ba-
sis in different parts of the same district never
occurred to them. The yielding and concilia-
tory course adopted by them was deemed the
only one which could secure harmony in the
convention then about to be called. 1t will be
perceived, therefore, that the Waldo committee
made and dictated the call for the convention,
except as to the nearly immaterial matters of
time and place, and the choice of delegate 10
the Baltimore convention and the nomination
oil candidate for an elector, which were
deemed matters Of course, without consulting
the Lincoln committee at ALL The height Of
the offence on the part of the Lincoln COM
miltee is that they yielded too much, and were
disposed to accept the terms offered bv the
Waldo committee and meet them not only half
way but actually upon their own ground.
Both committees had in this call denarted
from the recommendations Of the legislature
and the people subsequently, in the election Of
delegates under the call Of the committees also
dsregarded such recommendations. 1t is un-
necessary, therefore, to refer TO them again foi
they were superseded and repudialed by both
committees and the people of the district.
Under the call, as made by the two commit
tees on the above basis, the democracy of the
district proceeded TO elect their delegates. II
certain towns in Waldo delegate was chosen
but 1t was not in pursuance of the call, nor was
it as we believe by authority of a majority o
either cummittee, certainly not of the Linoolr
committee.
The delegates thus chosen assembled al
Thomaston, most of them arriving on the even
ing Of the 24th Of May. Early The next morn
ing notice for caucus of the Waldo dele