The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-05
From the Somerset (Pa.) Herald and tphig.
The Pennsylvania Convention.

In adjacent column will be found the proceed
ings at length Of our State Convention. The ut
most harmony appears to have prevailed, and the
almost unanimous vote by which General Scott
designated the choice of the Wings of the
Commonwealth for the Presidency augurs well for
the unity and harmony prevailing throughout the
ranks of the party. But while we have naught to
urge against this expression of opinion in favor of
General Scott-while we know that it is nothing
more than echo from the hearts of a vast major
ity Of the Wings of Pennsylvania-while we believe
that he was justly fairly, and equitably entitled to
this recommendation at the hands of the conven-
tion-we yet deem it duty conservative
members Of an cminently conservative party, and
in defence OF the rights Of the people, to protest
against an unwarrantcd and unprecedented as
sumption of power by the members Of this a. repre-
sentative body. In arrogating to themselves the
power to appoint representative delegates to the
National Convention. this body assumed and
exercised authority which was not delegated
to them by the people, and in so doing violat-
ed well known usage of the party. which we
at least not disposed TO submit to in silence,
particularly as that silence may be hereafter con-
strued into appreciation OF an innovation to be
quoted in the future q precedent. We had
prided ourselves heretofore on the fact that all at
tempts of this kind to west power from the hands
OF the people emanated only from that party which
elaine 70 be peculiarly the Democratic party Of the
country. But, siss the glory has departed from
U.s." and although some Z" good men and true
raised their voices against this patton of power
sost ", not even y ,%plac.n ION, given them ys.
be entered on the minutes OF the proceedings, TO
prevent this outrage (tor We can term II nothing
else) bsing heid ~ precedent in future convcn-
tons. On the contrary. an amended resolution TO
that e1bct WAS voted down, and the humiliating
spectacle is presented to the country Of the great
Wing party OF Pennsylvania, in convention assem-
minoritcs Of voice in representation. and thus
delivering them gagged, bound hand and foot, to
the tender mercies OF an all. powerful majority.
True 1t is that color is attempted TO be lent to
this proceeding by asserting that "some diversity
OF practice has existed in relation 10 the appoint
ment Of delegates TO the National Convention, come
districts having appointed delegates, and others
having referred the appointment to the conven-
tom" but surely a more transparent veil
never spread over an indecorous act. Could a ref
erence OF the appointments by portion of the dis
tricts confer upon the convention a power neither
vested In nor inherent - iH Docs the surrender OF
n right, the exercise OF which may not be valued
by some counties, justify denial Of that same
right to others who may value and esteem III
Surely not. IL the plea urged that the object was
TO secure a full delegation, which otherwise might
have been imperfect, and left the State bot partially
represented We reply. the part Of wisdom would
hrst have been TO ascertain the existence Of an evil
before a remedy was provided or IL the danger was
imminent, To provide for the contingency; but not
TO assume An improbability, and profess to meet
~ by the usurpation Of power in derogation OF the
rights OF others. Bot no apology can be offered
for fragrant outrage. IL is but a humlia-
ing copy Of the Jacobiuism Of the late Locofoco
Convention and we shame 10 say 1t, was not met
with the same firm opposition TO DIGESTION os was
displayed by the minority Of that body. IL IL this
assumption Of undocgaicd puwcr-this apparent
distrust Of the capacity Of the people for self
Rovcrnment-that is fact breaking in on the De
nocraiic com ervniism Of our institutions, and
sowing broadcast the seed whose harvest IL prey
nant with discord. We trust the people will at
nsoght tine attempt to remove the power from their
hands, by choosing their own representatives, and
I Al. =. - Il.
most valued Of rights In conclusion, that we ma y
be neither misundcrstood nor nisreprosented, we
distinctly assevcrse that opposition ia neither
20 General Scott nor to the delegate the convcn.
tion thought proper to appoint for ps, bot solely
and entirely TO this innovation on the heretofore
Acknowledged rights Of the people-this rcfusing
TO minoriues the right Of represeniation-in brief
this self suftcient srrogarion Of undclegated
power.