Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1853-05-21
For the ISouthern Standard.
The Democratic State Convention charged with
C0rruDtiOn,

of Col. Reuben Davis before the late Democratic
State Convention and cast the vote of Oktbbeha for
that gentleman each ballot for the responsible Of
fee which he aspred, feel called to say something
in answer to the many complaints and charges rife
among the people, least | should seem to occupy
false position. In the first place, there are none so
ignorant as to understand that the democratic par
y have, long since adopted the plan Of assembling in
Convention, or by way of derislon would say
Caucus, for the purpose of selecting from among the
members of the party, such individuals as majority
should prefer to fill such offices to be submit
ted to the people for their sufrages The history OF
every National State, District County Convention,
furnishes ample testimony that when assembled the
delegates have uniformly taken the responsibility of
Judging of the qualifications Cor if another term is
more appropriate the availability of each candidate
for nomination. and many are the instances of all as
pirants having been dropped and those who had not
sought nomination to be selected and most remar-
kabe it may appear, in almost every such instance,
the people, yes, the sovereign people ratified and cleo
ted the selections the simple ground received and
acknowledged among democrats, that the Offices be-
long to the people, and particular man. set
of men.
Now this practice of assembling in convention is
|
to be wrong then any one so judging of it, is contain
mated whenever he presents his claims to such body,
thereby participating in turptude which should not
be tolerated among freemen. If the practice reas
enable and fair then honorable men may justify, and
defend the SYSTEM and the most honorable, and chiv
arous may submit their pretentions to the scrutiny,
and decision of majority but after seeking the ad-
vantages attempted to be gained by the endorsement
NJ in
savours strongly of bad taste, than round
and cry Wolf! Wolf! the flock has been 1eeced,
and when too late, the discovery made, that there
is something rotten in Denmark''-when possibly if
the result different the terms of aduation would
be of the most extravagant order.
see the proceedings of an excited, and doubtless
to some of the prominent actors, quite an exciting
meeting at Houston, and now venture prediction,
that there is not man of that large assembly it is
styled, who can present sensible for such
citement, such extreme action. Can you, gentlemen!
What steps did you of Chickasaw take guard your
rights, counteract corruption, or management, by
: which your particular preferences might not be
spected! Did you even find man of your county to
feel sufficient interest in the prospects of any candid
ate who willing to make the journey to Jackson,
but by proxy place the fate of one about whom you
another county, who, to my knowledge, voted for Col
Davis each ballot, and who thereby bound himself,
and you aso to abide the action of the convention,
though their choice might fall on another.
But some of you say, and the public journal fyour
county reiterates the charge, that there corrup
ton. Did your proxy tell you so! apprehend not,
if not by what means have you ascertained the fact
Who does say his responsibility that there
was corruption If there be such one, he must
have been party to, cognzant of some foul bar
gain. If party, nothing is more evident, than that
suspicion should attach to his testimony, and if only
cognzant of the fact, not that his situation
is much better, he intended to reap all the profits of
the iniqutous scheme should it be successful, and
curse the actors if they failed
But, Mr.. Editor, must pass from the Chickasaw
meeting, for whose citizens entertain the highest
respect believing also that when all is explained and
the sting of disappointment is over they will conform
to the usages of the party and turn my attention
particularly to the action of the convention, and the
influences attributed to the defeat of Col Davis, and
first will state that do not believe there was any
thing like bargain, concert of action to defeat
COL Davis, do believe it done by the Jack
son clique as it is sometimes styled. My position in
the convention afforded ample opportunity to OBJ
serve the manner of voting by counties, and there
manifest want of concert, for while delegates
from the east south and votes for Davis or
the voting VivG UOc) in some of the northern
counties Barksdale received the vote, and in more
than instance the vote divided, even in this
congressional district, and will be recollected that
in instance, that the delegation of county from
north Mississippi was much opposed to Col. Davis,
that an attempt made to silence the voice of a
delegate who desired to cast his for Davis and
direct appeal made the chair and the decision
was, that the delegation settle the of their
county, but if they differed it was susceptible of d.
vision, and therefore the vote was divided and Col
Davis had the benefit of one vote.
4 From these facts, it is by no means, manifest that
entire harmony of opinion prevailed, even among
northern delegates. believe that any set of
men, having the experience and good sense known to
be possessed and half of the chicanery charged upon
the Jackson clique could have barganed for the NOM
nations and been so easily satisfied they
have been, especially when reflect that not mo-
theirs son of them got an appointment All! but
Capt Barksdale has brother associated in the Office
Of the Mississippan, and he worked the quill for the
Capt. Now in answer to that charge, let me refer
your numerous readers to Col Davis HIMSELF who win
tell you that COL ]. H. Elder, Of Madison county. Ca