Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-07-07
The Democratic Convention,


Eand-bills, come off on Saturday last, a,
the Court House. The attendance was
pretty good, counting unauthorized del
egates, Wings, and unin,erested specla-
tors; though several townships were re-
presented by one, and two delegates. and
one township (Columbia) had no repre-
sentative in the Convention at all. The
vacancy from that township it was NOV
ed should be filed by the appointment, of
ID. F. Gaylord, of Ottumwa, which was
very properly voted down. The next
motion was to adop, The two-,hird rule, on
the ground that there were SO many can
didates for the respective offices, that un-
less candidate could secure a two-,hirds
vote in the Convention, he would be
certain Of meeting with defeat a. the
polls. The proprie.y of this measure
was argued aft rmasively by Col. Lewis,
of Agency City, and negatively by Esq.
Poston and others, and was finally yo.
ted down. The Convention then pro-
ceeded to nominate Sheriff. The can
didases before the Convention were ID.
Ii. Michaels, Thomas Sinnamon, Jesse
Brookshire and Thomas Holmes. On
the fourth or fifth ballo, Mr.. Michaels, of
Green township was nominated by a
majority of one vote over Thomas Sim
namon, the other candidates having been
dropped by the Convention or with
drawn; and was on motion of Nimrod
Poston, declared the choice OF the Con-
ven'ion by "acclanation!" though we
are hardly satisfied that he was the
choice of the people, Mr.. M. as man
and citizen sustains fair reputation.
bu, as to his qualifications for the Office
to which he aspires we are not acquaint-
ed. Mr.. NJ. has been before the Dem.
ocratic party for Office long time, and
has succeeded in getting nomination,
but il remains 10 be seen whether the
people will endorse his claims at the
ballot box or not. Fur one we think
they will not.
The next move was 10 nominate
Treasurer and Collector, for which Office
there were five candidates, viz: A. J.
Redenbaugh. Lotion Gray, Larkin Pack
wood, James Cartwright and Richard
Taylor. On the first ballot Redenbaugh
led his competitors, but gradually los,
votes until the 9th ballot, when Pack
wood, Of Agency township, received a
majority of the votes Of the Convention,
anG was declared the nominee. And
one little matter we cannot for histor"'s
sake neglect here to mention. The
rule adopted in the beginning of the bal
lo,ing was that the candidate receiving
the lowest vote should be dropped on
each successive ballot; which rule was
followed until il come TO Pack woods
turn, bui he would neither withdraw nor
would his friends drop him. The con-
sequence was that Mr.. Gray, on sub
sequent ballot was dropped, when his
chances had been better than Pack woods,
which left the contest between the latter
gentleman and Redenbaugh. This course
may have pleased Mr.. P.'s friends but i.
did no. seem like justice TO Mr.. Gray,
or honorable according to the rule adopt
ed by the Convention. 1t is for them,
however, to settle and not with us.-
Mr.. p. is an entire stranger to US and
we presume is not generally known in
the county, and we cannot believe that
the people will discard the present eff
fcient Treasurer to make room for him.
A Mr.. Fowler, of Adams township
was nominated for Surveyor, and
Grigge, Of Agency City, for Coroner.
We never recollect of having attend
ed Convention where there was SO
much "noise and confusion" and SO lit
tie interchange of thought and harmoni-
Gus feeling. And we believe that the
Convention did not part in very good
humor, though the leaders. of course.
attempted TO pu. smiling appearance
on the outside of the matter. Whether
the voters of the county will rasify its
proceedings remains to be seen.
The Fourth
Passed off very quietly in this place.
The "rising generation" had dinner in
a grove below town, under the supervis-