The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1854-01-20
Correspondence OF the Cincinnati Gazeite.
Eighth OF January Convention ut
Columbus.
CoLrmBus, Jan. I

CoLrsBus, Jan. z, 1854
The grand annual pow-wow Of the DE
mo o,rscy" came of here to-day. II was
rich affair, but fear | have neither ability nor
time to do it justice.
The Convention was a pretty full one, and
wa. permanently organized By the sppoint-
ment of Judge Birchard President, aId the
usual number of Vice Presidents, aud Secreta-
lies. This honor was perhaps, intended to
compensate the ex-Supremc Judge for the
treatment ho received at the hands ofSpeaker
LIE Blond in the organization Of the Com
rnittees of the House, who had the Ineanness,
the ndecency, or the folly, to place young
man at the head of the Judiciary Committee,
whose legislative achievements and experien-
ce, in the past two years, whatever may be
his natural talents, certainly do not enttle
him to place on that committee above enc
who has served term upon the Supreme
Bench TO his own credit and the States. Yes
Mr.. O'Nei is Chairman of the Committee, e.
Judge Bichard occupies aa humble position
near lis tail.
The FIRST business Of general impor,ance,
which the Convention undertook, was the
nomination Of candidate for Supreme Judge
On the sixth ballot sheppard f. Norris, CT
Georgetown, Judge of the First District in
the Fifth Sub-Judicial District, was chosen.
His competitors were Elijah Backus Of
franklin, b. T. Metcalf of Auglaiz, l.. w.
Dali of Allen, G. w. Dcldcn OF Stark, and
]. L. Hanna of Morgan. The nominee is
said to be very respectable Judge Of the
Common Pleas, and his nomination, 80 far as
| could discover, was generally favored by
outsiders who were anxious to sec the
Supreme Bench Of our Statr, respected at
home and abroad. Judge Norris was nomi-
mated 10 ELL the vacancy on the Bench, caused
by TIE expiration Of Judge Corwin's term
The latter however, has rendered his resigna-
ton, to take effect at the expiration Of the
present term of the Court in Bank. Judge
Norris was nominated by the Convention to
fill the vacancy in the Bench, which would
otherwise exist after the October election
to which time the place will be filed by the
appointee of the Governor, Judge N. will
probably be that person, and may 90 ON the
Bench at once; and thus give the people in
some portions of the State at least, on oppor-
tunity Of becoming better acquainted with
his Judicial qualifications. Whether this will
be to his advantage, is problem for the
future to solve, not me.
For the Board OF Public Works the cun-
didatcs for nomination were, A. p. Miller,
the present incumbent; Medbury of Mahonmg
and Kinney of Montgomery. Miller was
nominated on the first ballot, having received
1913 votes to CT given for Kinny, and 25 for
Medbury. A strong feeling of Indignation is
growing up against the Board of Public
Works as at present organ .ed, and the belief
that it is thoroughly rotten and corrupt has
already implanted itself in great many
minds. The Governor, IN his Message,
recommends change in its management,
and shows that the Board of Public Works
are almcst wholly free from responsibility.
and having the exclusive control ofthe funds
which accrue from the Public Works, can
use .hem for illegal and corrupt purposes,
with perfect impunty. The Board is now
political monopoly which controls the party in
the State, setting up and putting down to
promote their own selfish purposes, regard
less of the public good or the interests Of the
party.
After the nominations were made the
names of the State Central Committee were
reported. $. $. Cox, OF the Statesman, was
one OF the persons named; but us it to let
that gentleman understand that his paper,
was no longer the organ OF the party in Ohio,
IL. S. Knapp, of the STATE Democrat, was
also nominated, and placed on the Committee,
by acclamatlon.
During the proceedings thus far there had
been u great teal of confusion and disorder
which made it nearly impossible to do busi-
ness intelligently. In this respect, it was
great contrast TO the last Eighth Of January
Convention, when the Delegates came to-
gether, flushed with great victory, full sor
&C d-humor, and easily managed Now there
were disputes about contested sents, an un-
easy aud quarrc lsome feeling conviction that |
corruption was at work, and would be success. |
iul and perhaps a looking forward to the |
proceedings which characterized the last
moments Of the Conventions; which all con
spred to make the Delegates restivo and
reckless, and to interrupt business.
The nomnations having been made, and
the Central Committee appointed, the Con-
yention was ready to fight over the platform, |
and the talest kind OF fight they had The
Enquirer Of your city, only the day before the
Convention met, had declared in favor of the
Baltimore Platform of 1882 The Hamilton
county delegation had come up here determi-
ned 10 force the Convention upon that al |
ready worm-ssten aud obsolete piece Of moon
shine joinery, and in this determination they
were cordially joined by ardent young
"Dsmocrats" from sections of the State
where the Freesol sentiment was weak
Democrats try hard to believe there is no
jewel in the crown Of Democracy so bright
and pure as its love md defence Of American
Slavery.
This school OF modern patriots, however,
proved TO be in a weak minority on the scom.
miltee on resolutions, aud its report. there.
fore, passed by the Baltimore Platform in
silence. aud after resolution OF approval Of
franklin Pierce, and another of Gov Medill,
re-adopted the resolutions Of the State Con-
vention Of last year. As soon as this report
was read, somebody got up ut a window In
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