Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1855-11-24

gain that time was the first object, and squad
Of members, some in the interest OF Mr.. Cal
houu, slime protesting friendship to Mr.. Van
Buren, but secretly hostile to him, sat private
" in the Capitol, almost nightly, correspond
ihg with all paris Of the country to get the
convention postponed. All sorts of patriotic
motives were assigned for this desired postpone
ment, as that i, would be more convenient for
the delegates to aiiend-nearer TO the time OF
election-morc time for public opinion 10 ma
iure; and favorable TO deliberate decison.-
Bu, another devise was fallen upon to obtain
delay, the secret Of which was not pot into the
letters, nor con6ded 10 the body Of The nightly
committee. |, had so happened that the OPP
posiie pary--the Wbips--since the rout ofthe
Congress Presidential caucuses, had also taken
the same time and place for convensous-De-
cember and Batimore--and doubtless for The
same reason, that of the more Convenient at.
tending Of the Presidential. making members OF
Congress and this led to an Intrigue with the
whiqs, the knowledge Of whi.h was confined
10 a very few. Il was believed that the Dem
ocraiic convention could be III, more readily
put of il the Wings would do the like-and
do Il first.
There was a committee within the commit
iee--a little nest Of head managers-who I'M
deriook this collusivo arrangement with the
Wings. They proposed il to them, protesting
TO act in the interest Of Mr. Calhouns though
in fact against him as well as agains, Mr. Van
Buren, The Wings readily agreed to this Pio-
pOssl, because, being themselves then unani-
nous for MIR. Clay, il made no difference at
wha, time he should be nominated and believ-
ing thay could more easily defeat Mr.. Calhoun
than Mr.. Van Buren,, they preferred him for
an antagonist, They therefore agreed TO tho
delay, and both conventions were put of, land
the Wings first, 10 enable the Democrats to
plead ii,) from December, 1919, TO May, 1874.
Time for operation having now beer gained,
the night squad in the Capitol redoubled their
activity, to work upon the people. Letter wri-
tiers and newspapers were secured Good, easy
! members were piled with specious reasons
slippery ones were directly approached. Wis
iiors from the states were beset and indOctrin-
ated. Men were picked out 10 operate on Tho
selfish and caIeulating and myriads Of leiief'
were sent TO the states 10 editors and politicians
Ali these agents worked TO pattern, the pri
mary object being to undo public sentiment il
favor Of Mr.. Van Buren, and to manufacture
! one os,ensibly in favor Of Mr.. Calhoun, but ir
reality without being for him-ihey being 70
any one Of four, (Mr. Cass, Mr.. Buchanan
Colonel Johnson, Mr.. Tyler,) in preference 4
either Of them. They were for neither, an
the only difference was iha, Mr.. Calhoun be
! lieyed they were for him Mr.. Van Burel
} knew they were against him. They yrofesse
, friendship for him; and that was necessary .
, enable them 10 undermine him. The stress q
the argument against him was that be coul
not be elected, and The effort was to make goo
> shat assertion. Now OF never, was the wor
} with respect to Texas Some Of the squa
and scrip and 10 tsess sssI6ous & -s vas In
more palatable than Mr.. Van Buren. The
were both above plunder. Some wanted Office
and knew that neither ofihese gentlemen woul
give il TO them. They had difficult as wei
} as tortuous part to play. Protesting Democr;
, cy they coluded with Wings. Professin
, friendship to Mr.. Van Buren, they cooperate
with Mr.. Calhoun's friends TO defeat him. Co
: operating with Mr.. Calhopn's friends, they wer
against his election. Thep were for any bod
, in preference 10 either, and especially for me
. Of easy Compartments whose principles wer
: not eutrenched behind strong wills. To NJ
: do public sentiment in favor Of Mr.. Van Bure
/ was their labor; to get unpledged and unir
: sirucied delegates into convention, and to g,
those released who had been appointed unde
! instructions, was the consummalion Of the
g policy. A convention untrammelled by il
{ siructions, Independent Of the people and ope
7 to the Vaccinations Of few politicians, wa
|, what was wanted. The Efforts to accompls
0 these purposes were prodigious, aud consiitt
ted the absorbing nigh, and day work Of th
I members engaged in il. Aner all, they ha
9 but indifferent success-more with politician
. and editors than with the people. Mr.. Va
/, Buren was almost universally preferred. De
9 egetes were generally instructed to suppo
his nomination Even in the Souther
b states, in direct question between himse
b and Mr.. Calhoun, hn was preferred = .
: in the states Of Alabama and Mississippi
: No delegates were released from their Il
1 structions by any competent authority, and onl
few in any, by clusters Of local politician
e convenient TO the Vaccinations Of the Commi
"
4 mond, Virginia, where Mr. Richie, editor I
+ the Enqnirer, (whose prOclviiy to be deceive
b in a crisis was generally equivalent in is eife
: 10 positive treachery) led the way-himse
n impelled by others.
'f The labors Of the committee, though inten'
ed to be secret, and confined to small circl
a and chiefly carried on in the night, were subje
= to be discovered and were so and the disco
y cry led 70 some public denunciaiions II
e two senators from Ohio, Messrs William ALLIE
- and Tappan, and ten Of the Representative
. from that State, published card in the 0io
a newspaper, denouncing Il as conspiracy
e defeat the will Of the people. The whole de
C egaiion from South Carolina, Messrs McDuf
l. aud Kuger, senator's, and the seven represent
1t tves,) fearing that they might be suspected I
e account Of their friendship for Mr. Calhou
d published card denying all connection wi
i the committee !; an unnecessary precaulion,
q their characters were ab5,e that suspicion.
ri Many other members published cards denyil
> their participation in these meetings; and som
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