The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-02-24

preme folly OF the Wno1e convention system.
The NIGER WoRsHIpPERs are in conelave ct
Pittsburg-a band of traitors, sowing the seeds
of dissolution, striving to weaken the bonds of
the federal Union, to array the North against
the South, to build up sectional prejudices, to
organize sectional party, and to show to all
theworld to what extent Of folly portions of our
people are willing to 60. The Hartford Con-
vention, compared with this Pittsburg hot
bed Of treason, was patriotic council; the
Pittsburg gathering is but mass Of I'm
leavened human passions and follies. 1t is
an aggregation of all that is troublesome and
wicked in our system the distur5ers OF the
peace and harmony of the Union, and, posi-
bly,, the test of its ability to execute justice
and maintain truth 1t is the soul OF auar-
cby because it seeks to undermine the consti-
tuition itself, which it avows to be "an immoral
compact 1t is Internal, because it strives to
array brother against brother, and to secure
permanent arrangement between the States.
It is dishonest, because it avoids or annuls the
obligations OF treaties, and substitutes in
their place its own partisan devices and disin-
fectants. 1t is. nevertheless, q convention
representing small fraction of the Northern
people-an the insane politicians, NiGGER
WoRsHIPPERs. traders, hucksters and baobling
humanitarians par erce9ieaes but it is . fraud
on the honest puolic sentiment of the country,
perversjon of its good faith, and libel on
the fair fame of the republic.
The Know Nothing Convention Of Philadel-
ph,a, and its transparent manGuvres to trim
ITS sails to the popular breeze--to construct a
platform to suit the sections, instead of the
constitutional steer by the caprcious de-
mands of geographical parties, rather than by
the chart of the federal Unions another evil
oence Of the chronic evils of the whole con-
vertion system If the people Of the United
States are not perversely oblivious to the fol-
lies and wickedness OF this system they will
not fail to set upon it the impress of utter
Reputation. 1t is useful at such time, to
contemplate the past, and it is especially we'll
to consider the origin OF the evil which has
grown to such unendurable proportions.
The project of nominating Presidential can
didates by Congressional caucus, which first
assumed definite form in 1908, expired, ia
fact, by meeting of siXby-six democratic
members and Senators out of about three
times that number in Congress, on the 18th
of February, 1924, by whom William
II. Crawford was nominated for President and
Albert GalIatin for Vice President. 1t is a
noteworthy fact that Martin Van Buren, was
present at this caucus, avowjng it to be q
meeting of individuals to express individual
opinions. Previous to balloting, Mr.. Van Blu
rem addressed the members, maintaining that it
was a legitimate and proper mode of concen-
trating public opinion, and of securing unity
of action by the democratic party. The great
mass of the democracy had utterly repudiated
the caucus as an unwarrantable usurpation of
the rights of the people, and practical denial
of their right to choose their President and
Vice President. The State Of Alabama had,
by q resolution of her Legislature, denounced
the caucus, and recommended General jackson
for President; and there was growing senti-
ment all over the South and West that he was
the fttest man in the Union to preside over
public affairs 1t is remarkable to note that
the popularity of Old Hickory was at once the
means of breaking down and of building up
the caucus and convention system. 1t is need
less to say that the meeting of the l4th of Fe-
bruary was little regarded, and that the cleo
ton of President devolved on the House, and
resulted in the promotion Of Mr.. Adams.
Four years afterwards, under an entirely
new combination, Mr.. Clay and Mr.. Adams
having been driven into the federal ranks, and
the lines Of party having been drawn closely
oil fba ~
General JAG kson was presented by national
convention, the members of which were elected
by the people. This was the Van Buren, and
Marcy substitute for the old Congressional eau
Gus. The two latter personages, by the re-or-
ganization Of parties made in 1927, by which
Mr.. Calhoun, then Vice President, was to be
sacrificed, became the friends of Gen. Jackson,
who thus allowed himself to be the instrument
in fastening upon the country the most tyran-
nical and aristocratic institution which has
ever found favor with free people.
This was the sacrifice which General Jack
son was required to make in order to procure
promotion to the Presidency. In fact it was
treaty between q Presidential aspirant and
the politicians, by which the former agreed
that the latter should control and dispense the
patronage of the government. Under the old
Congressional caucus, the members of the tn,
houses enjoyed the exclusive control of the
President as his actual constituents. This
was trife more than the politicians bargained
for; SO the Van Buren, scheme of national COZ
ventions, based upon the deceptive and frau.
dulent presumption Of popular control, was
substituted in its place. By this means and
through this medium all the loud-mouthed and
noisy political gsmesters in the country
leagued together and organized a party, with
fixed statutes imposing pains and penalties for
the slightest infrsction Of its laws. Francis P.
Blair was imported shortly after from Ken.
lucky, and Amos Kendall bitter partizan,