New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-10-28
PROTE STANTISN- FILLMORE-ERAS-
TUS BROOKS JUDGE MARSH
LETTER FROM CHAUNCEY sHAFFER.

question:
Mr.. Brooks SAYS he was not a member of the Ma
tiopal Council convened in Philadelphia last February
Inever said he was member of the National Coun-
ell. nor did mention that Council in my remark.
spoke only of National the Convention that nominated
Dir. Fillmore" which Convention was assembled at
PHILADELPHIA on the 22d Of last February and stated
that in that Convention which nominated Nr. Fillmore
the Protestant delegation from Louisiana was ex-
Guided and the Catholic delegation received; and
that Mr. Erastus Brooks then delegate at large from
this State voted for the exclusion OF the Protestant
6elepatiop and the admission of the Catholic delega
ton gave as my authority the statement of the Hon.
Judge Marsh President of the Convention mot Coun
Gil that nominated Mr.. Fillmore; which statement
made at a public meeting in this city about month
ago and was reported in The ". y. Erening Post
and was as follows
Judge Marsh was introduced by the President
with the RENT rk that he presided at the Convention
which nominated Mr. Fillmore, but had repented of
that act and now came to speak about the nomination
1.-The Judge, after reviewing the question at Issue
in this canvass, said his principal object was TO say
something Of the Philadelphia Convention Of the 18th
OF February. There were delegations from every
State in the Union. TIE southern delegations we're
full. The South selected their great men their strong
men, AID as they always do whom a smart game is to
be played the men VITO were most skilled in the man.
agenent Of political conventions These men came
there with fixed purpose, and that purpose was the
nomination of Willard Fillmore for the Presidency. A
discussion took place with regard to the yexed
question Of Slavery. 1t was carried on for two days
and night At one time ii appeared az If the friends
OF FRI coon would prevail
'Tlen the South rayed ard talked of leaving with
out making any nomination, and of diss Jlutiop and
some Of their members did leave. But it found
that with the aid of the New delegation they could
get majority Then they came back, and said that
they were willing TO Join with those to nominate
10 han had fboir ,l,o,.o
Willard Film ore, or nobody. The argument was
held out, that as the representative of great party
which put foreard their first candidate they ought
TO select who would not encounter pre- udice from
the people of aEy portion of the Union; that Fillmore
disked by vast numbers of the people of the
North; that be bad signed the Fugitive Slave Bill in
contradiction TO all his previous professions and which
cOntsped provisions exceedingly dstasteul and Justly
40 to Northern people especiaytha provision compel
ling in certain cases, TO become siave-catchers.
But they were ine1orabe. Fillmore was acceptable to
the South and they would have nobody else.
"When this became certain, the patriotism of the
North showed itself in way which, he said, could
never be forgotten. The intellect of the mon of the
East rose with the OCCASION, and they united in
solemn protest against the debasement Of party to
the epds Of Slavery. But all did not avail and moth
ing was left them but to withdraw which they did in
body. When the nomination made, the place of
the North nearly vacant. res button wa passed
TO allow any delegate to cast the entire vote of the
State, and few from the Free States had been per-
suaded TO stay PENNEY lvania, entitled TO q votes,
had five representatives and each of the States had
one or more to cart nominaly the vote Of the State.
1t was n mere Southern vancouver.
"A VoICE-How about the Louisiana delegq tions
"He replied that there were two delegations from
Louisiana, Protestant and the other Catholic.
After considerable deiberaon, the Catholic delegation
was admitted. This gave ofense to many, as the Prot
estaut delegation composed of prominent
high in public esteem, but especially a. this proceeding
violated of the great principles of the order that
of opposition To the Catholic religion.
4 4
receive them.
JUDGE MARsH-Yes Erastus Brooks voting to re.
ctive them.
"ExcIrrD FILLMORE MAS-In bet 5000 Erastus
Brooks didn't vote 10 receive them
Judge Marsh said that he would misrepresent no
man; that the of the delegation submitted to
a Committee that the Committee reported in favor of
the Catholics and that Erastus Brooks motion to
receive the report, votec in the affirmative.
1.-The Fillmore did not come forward.
"1te speaker went on TO say, that the delegation
admitted turned the scale in favor of Fillmore who
therefore Indebted TO the Louisiana Catholics for his
nomination.
The candidate for President being selected il be-
came necessary to look about for Vice-Presdent
And when Andrew jackson Donelson proposed by
the South as very good candidate the feelings of the
the North who yet remained revolted at the
thought and they rose s0d protested vehemenly
aga mt such a nomination. He could almost hear the
shrili voice of the Come 5cut freeman ringing with
ssch esnestness and power his conviction of right and
u
1.-THE Northern men felt their humiliation when this
Donelson-who had never opened his mouth but TO
Willy some OF the best men OF the day, and especially
Henry Clay whose admirers were now asked to sup
port this ticketmade his speech which consisted Alto
gether of euogies Slavery, its beauties its advan
iages aud especially ts convt nences 10 him, and who
took occasion the TO say that he had at home hun
dred n,ggers of bis own. This individual seemed to
take the ound in his speech that the first and last and
only proper qualification Of man for office 10 be
by I'M m aud
oil that subject.
"The speaker appealed to all who had heard him TO
ask the msey,s the question whether such nominations
had any claims upon them for support. He thought
that neither the Convention the nominees
such entitle them 10 any support whatever from
the North. After review of the Phlade.phia Repub
lican Convention be closed
Now, Judge Mash's statement has never been dis
proved, to my knowledge. l am also informed by
other delegates to the Convention, that Mr.. Erastus
Brooks did vote for the rejection of the Protestant dele
gaon and for the pton Of the Catholic delegation.
Last Saturday receiveda note from Mr.. Brooks,
informing me- be states in his paper to-day that he
Was not member Of the National Council and there
upon addressed to him thief GLOWING letter:
"NEw-lORK, Oct -, 1886.
" Hon ERAsTus EROoKs:
" | understand from the statement made by Mr..
EThraim f. Marsh. President of the Convention that
1t minated Mr. Fillmore (which statement was pub
hshed in The Ereuing POSI- and also from other per-
sons members of that Convention that two sets of
delegates from Louisiana presented themselves before
your ConreniioR for admission; that Committee
oIpointcd. who reported in favor Of receiving the
Calolc delegation and of reie cling the Protestant
deli CATION, and that you voted to confirm that report
Mr.. Marsh publicly stated the above in substance
at meeting in the Ninth or Sixteenth Ward in this
4 nj
ard having seen heard of 70 contradiction Of that
statement. have believed j. IN he true and have re-