The Feliciana Democrat. (Clinton, La.) 1855-186?, 1857-06-06
TO THE DEMOCRACY or THE THIRD
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

SoNN a IL blDi
FELLOW. CITIZENS 1T has been indus'riouslv cir
cuated throughout this Congressional District. that
l had violated Democratic ueagce md principles III
the vote cast by me at the late Judicial election
that had voted against the regular nominee OF the
Democratic party for Judge Of the Eighth Judicial
District. OF the motives of those who 80 indusri-
ousy circulated this charge. it would not become me
to speak but justice to myself and Justice to the
great Democratic Party Of this District which has
honored me with ts confidence. demands of me an
unqualified denial Of the charge and vindicaton
of my course in the premises Here are the facts J;
Judge for yourselves:
Ii will be remembered, that a Conysntion an
nounccd to take place at Amite City. Oh the 25h day
Of February last, for the purpose of nominating u
candidate for Judge OF the Eighth District. Dele
gates to attend said Convention were appointed by
the four parishes composing the District but, owing
to some misunderstanding to the time of meeting,
only three parishes were represented towit; ST..
Tammany, Washington. aud st. llrcna--the dele.
gates from Washington being specially instructed to
vote for the nomination Of Martin @. Penn. The
Convention met and III settling the preliminary pro-
cecdngs for reasons which will bNome manifest to
the reader ~ he examines the facts. Mr. James L.
IIo-mcr n proxy delegate from 81. Tammany, was
admitted. although there were five other delegates
from said parish then IN attendance, and only two
votes TO cast There being but three delegates from
St. Helena and bnt two from Washington parish ia
attendance. ii will at orcc be perceived That. ~ a
per cdpia vote. the parish of st. Tammany which by
her Democratic vote was entitled to but two votes
in the Convention, actually controlled Its proceed
ings, and refused The application Of Mr.. Roual. TO
represent the parish Of Livingston. in face Of the
fact that Washington aud st. Helena parishes (Which
BY their Democratic vote, were entitled to xix votes
IN the Convcntion) voted to admit that gentleman.
This serahge proceeding WIS had in most approprI-
ate place (thc old Know-Nothng Lodgc) the doors
were closed aud locked aud The public not permit
ted TO see or hear what was going Thus screen
ed and shut ont from public scrutiny. thc undamem
tai principles and usage5 Of the Democratic party
were violated. Not only was the parish Of my resi-
dcncc refused voice in the Convention by rejecting
the application of Mr. Roual one OF its citizens. be-
cause he had expressed q preference for Mr. Penn.
but Mr.. Morrison, delegate from the same parish,
was in .\mitc City on the day of the Convention,
and, Ivy reason of its secret proceedings. was unable
70 attend. Two young and inexperienced men, WHO
had never before attended convention. were over
persuaded and induced 20 violate their Instructions:
and that too by men claiming to be Democrat
See certificate of James f. Wingleld. the President
of the meeting aud c. u. Strickland also. letter of
Alexander RUSSELL and the protest Of the Democracy
of Washington parish. This protest is signed by up
wards Of one hundred Democrats including the del
egacs from Washington parish; also. by every
living Democrat elected ~ Il Senator and Rcpresen-
tave. to any other Office in that parish, for the
last twenty years-such men as Vim. Brumield. A.
&. Bickham. q. r. Bailey, Richard Albrton, and
Hardy Richardson They claimed that Washington
and 81. Helena entitled 10 six votes was for Penn,
and that St Tainmany entitled to two votes was for
Bowie. The vote Of their parish fully sstans their
protest for Penn received $50 votes, Bowie 80 and
Wilson 30 votes, giving Penn, in that truly Demo-
cratic parish, an absolute majority over both the
other candidates; and that too, where all the facts
were known. II viii be rrcollected, too, that when
the proposition was made to declare Mr.. Bowie tho
nominee the delegates from st. Helena parish with
drew aud refused 10 acknowledge him as the nomi-
nee Thus we find, that in n District composed Of
three Democratic parishes. and one know-Nothing
parish. Nj. Bowie claimed to be the nominee, al
though opposed by three Democratic parishes. aud
supported by the know-Nothing parish alone When
1 lat homo tlin IF tpril had a full