The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-25
TO THE DEMOCRACY OF NEW YORK.

sezmrtees to exclusion Of tho people whom II
sumes to represent.
A few years ago the democrats of every ward were
allowed opportunity TO elect their delegates N
committees and convention
The duties the General Committee confined 70 tho
Of the general welfare OF the party carrying
into efficient execution the wishes of the people by aiding
IN the election of such candidates had been
by their representatives 1t had nothing with
ing nominations to office.
In evil hour, however certain bulles and rowdes
gathered together and introduced into the primary
Nsemblages by the same men who now chiefly control
the Council of Sachems for the purpose Of overawng the
honest but quiet democrat he up his
right of voting
These men, who had previously been but the paid hire
hngs for election day, became suddenly invested with po
tental power in carrying the primary elections. They
soon ascerained their strength and influence for
these purposes and instead of continuing their work for
ehers set up for themselves, demanding the lions SHARE
not only Of the conventions but of the nominations and
appointments 70 office The incorporation Of tins vicious
element into the party machinery the first blow at
Me integrity OF the party organization.
produced discomfort, corruption in eecting nomina-
ihem.
All attempts to conduct primary election peaceably
and fairly utterly failed.
The General Committee went through the mockery of
naming inspectors Of elections and fixing a time and
phce for the elections but SUPPOSED that anything
would come OF II, except rowdy fight and return OF
the men agreed upon in advance with certificate OF elec
on made up and signed anterior to the time of the cleo
ton Thus progressed the gradual destruction of all
honesty and ar dealing the mode Of presenting candi
dates for popular support, until 1856, when the Con-
solidated General Committee of that yek somewhat
amended the system, by adopting a mode Of election
which, upon its face, was exempt from of the lead
ing features heretofore existing. An election
held under the call Of that for General Committee
for 1857 This committee assembled at Tanmany Hail IN
January Of this year and elected Wilson Small chairman
The few contested seats disposed of in the usual
w.. a q
ffuental and respectable men had been at last obtained
70 whom could be safely entrusted the interests of the
party The OWL element, however, though almost
entirely excluded from the committee, still
active ontside of it, A cry was raised that
the Council Of sachems of Tammany Hall was
invoked TO eject the General Committee and 10 subs-
tnte another 10 be created by the Council Itself Through
some magical strategy known only TO the members Of
that secret society, this feat was accomplished Another
general committee formed. Edward Cooper
made ts chairman The regular coilmttee IN direct de-
scent from the consolidated committee Of 1880 (and the
only committee claiming its origin from tho peope would
not consent - be thus ignored continued It's sessions
sitting rcgulsrly in Tammany Hail. notwithstanding the
0dict Of the SacheIns OF St Tanimany
Thus matters stood until the approach OF the election,
when the nominations TO be made. The prospects
sf spols induced union Of the committees. Propositions
made and finally agreed TO, by which another con-
soidato1 effected. In this negotiation and arrange
ment little regard was paid 10 the people.
No reference appears have been paid to the principles
involved Offices Of magnitude were at stake and these
alone appeared TO be the governing consideration
Each committee cashered half OF It's
and constituted the combined halves the
for the balance Of the year, sitting under
The ridiculous Craftsmanship Of So men who alternately
performed that character; and for so doing no apology
offered TO the democracy thus tred with its sane
asked and its authority recognized Thus
general committees were made and anmado with little
consultation with tie people private citizen conducts
his private affairs in which ths public have no con-
Nor is this all This hydra headed and lllbegotten
child OF the Sachcms their TUTORS st pursuing tho
theory which gave BIRTH resolved operpotuaie rs own
defcrmod proportion by naming and boquoa,hing to It's
designated descendants is usurpcd authority.
That body has appointed Itself tho Democratic Republican
General Committee for 1853 II has reelected its
members with but few exceptons) TO the next general
committee, deprvng the democrats in the several wards
of the least opportunity TO have voice in the selection
No elections by the people ordered there any
pretence that elections have been held in which the
people have participated In any ward for delegates
general committee for 1858 The pretence heretofore
made that democrats could vote at their election has
been abandoned, and we have In s place open, fla
grant disregard OF the deccnces of the outward forms
Of election. Also the pretended enrolmens, by
Cations, not carried out attempted but In almost
every instance the present members OF the General Com
mee went into sly and made out the certificates
of their election In short, few men, without par
ucle OF democratic principles the slightest hold upon
the esteem and confidence Of the party named them
selves the next years committee and expect the people,
thus betrayed, 10 quietly submit.
Fellow democrats will you submit TO 30 gross m out
Yncef Who those men, that they should arrogate to
themselves this power2 Arc they not, in the main the
very persons who, not openly. did secretly aid IN
striking down the regular OF the party the
election for Mayer and Who though holding Office under
the democratic administration, consprng with the
mics of the administration and of the grea, democracy
which raised V official exstencef Shall such persons
be inrusted with the authority 70 sell out again,
when their interests or their preudiccs render expedcnp
Are interests safe In their hands1 We think not;
and fully imbuod with the importance Of immediate action
We have determined upon open aud manly effort 10
place in existence general committee for 1858 which
Shall be chosen by the people, with opportunity 10 ex
ercke their preference for deelegaes freely aud fairly IN
= mode oy which every man who votes the democratic
ticket shall be allowed bis voice. and that voice shall bo
fully recognized when the result Is canvassod. This
county contains noble body Of democratic The last cleo
ton shows that have forty thousand honest men,
who cannot be dupcd betrayed into political perndy
This forty thousand demand this action, and
hooking 10 some OF its own number more active than
Others perform and prepare the naory measures by
which the organization OF the party may be saved from all
destruction Each OF the fortyonc thousand demands
the privilege f he choose 10 exercise I'D of voting for
members of the ne~t general committee. let A. give
them the opportunity.
dvi,st we deem solemn duty the undcrslgned falling
back upon fret principles do call upon tho democrats
Of the several wards 20 elect IN The manner heretofore
designated, delegates 10 The General Committee OF 1855
and refuse 10 recognize any that body to which
We have alluded, and which VIC arc told intends 70 ASSUME
10 be such an organization
As tho people have no, bcon cal.ad upon tn chose
general committee tor the next year, now call upon
them do eoand when chosen On tho absence oi any
other b. ~ representing the nasscs), must and WIN be
recognized - the only general cominitiec dor'ying
authority lnwcr from The sovereign people and con
scauentiy author zrd 10 act.
We therefore recommend 70 the democratic republican
Of the city Of New York TO meet In their several
on Wednesday next 30h inst nj the place herein
ser designated and 10 elect between the hours Of W.
and O'Clock r NJ, five persons from each ward, who
together shall constitute the Democratic Republican Gene
vsi Committee for 1855 Also 10 elect, at the time
and place ave persons from each ward 10 constitute
Young Mems Democratic Republican General Committee
Tor the year 1858 Also 10 elect NJ the same time and
place, many persons the electors may deem expo
dent, not exceed hfty In each ward, 10 constitute
Ward Committee for the year 1883 That the said cleo
lions In each ward shall be conducted under the caro- OF
three inspectors herein named and certificate signed by
majority Of tho said inspectors shall be pd fact ov
dcncc of election.
That tho said delegates thus chosen 10 the General
committee shall constitute the Democratic Republican
Gener Committee for the year 1885, aud shall hold their
Mst meeting At Tammany Hall on Wednesday evening"
January o Tor the purpose Of party organization The
ward committees shall meet for organization at The
places OF election on Wednesday evening January o. 1881
No person shall be entitled TO vote al said primary cleo
tnns whose name Is not found the poll list a the late
muEcra election, and who did not At the said municipal