The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-12-04
The Charleston Convention.
IErom the Cha rlesfOn Marcnrv

When Mr.. Calhoun the Dist day Of December, 1843
assigned his 10 his friends for refusing TO allow
hs to be presented for the Presidency TO the Demo-
cratic National Convention there democratic party
IN every State in the Union capable of dispung the as
Democratic Governor IL the ensuing year. was elected
in Massachusetts, Yet with this equipoise of par
ties throughout the Union, Mr. Calhoun condemned the
injustice Of States unable 70 give the democratic party
any but feeble support in the Presidential election,
having the power in the nomination Of the President
those who could without doubt, give him their
He speaks as follows
have laid the principle which the objection
With The limitation na he s relative weight Of the
s nns 81 the "a %
2 take the II party which fairly
Win those Witch have much wers aoDs he
be s it
s dei s
ssss may SsaS ssgyIss .s%sSy r
ssrs BY what reisvs party strength
Bates shon be deermined psrhars the best would their
so%n ss Principle sdzsa limitation FOR ae sake Of aoa
ss.d when over ooKed see no provision in The pro
posed Convention to meeth
is manfestly preposterous for those who have tho
power President to be governed in the choice
Of q candidate by those who have power. To meet
although mperfectly this injustice and absurdity, Mr.
venton should be allowed tho relative weight they
sessed by their members Of Congress- If this principle
Vermont Rhode Island, Connecticut and Iowa would be
ruled out the Conventonn0t having single democrat
representing them Congress- New York would have only
four and Pennsy three democratic votes proper
that is South Carolina, with her six votes, would out
weigh in the democratic Convention all the States
we have enumerated having no democratic representa-
tive in Congress and New York and Pennsylvania com
bined, saving vote. But as the Convention will bc
constituted these States will number eighty one votes and
South Carona elk in the Convention. The democrats of
these sates although powerless to give single vote to
the nominee Of the Charleston Convention, will not only
hayo no thev eyh
or the black republican party also in these States to nnu
ence the choice Of the Charleston Convention They
~ all the power Of those Substantially and majority
10 control its results.
In some measure to neuaze the gross injustice
apportonment Of party power, the rule adopted
in preceding National Convention assembled at Balt
more that the nomination of the President Vice Pres
dent should require vote of two thirds othe Convention
This rule, like all other rules is repeaabe by
jority of the Convenon but suppose that should exist
In the Charleston Convention, is dcmdnstrabe that in
the present condition of things thirds Of the delegates
In the Convention might control the nomination
without the ability, in their respective states, OF
giving q single vote for Its nominees. 1t is clear
that such state of things contem-
plated by those who first originated National Conventions
democratic party to select it's candidate for the Pres
den;y and Vice Presidency Of the United States Tho
Rress CT things has annihlated It,
Several presses Of the North (amongst them the NEW
York HERAID in view Of the manifest absurdity and In
justice Of regular Democratic Convention formed from
al States Of the Union to nominate candidates for the
party for the next Presidential election have suggested
TO the old Congressional system exploded
by General Jacksons election In 1923. This certainly
would be fair towards the South but will the North
yield it? Will New York and Pennsylvania at Washington
consent that South Carolina should have more power in
debating the nominee Of the party for the Presidency than
Ahe whole of New England and Pennsylvania, and
New York combned9 We do not suppose that these
Power yields to justice Such policy only
possible alternative Of necessity after the Southern
statesmen had positively refused to 10 60 into the Charles
Convention and the Charleston Convention shall DO
stone dead.