Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1860-06-06
General butler Gives am Account OF
his Stewardship.

ell. He gave tie following reasons for not
voting for Mr.. Douglas:
In New York there were fifteen votes op-
posed to Judge Douglas from first to last.
yet her thirty FIVE votes were cast for him on
every ballot. In Ohio six votes, in Indiana
FIVE votes, in Minnesota two votes, opposed to
him, yet by that rule cast for him, so that
the majority was more apparent than real
The Southern States generally acting without
direct instructions, by cunningly devised
resolution of the committee on organization,
were for the mostpart voting separately, SO
that all judge Douglas strength in the south
ern delegations substantially appeared. Now,
with the South opposed to Judge Douglas,
even TO a disruption of the party, with every
Democratic free State voting against him, with
two thirds of the delegations of the great
State of Pennsylvania against him. one half,
nearly. of New York hostile. New Jersey d.
vided, and the only State in New England,
| where the d emocracy can have much hope.
Connecticut nearly equally balanced, what
| was it the part of wisdom, for your delegate
to do? Should he. coming from State
| where there was no hope of Democratic
| vote, persistently endeavor to force upon the
Democratic States candidate distastcful to
them as shown by their votes, in so much so
that they we're ready to sunder all political
ties rather than submit to his nomination?
Where his preferences and yours for a given
| man to be insisted on at all hazards. He
| thought not, then-he thinks SO i'll.
For the reasons before stated 1 found
Judge Douglas nomination an impossibility
without disruption of the party and throw
ing away all chances of success You may
say this is a misfortune. Be it so. 1t is
fact upon which you and I, fellow Democrats,
must judge and act. / found majority of
the Democratic States uhalterably opposed to
him. '' lis true, tits pity, pity It's 'ts true"
found him in bitter feud with Demo
cratic administration, and without caring to
inquire which is to blame for it, such conflict
is not help TO Democratic votes In closely
contested election, especially when the De-
mocracy desire to carry the State of Penn
sylvania, where, to say the least, that admin
straiion has both prestige and power. l
found also that Judge Douglas was in Oppo-
sltion to almost the entire Democratic major
ity of the Senate of the United States. No
matter who is right who IS wroLg, 1t Is
not pleasant position for candidate of the
T Democratic party: i found him opposed by
a very large majority ofthe Democratic mem
bers of the House of Representatives. 1t is
doubtless all wong that this should be So,
yet it is so. / have heard that the sweetest
wine makes the sourest vinegar" but L never
heard of vinegar sour enough to make sweet
, wine Colo apathy and violent opposition
are not the prolific parent of votes. found
worse than all for a democratic candidate Cor
Presidency, that the Clerk of the Rcpubli-
: can House of Representatives was openly
2 quoted as saying that the influential paper
; controlled by him would either support Doug
los or Seward, thus making himself apparent
| II an unpleasant connecting link between
them.
With these facts before me and impress;ng
t upon me the conviction that the nomination
q of Judge Douglas could not be made with
=, any hope of safety to the Democratic party,
what was 1 to do? | tell you what did do,
and | am afraid it is not what | ought to have
S done. Yielding to your preference [ voted
: seven times for Judge Douglas, although nay
E judgment told me that my votes were worst
than useless, as they gave him an appearance
of strength in the Convention which felt be
Z. had not, in fact, in the Democratic party
, If this was an error it was your fault
| then looked around to throw my vote wher
at least it should mislead no one. l saw
b. statesman Of national fame and reputation
a | who had led his regiment to victory at Buen
4 Vista-a Democrat with whom l disagreed
in some things, but with whom l could &C
in most. Loving his country first, his section
next, but just to all, so that his endeavor L
the Senate of the United States. Massachu
setts Obtained her just dues deferred for fort
7, wears, of hundreds of thousands of dollars
a feat which none of her agents had bee
~ able heretofore to accomplish. Besides, hi
friends were not pressing his name before th
Convention, so that he was not partizan il
the personal strife then going on. l though
l. such a man deserved at least the poor CON
). pliment of vote from Massachusetts,, an
s. therefore threw my vote for Jefferson Dav
N of Mississippi, and l claim at least that vot
: was guided by Intelligence
lP Through series of ffty-seven balloting'
d, the voting did not materially change, and a
J. terwards almost by common consent, an az
o journement was carried, and we are to 60
= Baltimore on the 18th of June next to finii
:, our work.
IL Now, find am charged by those vi
z, have no business with it. with nisrepresel
ye ting my constituents, because did not Pc
!, sistently and stupidity continue voting f'
Douglas. If you love him more than Dem
cratic principles, then did misrepresent 70
If you re Douglas men and not Demoerai
: then have l offended. If you prefer the III
to the party, his defeat and your political
in. rather than success under some consery
tive National Democrat, then have offende
But if you cherish your principles first, yo
III party next, and men last-if you love yo
1 country, and are as patriots ready to lay 20
i personal preferences on the alter as peac
:. offerings to the genius of American Demo
~ racy-a sacrifice for the prosperity and glO
es of the Union-then you have been most IL
t ly and firmly. consistently and fully represt
l. ted by your delegate in the Charleston CO
g. vention.