Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1860-08-01
Letter from Mr.. Keim


Hon. r. HALDENAy SIR: Your cir
rnar, unsigned, duly reached me by mail
Presuming that il il were for sincere pur-
pose, you had forwarded it, ! sent il to
Harrisburg for recognition 1t was then
authenticated by your signature, and
herewith be pleased to receive my reply.
The srst resolution signed by II. n. Sib-
ley, temporary chairman at Washington,
after an insinuation that oil Democrats,
who may be opposed to his particular Or
ganization are secret enemies to the Con.
stituton and the Union, recommends TO
the several State Committees that they
take measures to secure the adoption OF
IN electoral ticket in their respective
States p 'elged to the unequivocal support
OF the nominees of the National Damo.
cratic Convention, Stephen A. Douglas
and lerschel V. johnson"
The second resolution, resolves "that if,
any State Committee shall omit to Ia Ike
the proper steps for securing such an cleo
toral ticket; then the menlbeY of this
Committee in that State is hereby author.
lied, either in conjunction with members
of tho State Committee or B, his own act,
to take such action as he may deem nee.
i
copy the resolution verbatim the italics
are mine. The conclusion of the circu-
lar is in the following unusual and unpre-
cedented style May beg that you will
be so kind as to reply before the Oath of
this month of July, whether your vote
will be cast for Stephen A. Douglas and
Herschel V. johnson, without compro.
mise, equivocation or change? Your fail.
nre TO reply by the date specified will be
considered as hostile to the Democratic
nominees" H..
presume the Sibley resolutions are in.
ircduccd in order to show ME that YOU
have some kind Of apology for the abrupt
inquiry whether my vote will be cast for
Douglas and johnson, "without compro-
mise, equivocaton or change" answer
emphaticallv, that 90 not recognize the
authority which assumes this inquisition-
al and arbitrary control over the Demo
cratic organization of the Commonwealth
Of Pennsylvania, and have yet to learn
that q peremptory request, couched in
language that in itself creates distrust, is
calculated to inspire either confidence in,
or regard for, the source from which it
comes. amof the opinion that neither
Messrs. Douglas and Johnson, moi Brecls-
inrdge and Lane, are regularly nomina,
ted candidates of the Democratic party
which party requires neither prefix nor
appendix to its name to designate its nao
tional character. That feature is stamped
upon its history, is founded upon its i'm
mutable principles, and will long survive
the miserable controversies and disputes
OF ofiice-hunters and mere politicians
which now temporarily obscure its glori.
Gus pathway.
The Front Street Theatre Convention.
which called itself the representative Of
the National Democratic party, cannot
claim regular nomination, because the
Charleston Convention had adopted a res
olution by large majority before its ad
Journment, that No one should be declar.
ed the nominee of the Convention until
he received in the Convention a vote
equal to two.thirds of all the electoral
colleges. This resolution was never re,
scinded, and Mr. Douglas never received
such a vote. Mr.. johnson has been Sc
lected by the Executive Committee of that
Convention 10 replace Mr.. Fitzpatrick.
who had not received such vote. The
two'third rule has been proved to be q good
one 10y long experience of its SOLITARY eff
ioots, and was enacted by successive Dem.
ocMuc National Conventions, TO prevent
the very evils which have come upon the
party in consequence of its nor enforce.
ment. Never having teen repealed [
am at a loss to understand the logic which
claims regular nomination for Messrs
Douglas and Johnson.
The Maryland Institute Convention.
which also claimed to be the representa-.
i've OF the National Democratic party,
demands its recognition upon alleged in.
justice to Democratic State delegations,
and its declaration of sound Democratic
principles. Although it was composed of
members from all the Democratic States,
its proceedings were equally irregular with
that of the Front Street Theatre.
In this lamentable position, when those
to whom the Democratic party of the
whole Union had confided the direction
Of affairs have proved themselves unable
to control politica, structure heretofore
magnificent and powerful, and thus failed
in giving it the force that should characs
terze it, look at home to our own State
organization for relief, and finding that
intact and perfect, have 70 occasion TO
consider the opinion of Mr.. Sibley and his
associates as of the least importance to
the well being of the Democracy of our
good old Commonwealth.
According to my understanding of the
custom and usages of the Democratic par
ty in Pennsylvania, when Democratic
State Convention adjourns sine die, having
appointed or made provision for the an.
pointment of the Executive Committee.
il confides the whole organization of the
party TO that Committee In any emer
geney they have full power to do what is
necessary. have no doubt if a candi-
date for Governor, Eleotor, or any other
State officer, died or declined so shortly
before an election that il would be inexS
pedient TO call convention, nomina-
ton made by such Committee to supply
the vacancy, would he entirely satisfacto.
ry and perfectly regular. .-.,i n
II is true that they can and generally
do decline so great responsibility, yet
the power to call conventions or supply
Iofciarciac raetc with thar, o.l