Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1860-08-01
Mr.. Welsh to Mr.. Vaux.

YORK, Pa, July 10th, 1860.
My DEAR SIR 81 have the honor to ac-
knowledge the receipt of your letter of
the 9th instant; which, however, it was
my privilege to see in the daily papers,
before you furnished me with a printed
copy. am glad you have adopted this
public method of answering my brief note,
as It enables me to lay before tn, people,
in the same manner, my reasons for ac-
ting with the majority of the Democratic
State Executive Committee ut its |; st
meeting. Had you contented yourself with
a simple refusal to aocede to the compro-
mise proposed by the State Committee.
| would have remained silent; but the
ground you have publicly taken, demands
from me respectful answer, in justiica-
ton OF myself to those who placed me in
the responsible position now occupy to-
wards the Democracy of Pennsylvania.
The public will look in vain throughout
your letter, for any tangible objection to
the proposed compromise, on the score Of
cxpediency, policy, Or principle The
one and only point in your communica>
tion, is, that the State Committee acted
without authority" The question of
jurisdiction is thus raised in your own
mind, and is promptly decided by YOUR
sell, without argument, in your own ia
vor.
Now, with all your political knowledge
and am willing TO concede TO YOU the
most enlarged experience and the highest
integrity OF purpose--I am afraid you hay G
failed to learn what, really, are the seer
tain specific duties" which belong to
State Committee. Certainly, | have no
wish to extend the powers of the one over
which have the honor to preside: nor
do desire 20 shield any action ofmy own,
under the broad and general tera,s OF the
resolution which authorized its appoint.
ment, and for which. believe, YOU cor
daily voted in the Reading Convention.
But take it, that State Committee is
fully competent" to act upon all ques-
ti1ns which involve the working mlchin-
cry OF the party for whose benefit 1t was
specially created as we'll as to arrange
and direct all the details OF organization,
and to propose and effectively carry out
all measures which tend to secure success
iul results in an impending struggle. -
Hence it Was that the National Executive
Committee appointed by the Democratic
Theatre, in the city of Baltimore, without
any other authority than the implied
power contained in the resolution which
created 1t, assumed the right to make
nomination for the Democracy Of the Un.
ion, when Benjamin Fitzpatrick declined
to accept the Vice Presidency on the tick.
ct with Stephen A. Douglas-and the
adoption Of the resolution, by the same
committee, in reference to the power of
It's members over Electoral tickets formed
by todies entirely separate and distinct
rom that which gave it political life, clear.
y shows that the gentlemen who compose
that organization have no very narrow or
contracted ideas of the authority and
specific duties" of an Executive Com.
mittee. ll Fl.Tw .. .1G HH sFE|
You say, in your letter, that ''the Read.
ing Convention gave no power to its Com.
mittee TO compromise the integrity of
Democratic principles, the Democratic or.
ganization or Democratic candidates. -
This is strictly true. But while ynur
premises are correct, your conclusions are
tallaclous. No torturing of language, no
ingenuity Of expression, can fasten such
an Interpretation upon the compromise
recommended by the State Committee.
Come, let US reason together, and see how
far The Committees resolutions bears you
out in the position you have thus yolun-
tarily assumed. ...- co.. ....
You, as a candidate for Elector, are but
the creature of the Reading Convention.
Equally so, is the State COMMITTEES. You
are both the offspring of the same parent.
Without any assumption of power on the
part OF either. it is your conjoined duty to
endeavor to arrange the machinery of the
State organization, so as TO make it most
potent and efficient against the forces of
the common enemy. He who fails in this
high duty is false ID the sacred trust re
posed in him by the Convention Thor>
oughly imbued with this feeling, major,
ity OF the State Committee resolved, if
possible, to propose some plan for united
action, which, if accepted, would enable
the Democracy of Pennsylvania TO assist
in the defeat of the Republican candi.
dates. The head and front of its Offend
ing hath this extent, no more.
lfyou carefully read the resolution of
the Committee, you will perceive that i!
only ''recommends" certain course of ao,
tion TO the Democracy OF Pennsylvania
and then authorizes" its Chairman to cor.
respond with the several Electors in re.
gard to the proposed basis of compromise.
Surely an Executive Committee has this
power, if it be vested with any at all-and
after an Affirmative or negative response
has been turned, by the Electors, to the
Committ-t, through its Chairman, that
body, at q subsequent meeting, will de-
termne ,@hat course is best 10 be pursued
for the welfare and in tegrity of the DEM
oerstio rsrty. Whether the Committee