The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1862-08-27
Correspondence.

WEST UNION, August 2lst.
Editors Times Thinking that your
readers may feel some it'll. interest in the
late Democratic Convention held at West
Union on the Goth inst, will give you a
brief report Of the result and what trans
pired.
1t is needless to say that the Democracy
were out in force. Most of the delegates
arrived on the evening of the 10th and
there was fair pr respect of harmonious
time. From the appearance of the delcga.
tons from the different counties and from
the conversation Of the members, they
were apparently Of the conservative stripe.
But on the n orning Of the Goth, the COM
plexion of affairs was changed. The Du-
buque delegation had arrived during the
night, and were in full force 81 strong, firm,
defiant and determined on nominating their
man for Congress, Mr.. Mahoney, of Dubu-
que, for the purpose as they declared of
endorsing the Herald and rebuking the Id.
min istratisn."
The delegates from Dubuque, Delaware,
and Buchanan, As strong, were to man for
Mahoney. Fifty three votes nominated,-
therefore if in the balance of the District
there could be found eight delegates who
could be persuaded to cast their votes for
Mahoney his nomination was sure. 1t was
reported that a committee of conference of
one delegate from each county was held for
the purpose Of comparing opinions and
securing unanimity Of sentiment, but no
compromise could be made. The other two
prominent candidates were Ainsworth, of
Fayette, and Gray, Of Allamakee. The
friends Of those two gentlemen were for
any body, but Mahoney. The friends of
Mahoney were for him or nobody. In the
conference committee, they are reported to
have asserted that they preferred Mahonsy
with sure defeat-to either Gray or Aims
worth with probable victory.
The Anti Mahoney men reasoned that as
Mahoncy was under arrest, it was not po-
Icy to put him in nomination whether in
noccnt or guilty Of the charge against him,
that it looked like a menace to the gov
eminent and desire to render the Demo-
cratic party accessory to whatever might
be proven against Mahoney in the end;
that his nomination would embarrass the
party when it needed its whole strength;
that it was not right to call upon the party
to endorse any one man, but rather to aim
at success in the contest, but all those ar
gumcnts fell powcrless on the Dubuquers
They were told that the nomination of
Mahoney would nouseate nine t>nths of the
Democrats outside Of the Herald influence,
and destroy all hope Of carrying a single
county, except Dubuque. Under those
considerations it was reasoned that it was
the hight Of folly to urge his nomination.
When the Convention was called, Scnc-
ca Topper, Esq, Of DEBORAH was elected
President Of the Convention, which place
he filled with signal ability and fairness
After much preliminary skirmishing in
which the Dubuque delegation seemed dis
posed to gain technical advantage, the
Convention was called to cast an informal
vote for candidates. The Ainsworth men
had united on Gray and the result stood
Gray 52s, Mahoncy 51b. Formal ballot,
Gray SIS, Mahoncy 52t. 1t was charged
by the Allamakee delegation that seve,
raj Of their delegates who came into the
Convention pledged to vote for Gray, aban-
doned him under the pressure brought to
bear on them by the Mahoncyitcs, hence
the unexpected result Clayton county
stood Gray Is, Mahoncy1.
At the result Of the last vote shout of
trump went up from the XaAoneyites and
a scowl stole over the cruntenances Of the
Antis, while amid grand confusion mo-
ton to adjourn was put on which the ayes
and noes were about, equally divided, but
the ayes considered it carried and skeladdled
forthwith from the hail. The President
tarred for the purpose Of transacting the
unfinished business and soon declared the
Convention adjourned sine die.
Such was the Convention as it appeared
to mere "looker on in Venice" What
occurred in the more secret conclave of the
different cliques, of course your cores
pendent can not tell-to us outsiders it was
grand display of ground and lofty political
tumbling.
Whether Mahoney will accept the nomi-
nation under the circumstances can not be
told until he is heard from in his retreat
His friends desired to get him endorsed, but
the result will prove rathera rebuke than
otherwise. His friends like the bear in
the fable have killed him with kindness.
Yours in haste, FAyETTE.