The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-09-17

the Convention Was, IN 1850. opposed to the
Democratic party, being then "Breckin-
ridge Democrat" and now. still consistent
with himself, . "Psace Democrat" and
openly and avowedly opposed to the war
for any and every purpose. and whose biz
terness in the denunciation Of every act of
the Administration. is only equalled by that
which he and his associates heaped on the
Patriot Douglas in 1860. The Presfdent in
this instsnce. as in most Conventions, was
the representative of the views of . controll-
ing majority Of the body, as was abundant.
ly shown by the speeches Of ofdelegates made
both out Of and in the Convention.
One ether fact in connection with the con
veutiou, shows the unsnimity of sentiment
Of hostility to the Government. despite the
difference ofprefsrences for candidates, and
that is, that the commirtec on Resolutions,
although majority were in favor Of the
nomina,ian Of Gen. Tuttle, yet with perfect
unanimi,y, they reported platform consis-
tent with the views Of their President. and
identical in sentiment with the platform
which the convicted and exiled Traitor VAL
landigham Of Ohio, stands upon and ap.
proves.
After the Convention had adopted the
pla tform. there arose bitter strife botwsen
the friends Of the candidates for nomina-
tion-Le Grand Byington and General Tut
tle-the former being recognized a. the
most open, persistent and bitter opponsn Mt
in the State. Of the war, the Administra-
ton and the Government; the latter being
alike recognised as the gallant leader Of the
'bravest of the brave" at Donelson. The
friends of Byingt' u denounced General Tut
tie for being engaged in the war, and de-.
cIared he was guilty Of having "imbrusd his
hands in the blood of our brethren of the
South" and that n, true Democrat could
support man "whoss hands were wet with
the gore Of his brethren" or who. like Gen.
sral Tuttls, was either playing false to the
government or to the Democratic party :"
that to hold q commission Gas General Tut
tie does) under the President, to secrete fu-
Iitive slaves, and send negroes to Illinois in
violation Of the laws. and assist IN the arm
ing Of negro brutss for the butchery OF the
women and children of the South" was
wholly Inconsistent with being a candidate
Of the Democratic party. The friends OF
Tor T,,t in 70
simply apologized for his being in the ser.
vice '.that he could not resign because Of
the difficulty in procuring proper certifi
cate" and finally that it was "policy with
the Democrats to stay with the soldiers, to
prevent their ever being used against the
Democratic marty Of the North" But not
one man in that Convention claimed his
nomination because he had volunteered in
to the service Of his country, or was the
"hero Of Donelson," or 5rave soldier, or
the gallant defender Of the glorious flag Of
our country. or that he was . sound Demo-
crat even, but simply on the ground that he
could SECURE good "soldisrs VOTE" and
was in other respects stronger than his com
petitor for the nomination. When I reflect
upon the course Of that Convention, | can
but exclaim-My God has it come to this
that to secure nomination in Democrdti-
Convention man must apologies for hav
inc served his country upon the battl e.field
and borne victoriously her glorious banner
against the assaults of the NEST infamous
rebellion the world ever sawf But even
the apologies could not secure nomination
and General Tuttle was heaten BY Naturin
l.. Fisher, . ma who says in his letter de
clining the honor(?) II am persuaded
that the great impsdimsnts to the restoration
Of the Union as is was aud the return of
peace and harmony to the whole country
are the flagrant violations of the laws and
the Constitution in the admin strstion of the
Government. and the reckless disregard Of
the principles Of international law, in con-
Quoting ,he war" In other words. the reb
els are not opposing any serious impedi-
ment to the restoration of the Union; the
great fault is with our Government.
General Tuttle being thus disposed Of by
the Convention, the unan unity Of its action
was not again seriously disturbed; for an
embodiment of its unanimous principles
was found in the person. Of John r. Dun
combe, its candidate foa Lieutenant Govern
or. who, like its President, was "Breckin-
ridge Democrat" in 1860, and with perfect
consistency still adherss to the principles
and fortunes of his prototype, Breckinridge;
although policy has induced change of
name to .'Peace Democrat" and his char
acteristic prudence has kept him from rem
dering any military aid. The nominee for
Judge Of Supreme Court was Charles Mason
whose hostility to. the Government and sym
pathy with the cause Of the rebell,s are
abundantly manifested in his letter. written
in 1861, while he was the pro tenn. candi-
date ofthat party for Governor.
The State Central Committee was then
appointed, and was composed Of five men,
who were either "Breckinridge Democrats"
or anti-war men Of the most radical type,
with LIZ GRAND BYINGroN as Chairman. Mr..
FISHER haAing declined the nomination, the
Central Committee (without any authority
to do 50, IS is slleged.) i,y vote three to
two, nominated General TUrrLE, whom the
Convention had rejected, Gen. Turtle has
written lettsr accepting the nomination,