Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1865-10-13
Correspondence of the Journal.
NEW YORK POLITICS.

ALBANY, N. Y, Oct. 9.
The readers of the Journal may feel some
degree Of interest in New York politics. The
recent coup d'etat Of the democratic party Of
the Empire State has been the chief item Of
interest in the fall campaign. The sharp
practice OF the democrats In abandoning cop
perhead principles, coming over to the kepub.
ltcan platform and choosing Republican can
didates as their nominees for the fall elections,
is pretty generally known | suppose to read
ers in New England as well as in other States.
1t was my fortune last evening to witness in
this city ratification Of this sharp democrat
ic operation. For some days past hand bills
and rumors had been busy in informing the
public that grand ratification meeting would
be held Thursday Qast) evening in the Capt.
tai Park. II was understood that General
Slocum( who leads the democraticState ticket)
ex-Gov. Horatio Seymour and John Van Blu
rem, Prince John as he is stillcalled,) would
be present and speak Accordingly at seven
o'clock p. M. the people began to gather in
groups about the Capitol. A little later the
procession marched up State Street headed by
bands OF music and composed OF delegations
from the respective democratic wards Of this
democratic city. There was brilliant line
Of torches aod transpatencies apparent above
the heads Of the true democrats forming the
procession. Some Of the ransparencies bore
rather peculiar mottos, such as this /" The
white mans country, the negro shall not rule
it," This think must have originated from
a peculiarly democratic ward, for most of the
mottos we're OF milder character.
After the procession had disposed itself
around the steps Of the Capitol, and the Presi-
dent and the usual long list Of Vice Presi-
dents had been appointed, and the resolutions
for buncome had been read and adopted, the
speaking began. First and foremost, intro.
duced by that good democrat Amasa J. Par
ker, the military hero General Slocum came
forward. He is small, pleasant looking.
yonngerly man, rather attractive in his ad-
dress, but by no means coming up in his APP
pearance to his distinguished reputation
The first move made by the General was to
remark Fellow Citizens -
| can hardly thing the General was prepar-
ed for the response that this remark called
forth from the crowd. To 60 back little
and explain, Arrangements had been made
to give the hero magnificent sumner"
upon this his political debut. Some original
democratic genius, had conceived the notion
that the General was fond of FIRE works, and
had accordingly distributed large number
OF Roman Candles among the crowd. All
along while the procession has arriving, these
Roman Candles we're seen being circulated
from to hand. They were distributed from
the Capitol steps, which served as platform,
literally and promiscuously. Several enter
prising Juveniles had climbed the tall shade
trees close around the steps, and with FIRE
works in their hands waited the auspicious
moment when the General should appear
One man who had gained favorable position
in tree had attracted good deal OF Atten-
ton, by the non-chatance of his manner and
his remarks. He sat in the fork of large
elm with his feet resting easily upon branch,
and costly smoking his pipe, while his hands
we're filled with the Roman Candles. A good
deal was expected from him in way of illu-
mination when the grand feu de joie should
be inaugurated.
| When the hero Of the hour came forward,
then. all these preparations we're made avail
able. The signal was given by good demo-
crat on the steps, lighting his candle by the
gas burner nearest him. Matches, cigars and
pipes we're put in requisition by the crowd
to light up, and then an avalanche of the fz-
cling FIRE and lambert stars peculiar to the
species Of fire works employed, was launched
all around the General in response to his
greeting The brave man In the tree however
was unfortunate, and lost something of his
self-possession and composure. 1t SO hap
pened that he was just in range Of some Of
the mimic artillery upon the platform to-
ward which his back was turned, and some
Of the incandescent stars smote him severely
on the back Of the head. He had no leisure
to light up his fire works.
There was smell of scorched wooden from
his direction, and be seemed by his motions
to be engaged in frantic attempts to arrange
his back hair. 1t was not until the close Of
the performance that he found an opportunity
to light single candle II presume he had