The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1868-05-21
THE LATE CONVENTION.

EDITOR JoURxAL.-I notice in last weeks
JOURNAL, resolution passed by our recent
County Convention, so unique in its con-
ception, and 50 suspicious in its character
as to challenge the attention Of every true
Republican. 1t read as follows:
In order to insure fair expression of
the opinion of the republicans Of the sever
al towns in the county, and to prevent IN
abuse Of the proxy system Of delegates, it
is hereby
Resolved, That in such towns as have no
town committee, some republican voter
shall be designated by the County Commit
tee, whose duty it shall be to give public
notice of primary meeting for the election
of delegates to the County Conventions,
and the delegates elected at such meetings
shall be recognized as the representative
of the town sending them.
l undertake to say that this is an attempt
at Capitalization Of power unparalleled in
the history Of American politics. 1t is we'll
known that our County Committee has
heretofore consisted Of five members. .
number sufficiently small for so large and
populous County. but to render the pow
or conferred by the above resolution more
easily manipulated, more available, the
Convention on motion Of the party introdu-
clog said resolution reduced The County
Committee to three, and appointed - its
Chairman The man who had moved to con-
fer upon It such extraordinary powers. =
} Now sir, Ill this. happened BY no mere
chance. It was done with purpose and in
tent that single statement Of facts will rem.
der transparent. The Chairman Of the Coun-
~ Committee, 40 every one here knows, 10
alreaay pledged TO tie support: Of certain
man for nomination to Congress from this
district next fall. He has in tho past and
will in tho future leave no means untried to
to carry this County for his candidate; and
the verriest tyro in politics knows that the
resolution Of which l am speaking, virtual
" places in the power Of this Chairman
the appointment Of the one man in the sew.
eral towns Of the county, who alone shall
be empowered to call caucus, or admit
ting that the responsibility. is sufficient t
! engage the attention ofrhe whole commit
tee, the Chairman would then only need I,
control one man, 10 secure the majority o
the Committee il favor Of such appoint
ments ~ he might desire. Whether ;thi'
Chairman's candidate is tho most suitable
person to represent Us in Congress or not
has nothing to do with'the question, no
has the character Of the County Committee
esteem tho gentlemen composing it YER!
highly, AMI would be willing, on genera
principles, to entrust much 70 lis chairman
but to no one man, nor to any three nsl
.zould give the power 10 shape aud con
troll future Convention for the accom-
plishmsnt Of any purpose, however dssira
bic TO me. 49,, r. d. &c.. e.
To the people Of tho several towns IN
q to them alone, belongs the right to say VII
2 shall constitute their town committee, an
it is .nti-republicau, subversive Of the bel
Interests Of the party, and M unwsrranta
bic usurpation Of power, in any one man
three men, to select for the town Of Melroa
or Maine Prairie committee Of one, wh
9 shalt have the sole power to call it, esue'
when, where and how he rleases; albeit
. may be obnoxious TO nineteen. II entietl
J. Of the voter. at the town. and nay call Il
caucus At such ; Time apd Place a. to d
8 cure the attendance Of his friends aleus.
As much right has tho Central Commit,