Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-01-29
THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE AND
THE SOUTHERN STATES

From the Cincinnati Enquirer. Jan 25th.
Our Washington dispatch OF yesterday
stated that the Democratic National Com
mittee had appointed members from the
unrepresented States, TO be present and act
with the committee at its meeting on the
22d Of February, at Washington, to fix the
time and place for holding the Democratic
National Convention. They also selected
members from the new States which have
been admitted into the Union since the last
Presidential election. The names of the
gentlemen thus selected are given, and
among them we recognize several Demos
Gratis Of long standing in years gone by,
and of high personal character. But,
nevertheless, we do most strongly and en-
ergetically protest against the action of
the committee. Several weeks since we
heard that such was its intention, and
were inclined to notice it, but were dis
suaded from so doing by the suggestion
that it could not be possible that the COM
mittee would assume any such authority
authority that no one will pretend was
delegated TO il in its organizatiOn--which
cannot be sustained by any plea of necess
sity. We accordingly advised the unrep~
resented States 10 appoint their own dele
gates on the committee in such way as
should best represent the views of their De-
mocracy, and be in a manner consonant
with their own organization. To that adj
vice we stiH adhere. The action of the
committee, from first TO last, in this matter,
is pure usurpation Of power-a usurpa-
ton, if not checked, which will lead TO
bad feeling and i'll results. There
is enough time between now and
February for every one Of the thirty
seven States 10 be represented in Washing
ton or the committee, either by their rep
resentatiyes in person or by proxies dnly
appointed from each State. That repre-
sentation so secured, we emphatically re-
peat, must be had, in order 10 elothe the
committee with that moral prestige and
power which will give its decisions respect.
The committee, or that portion Of it which
acted in this attempt TO select for Southern
and new Western States their representa-
ton upon the committee, made a glaring
and serious mistake. lt is a mistake that
must be corrected. Those States are not
composed ofchildren. They are capable
of selecting their own men TO represent
them. They do not need the supervising
care of committee from other States, nor
NAtDllAi AhFt attAA EABCANiolbus
1t is had time, when the Congressional
Radical power is assuming its extraordi-
nary prerogatives over the unrepresented
States, for Democratic Central COMMITTEES
TO also assume that those States are unable
OF unwilling to speak for themselves.
We trust that there is no Interior view in
this business--ihat il has no reference to
one sided geographical place for the hold
ing OF the great Democratic Convention.
The Democracy Of the West, ever opposed
to the increase Of central power, will look
with an nnfriendly and jealous eve on this
exercise of il ia any case, bat il would be
greatly increased if theimpression to which
We allude should prevail
Fellow-Democrafs of the unrepresented
Southern and new Western States, who
have been ignored 10 your selections, We
would make 20 you an earnest appeal to
take immediate action in the premises. Do
not for one moment suffer yourselves to be
placed in this position OF being subservient
yassals Of a central or assumed authority.
Act 10 your own behalf Appoint your own
delegates upon that committee. Never
allow il to be done BY Others. We enfreai
the delegates selected no, 10 present them
selves unless they hsye credentials from
their own people at horne.