Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-06-20
WILMINGTON, DBL.
Thursday Afternoon, June 40.
THE DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTIONAL
DIsCoRDANT, INCOEGRU0Us GATHERING.

THE DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTIONAL
DISCORDANT, ,INC0EGRU0Us GATHERING.
No such Convention OF the Delaware Democ-
raey has been held for years as was that which
met at Dover, last week Usually, these gath
srings have been homogeneous in composition,
and have shown in their deliberations and ae-
tions, controlling force, operating on some
definite and positive line of policy The recent
one not only had none of these characteristics,
but exhibited, most surprisingly the opposite
1t was made up Of all sorts of material. OByne
was there with his New Departure notions a
Wilmington delegation came TO demand that
their deliberate disregard of the party rules
should be sanctioned Dean was present, de-
foated as a delegate in his own Hundred, and
let in, as a favor, to represent Mill Creek Sam
Townsend appeared with his usual monstrosities
Of behavior; Sussex county sent batch OF
Greeleyites and how many more discordant
and repenant clements were present We have
not space TO state 1t is enough to say, that no
other recent Convention of Delaware Democrats
has contained 80 many queer notions, disturb
ing forces and odd fish.
Besides this it was evident that no one theory
or policy controlled the body. There was no
concert, no agreement, no unity. The Cincn-
natl movement had kicked into the ant-hill, and
It's occupants ran hither and thither in confusion
and alarm. Some cried "Lo, here ~ and others
10, there !" The temper of the great majority
wis bitterly against Greeley, but they were all
afraid to say 80. Col. Townsend and his bevy
of anti-Saulsbury men were for Greeley, but
knowing how few they were, felt equally afraid
TO speak out. Nobody knew what to advise for
no one could forecast the future. The idea that
Horace Greeley would be their candidate made
tho venerable Bourbon hairs rise erect, and the
Democratic blood boil. 1t was too preposterous
to think VI. And yet, suppose he should be In
the face Of this prospect which, even then and
there. was seen to be more than hkely-confu-
sion took the place OF agreement, and alarm sat
On every face
In no particular is this more shown than in the
resolutions. Their ncongruity and contradiction
ars ludicious Mr.. Newton, worthy gentleman
of the old school Of Democracy, who did not yet
realize that his political leaders had sold him to
Greeley had long list, covering the old-fash-
ionsd Democratic forms Of expression. But
OByrne fatty told him they wouldn't do--wsrs
not the thing at all and forthwith produced Lis
own clipper little paragraphs, in one two
three order, which were approved and re-
ported, and in the face Of Sam Townsend's pro
sest that the Declaration Of Independence
was lie were adopted by the Couyeu
tion. They are intended to Le thorough
and complete renunciation and abandonment OF
Ihe positions heretofore taken by the party il
this State. Under cover of re-anirming tn,
Declaration and the Constitution, their real pur
pose is to take what has been called the " New
Departure" in all itH fullness and to yield for
ever all the opposition heretofore made by TIA,
Democrats of this State to the various recon
struction measures, including Negro Suffrage.
This purpose was entertained by OByrne ar,
he drew his resolutions to serve it. This the!
did And the Convention adopted them. Bu
thenrepenting this step and feeling theirreal con
Vctions rise in their hearts the delegates accept
oil and passed Mr.. Cooper's resolution declariu
the 18th nth, and 18th Amendments fraudulent
and Of no validity, and not binding upon til
State of Delaware! Wasn't this kicking owe
the full pail; O'Byrne ragged. but the Conver
ton accepted tho resolution, with aswell Of hol
est satisfaction at having done at least Oh
thing sincerely, and adjourned in hurry.
Well, mark the contradiction. The first resc
lutons accept the amendments the last d,
nounces them. The Convention first vote
New Departure and then Dourbonism. First,
agrees to all the Republican measures, even n,
gro Suffrage, and then it goes back to say tia
even Slavery was fraudulently abolished that
to say it is not abolished at all, but legally g.
sting
Such Convention deserves no respect,
confidence. 1t was a political abortion. II ".
an homogeneous gathering Of odds-and-eud
without a common principle to bind them t
gether, and totally lacking any well-detned pc
icy Of action. 1t was in marked contrast to Il
rigid rule which heretofore has grasped Del
ware and adds new evidence that the days
that rule are over.