The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-09-04

A CARD FROM COLONEL ROBERT W.
HUGHES.
PETERSBURG, September 8, 1873


10 the Editor Of The State Journal:
Dear Sir-I find that the reporters Of
some Of the Norfolk papers Inexperienced
what said in my speech last night on the
subject of my connection with the National
Democratic convention of 1868. held in
Tammany Hall, New York.
What said at Norfolk was, that the
nomination of Seymour and Blair, and the
adoption of the Democratic platform of
that year by that convention, sienced me
in that canvass, and no one could say with
truth that had written or spoken in sup
port of that ticket or platform after that
convention.
It may be claimed, with some color of
truth, that / did constructively aid as
member of that convention in nominating
that ticket and in adopting that platform I;
but, if so, it was in tins way:
By the advice OF some friends in South
west Virginia went to that convention to
try if possible to secure the nomination of
Chief Justice Chase. / thought that, as
the Democrats had failed to secure General
Grant (who had been DemocraO as their
presidential candidate, the next best thing
they could do was to nominate Judge
Chase. | think now that if Judge Chase
had been nominated in 1868 as the Demo-
cratic candidate, Mr.. Groesbeck would not
have had to pronounce the funeral of the
Democratic party, in his late letter.
When got to New York, Mr.. L. @.
Washington, an old friend, then editing The
National Intelligencer, came to me, and
said, that several of our common friends in
the Virginia delegation (who since went for
Horace Greeley had expressed GOOD deal
of modification to hear that / was for
nominating such a man as Judge Chase,
and had asked him to demonstrate with
me, in friendly way.
| replied, in the same spirit, to the
effect, that / thought Judge Chase's
nomination the best thing which the party
could do ; and that | would endeavor to
get as many delegates TO 60 with me for
him as could. But that had not come
to act a factious part. | knew of and ap-
proved our old Virginia rule in National
Democratic conventions, Ofcasting the vote
of the state as unit. | would let it be
cast as unit in general. But if an oppor-
tunity should arise in which, by fraction
of the Virginia vote being cast for Judge
Chase, his nomination could be effected or
| his chance improved, then would claim
| the right to cast fractional vote.
Such is my recollection of what was
said between Mr.. Washington and myself.
Accordingly, my recollection is, that on
motion Of Mr.. r. III. Glass, in q separate
meeting of the Virginia delegation. it was
resolved that the former precedcnts should
be observed by which the minority Of the
delegation allowed the majority to cast
the whole vote of the state us a unit; but
that this resolution should not be enforced
if any delegate or delegates should deem
it important to their own objects at any
time to cast their fractional vote. | have
not seen the resolution since that time but
| am clear that have given the purport ol
lit. The resolution, whatever it may be
correctly interprets the spirit in which
/ acted as part of minority 0
three or four during the session of cha
convention, and seemed to acquiesce in it
proceedings.
| lido not think this history Of any public
importance for, even if l had gone fol
Seymour and Blair, / would have had q
much right four years afterwards to 60 TO
General Grant with the real Republican
party, as other members of that nationa
convention had to 60 for Horace Greele,
with the Liberal Republican party; bu
the statement will do no harm.
am, sir, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
Ro. w. HUGHES.