Middletown transcript., 1874-08-01
NOMINATION BY BALLOT.
LETTER FROM SAMUEL TOWNSEND.

LETTER FROM SAMUEL TOWNSEND.
MR EDmoR I'll hereby send few lines, the last
/ hope, to YOU paper on the great vital question
OF Nomination by Ballot; even should not have
sent this only William Dean has put in an ap-
pearance again, and as | am attacked, and al
ways have been by the ring and posse, who are
afraid of the masses, my reply win be in general
terms and as short as can make it.
First in regard to those rules and the Demo-
cratic meeting held on the 9Th of last June what
is called the Democratic party two years ago APP
pointed Mr.. George Gray, lawyer of good
standing and a gentleman, living at our county
town, New Castle, and it is presumed, with two
years experience as chairman of our county
| meetings, that If any rules had existed which he
| thesght as binding he would have called coun-
| ty meeting in May, so the requirements OF those
rules could have been carried out. This Of itself
ought to satisfy any reasonable man said rules
| were of no account, but we had further evidence
at the meeting on June 9th. The meeting ap-
| pointed John P. Cochran chairman for the next
two years. Now, Mr.. John P. Cochran has been |
politician since he grew up; served two years
as chairman of our levy court and is now talked |
| of as a candidate for Governor, and 1t is pre- |
sumed if there were rules that he considered bind
| ing he would have informed the meeting. He |
neither told us of the first rule or had it read
When the third rule 6re-brand was thrown in by |
Natty Williams, and claimed ruling by the
| chairman, if said chairman had had the rules
| read it would have proved what farce we were
acting-tramping that moment on the first rule,
| while some persons were demanding the carly
ing out of rule third. Had they been read, it
would have caused the resolution to nominate by
| ballot to have passed almost unanimously AS
is it, there is a snarl and suggested that as we
adjourned to the call Of Mr.. Cochran, and he see
ing the difficulty that had grown out of him, as
chairman, not having the rules read from begin
ming to end to the meeting, the best thing he
could do would be to call the party together and
stel them of his mistake or neglect in not having
them read, and advise the question settled. The
committee or majority Of them, in the eiilce OF
John o. Byrne agreed to report in favor OF NOM
ination by ballot, William Deans statement to
the contrary Notwithstanding; and | now call
on Mr. .O'Byrne, as our chairman, to publish
what we did so all can see am correct.
Now, William Dean, don't you know any bet
ter than to state in public paper that the con-
stitution would have TO be amended before the
counties could be laid off in single election dis
, tricts? Each county under our constitution has
seven representatives and three senators, making
! ten to each county but never over eight and
: nine in each county are elected in any one year
o | To increase the number Of representatives and
:, senators over thirty in our State would require
b the constitution 10 be amended, but this is not
: necessary if there is no increase
d Now, William, with regard to leaving and de-
A feating the party in your case don't you think
it is like the kettle making mouths at the pot for
" being black? With this difference in our cases,
II you Travelled 700 miles in 1872, to Louisville,
+ Ky to help take up disorganizng Democrat,
l. o. Conor, purpose to defeat the Democratic
candidate as adopted at the Democratic National
IS Convention at Baltimore, supported by major
s. ty of the party in Delaware going against your
"a friend Mr.. Bayard, who made speeches in Del
- urging the election of the Greeley presidential
y electors; you nominated OConor electors and
er were ANONYMOUSLY beaten. You then tried &c
ie get up newspaper organ to rival the London
ls Times or New York Herald, but all vanished into
!, thin air. Now, sir, had good cause in 1858 te
)" get up party in this county. did not run tt
III Kentucky, but in this county where was raised
i'll and people knew best, when | was imposed OF
.. and insulted by party that had helped a
much as any man living to put it into power, ant
" a personal war made on me because an individua
d. of the party and me fell out. They espoused hi
We side and although there was at that time no pre-
10 cedent to nominate only by ballot, in 1856
% when my brother was nominated by believe
cd "a out of l35 votes. had forgot to mention
We that on the same day and by said voters, ther
were FIVE delegates elected so, if the party a
our county meeting adopted ballot here was III
vote; il they fell back MS we heard the ring in
VI tended, on the delegate plan, here were our hv
IS, delegates. Notwithstanding they ruled bot
ng out purposely and that being presidential yea
M l voted and did all could for the election {
Buchanan, and we had over 800 majority in th
ss' county. This large majority made my enemit
ch- crazy with the JOY they felt in their strength
the me, although had voted for Buchanan. Ther
~; William, | admit determined to change thes
-, shouts ofjoy to groans, and did il at the yer
'eu next election, two years afterwards. My can
lge pagn William, in this county in 1893 again
rg the ring organization, not failure, for ev
"a | ry candidate in my party was elected and all
>eu theirs beaten. But your o. 'Conor organizatic
ped against the Democratic party in 1872 was dea
the beat
Now, William do not often quote scriptur
but there has passed into my mind this nome
a very appropriate passage that meets your cas-
srs. 1t runs somewhat as follows There was a &C
ket tain set Of women about 10 stone another wont
var to death for adultery; Christ saw the enrag
women and said, Ladies' would it not be WI
ere for you who are clear of the same sin to thro
of the first stone. They looked at each other al
the sneaked away. Now, William, when you al
.u others are blowing against me, ii would be w
s"' to read that passage of scripture. William, ha
you ever thought what material the call
Democratic party was composed of? Adams me
jackson men, VanBuren men, Tyler men, frt
soil and free-trade men, pro-slayery men, natl
Americans, old Wings, temperance fanatics, a
i'y ti-temperance, spirtuous liquor drinkers, and
un- the isms white man is heir to- It's great rcdee
10 ing point is that it is white mans party, al
uee like an old fiddle almost any tune can be got O
u! Of it except Negro Equality, and that ii has ne
anu er been set TO, although tried in 1872 and ho
@ iore never will be tried again.
for am sorry, William, you made such fling
nue. one division of our party by saying they cou
Bile. - ~ ILnaht for =, drink of liouor for /, might
tier 80 - cho ocee Of a election IL Won were r
10 on the legislative ticket. However, when
anu sent you to the Legislature once you were fa
way, nre as legislator for us chairman of finar
in h;Il Won renorted said hill which taxed New G.
de- Di', ~, -, so Lavy E.nt l;gbt and in Sussey
lied. ,noS SI9i % over nnd above all that was cole
ana ed to pay the expenses of collecting in that
Inc ty. The very next session the legislature repe
re- a .Lo h;u 'pIlv vou are n very pood ma,
were sao,nror farmer and neiohbor. but your fo
rail- aaas not law in nolitics or LEGISLATION. for '
aud .soLa oyerythino vou undertake about as eli
ugh as mud
re- In conclusion, William was in hopes {
title, W. conld combine all the elements opposed
the negro equality party into one party of wi
was men and call il Democrat Democratic WI
say Mans Party, anything else, SO il was true
,lack Inc white race and 10 nominate by ballot wo
the at least give every white man an equal chance
ba Aid MT avail himself nf II