Middletown transcript., 1874-07-18
NOMINATION BY BALLOT.
MIppLErows, July 14th. 1874

NVM1N a lVN Dl DA11V1s
MIDDLErowN, July l4th, 1874.
Mr.. Editor: In your issue of the 18th inst,
Mr.. Vim. Dean and Mr.. Samuel Townsend dis
cuss the question of the mode Of nominating can
didates for the Legislature and Levy Court Mr..
7. also undertakes to give, for the benefit of
young Democrats, the history Of nominations in
this county; but as his history is not very clear,
and not altogether correct, will undertake to
state what u know about nominations
Mr.. 7. states that some years after 1898 the
Democratic party changed the mode Of nominate
ing candidates for the Legislature and Levy
Court and that the Wing party, afterward,
adopted the same mode. Now the facts are,
that the change from County Conventions TO
nominations by direct vote in each Hundred,
was made by the Democrats at the spring meet
ing, az Delaware City, in 1880; the Wings had
made their nominations for Sheriff and Coroner,
by direct vote, for years before, and am quite
certain for Legislature and Levy Court, also, by
the same mode, so that instead Of the Wings fol-
lowing the example of the Democrats, the latter
followed the Wings.
Under the new mode the Democratic ticket
was nominated in the summer Of 1850, and was
elected not because the manner of nomination
gave us better ticket than those run in Al, '46
and '4S, which were all defeated, 1--WE elected the
Sheriff in '4S, but because there was split in
the Whig party, caused by the temperance men,
and the further detection of Others of the party
who were offended by the course of Mr.. j NJ. Clay
ton in regard to the Federal appointments for
this State. In 1852 the ticket again homi-
mated in the same manner. Pencader Hundred
nominated David Caulk for the Legislature. He
was very Objectionable to many persons, and
was scratched from the ticket, and in many cases
no other name was put in the place of Caulks.
This action, under the election law of that time,
caused that branch " of the ticket to be thrown
out; in consequence of which we not only lost
Caulk, but lost several other members of the
Legislature, so that the Wings had a ma jority,
| and at the ensuing session elected the U. S.
Senator.
The Democrats were very much chagrned;
| although they had clear majority, and secured
the Electoral vote, really, for the first time for
the Democratic candidates, yet they had thrown
away the Legislature and an U. S. Senator. 1t
was charged that this result was owing simply
| to fhs manner Of nomination that so objection
| able man as Caulk could not have been nomi-
mated in County Convention therefore at the
spring meeting IN 1884, a resolution to return to
the system of nominating candinates for the Leg
islature, etc., by County Conventions was adop-
! ted without dissent, and the ticket was so nomi-
mated One would infer from Mr.. IT'S state
ment that the return was not made until Sc,
| and that it was then made to pun sh him but
the foregoing are the facts. Furthermore Mr.
| 7. was a strong advocate for the return, fact
which he doubtless well remembers. In 1856
|
as to candidates, and incidentally, as TO the
mode of nomination, when it was very clearly
decided, both by the Convention and the County
meeting, that the rule of the party was " that
the body that elected, was the body that shall
nominate" So the rule was settled lit was
afterwards embodied with other rules) and has
| thus stood for twenty years. Although an effort
was made, some years since, TO change the rules,
and committee appointed 10 consider the mat
| ter, yet the Chairman of the committee who was
favorable to the change, finding, probably, that
the change was not desired by the party, never
| called his committee together, and the subject
died quiet death. Because the rules in some
respects have been departed from, more in mat
| ter of form than in matter of substance, Mr.. 7.
Suggests that they be no longer regarded in any
respect-upon the good old principle, " that two
wrongs make right - the only time when any
principle OF the rnles was violated, was in 1864,
| when the party neglected to nominate candi-
dates for Sheriff and Coroner according to the
rules; and the County Convention afterwards
made the nomination. The rules were changed
in principle, at the last County Con ton, by
| the admission of ten Instead of five delegates
from Wilmington; but the change was made
regularly, the Convention having an undoubted
right to make it.
AS 10 the campaign of 1885, Mr.. Townsend
has had his account of his movements in it, in print
so often, that it has become matter of history
however, it is not to be supposed that any Dem.
| NONO7S
have gained in that campaign, or pluck his
laurels from his brow. So much for the history
Much has been said about white men being de-
prived of their rights under these rules, but il
this the case? Has any man suffered? Have
the delegates ever violated their trust2 Have no
our tickets been respectable2 But these ques
tions were SO well met by Mr.. Dean in your las
issue, that it is useless for me TO say any more
about them. However, it was apparent by til,
proceedings of the last County meeting, that a
very respectable number of Democrats favored {
change of the mode of nominating candidates fol
the Legislature, etc and it is very proper tina
the sense OF the people should be taken on th,
subject if they elect, instruct their delegates
to the County Convention to make such change
, it of course should be made due provision be.
ing made, at the same time, for the appointnen
of Judges to hold such nominating elections fo
the certifying of returns, and for the determine
ton of contested nominations. The Convention
should then adjourn, and let the ticket be mad
under the new rules, when, although man,
! Democrats might disapprove, yet none would re
bel. Provision, ALSO should be made for futur
changes of the rules; for it the County Conven
tions are abolished where will be the authorit,
to change the rules?
Persons not acquainted with the politics of thi
I county, might wonder that man who is such
stickler for the rights of the majority, as Mr.
a Townsend is, would openly threaten to defea
0 the ticket nominated by the regularly ascertaine
: majority, because the party would not depar
from its rules, at his bidding or, that the maj
who makes such threats could have any stand
ing in the party but the Democrats of thi
county know that Mr.. 7. means no harm, an
that this old bug-a-boo of an Independent Whi
: Nuns Democratic Party is as gentle as a suckin
: dove, and " has not enough blood in his liver
, clog the foot of fea."
Mr.. Editor In your invitation to the discu.
$ sion of this question Of nominations, you reque.
ted your correspondents not to be personal, bu
as Mr.. 7. in his communication, in a manner
"put himself upon his country | am compel
ed in this article to trench upon matters person,
= to him, but hope without offence as none
l. intended. As MIR. T. has horror of anony
e nous scribblers, he can ascertain who is Il
It writer of this by calling you.
d The Democratic party, under both modes
5 nominating, have generally had respectful
1t tickets, and | would suggest that the tick
re itself is of more Importance than the mode
1t nominating it, In the one way the nomination
is under the control of the people of the Count
le in the other, under the control of the peo pie
the several Hundreds. In either case, this yea
g the people should be careful who they nomiua
n to represent them at Dover. The term of U. s
afnrR Rav vp,r tIa dtt nF