Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1876-03-28
NEW York. March Is. ls1t

Mr.. Editor 1: The Democratic State Gem
trail Committee of New York met at the Del
avsn House, in Albany, on tho 18Th inst
The object was to designate a time aud place
for holding the State Convention at which
delegates to the Natioual Democratic Conven
ton at ST. Louis on the 9th of June are to
be chosen.
An immense gathering of politicians from
all parts of the State was in attendance, in
GLIDING ex-Gov. Seymour, Hon. John Kelly,
Hon. Augustus Schell and other gentlamen
of national reputation. AS the Legislature is
in session, and Gov Tilden and his official
family were on the spot, the meeting of the
State Central Committee enlivened Albany
immensely. 1t was given out by Gov. Til
den's friends that early meeting of the
State Convention, the 9th of April was
mentioned, and the selection of Albany, Til
den's headquarters, as the place, were the two
detectives of our ambitious Governors pre-
liminary plans for the capture of the nomi-
mating Convention. Aud it is quite certain.
such a scheme was devised. Mr. Apgar
favored not only an early CALL but pledged
list of delegates in Tilden's interest to the
ST. Louis Convention. He has just returned
from the disgraced State Of New Hampshire
and assured the Committee that all the Dem
ocrats he talked to, including leading New
England and Southern men, wero favorable
to Tilden for the Presidential nomination.
Apgar was thus venturing beyond the bounds
of propriety in presumins to decide the i'm
portant question which the State Central Com
mittee had nothing to do with except to call
a Convention of the Democracy of the entire
State, which alone will have the right to speak
for the people of the Empire State of the
Uuion at St. Louis. When Mr.. Apgar sat
down, Hon. John Kelly took the floor to reply
The excitement was intense and the eageraess
to hear Mr.. Kelly was extreme. 1t was
known on all sides that he had nominated
Mr.. Tildeu for Governor two years ago, and
that the election of the latter was in largo
measure due to Mr.. Kelly's advocacy. Til>
den has never been popular man, Kelly all
ways has been. Besides, the latter is at the
head of TammaDy Hall, the most powerful
organization in the State. and is BY long odds
the ablest man who has figured in State poll
itics since the death of the celebrated Dean
Richmond IF Mr.. Kelly should second Mr.
Apgsr's eulogy and nomination of Gov. TIL
den, everybody felt that the vote of this State
in the St. Louis Convention would be sure for
the Governor. But if anybody INDUCED such
hope he was doomed to ppointmsnt.-
Kelly opposed the nomination of any man in
advance, demanded an unpledged delegation
iLOtH view ID tue NaIlODal convention,
and for himself he declared he was not in
favor of violating the principles or departing
from the traditions of the Democratic party
By committing the delegation to Gov. Tilden
or any other man. The best interests of the
country required the unfcttered right of scIec
ton after the fullest interchange of counsels
with the representatives of the Democracy of
the several States. Let New York Democrats.
avoid the bad example of the Republican
party in packing conventions in the interests
of any man. eff am delegate, said Mr..
Kelly in concluding his remarkably able
sPeee15 f. esr.-
Louis as my judgment dictates, and net in ac
cordance with any previous arrangement or
preconcerted plan of action" To closing he
moved that the Convention be held at Utica
This was agreed to, and the Goth of April
fixed on rs the day of meeting Hon. Au>
gustus Schell, the life-lo long friend of Mr..
Kelly and Chairman of the National Execu-
tive Committee, followed the latter and en-
phGt!caly endorsed the views expressed by
the Tammany leader. will close with few
extracts from the leading papers on the result.
of this preliminary skirmish Eech extract
is from the issue Of the papers named of the
following day, the 10th inst.