The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-09-07
The Presidential Election Settled.

The New York Democratic Convention,
which met at Saratoga, last week, nominated
Hon. Horatio Seymour for Governor. This was
done in the face of M. Seymour's declared in
tention not to accept the nomination. Com
mittee had waited Oil him to learn whether it
was possible for him to accept. He told them
that he could not do so under any circumstan-
ces. A telegram was sent to the Chairman OF
the Convention to that effect. Instead OF pre-
senting it, he put it in his pocket Another tele-
gram was received from q man named Spriggs,
to Ego on with the nomination. This was
simply fraud. They did go on and nomin-
ated Seymour by reclamation. When inform
ed OF it, Mr.. SEYMOUR expressed his surprise,
and reiterated his determination not to accept.
The reason for the treachery thus developed
by the leaders in the Convention, was that the
sentiment Of the delegates, was strongly against
Tilden, and ridden wanted Dorshermier nomi-
mated. He knew this could not be effected. Mr..
Seymonr's high character and great popuari-
ity, placed him above factions. His health, too,
was such that it placed it out Of his power
to perform the duties of Governor il he should
be elected. He would die or would have to re-
isgn and then Mr.. Dorshermier who was Eomin-
for Lit. Governor, would become Governor. 1t
was a deep laid scheme OF Tilden and his tools
to defeat the will Of the people in making Mr..
Dorslei mier practically the Governor upon the
name and popularity Of Mr.. Seymour. The
positive and irrcvocable refusal OF the latter
gentleman to allow his name to be used, has
thrown the party into great confusion, and
there is no probability that the damage can be
repaired. All over the State there is one gem
eral voice of denunciation Of Tilden and his
friends who practiced the deception of with
holding the telegram OF Mr.. Seymour declining
the nomination until after the Convention adj
journed. Democrats, Independents and Repub
licans have but one opinion about it, and that
is that it was gross fraud upon the people,
and ''remorseless" injustice to Mr.. Seymour.
The Tribune, Independent, considers that
the Presidential battle has already been sub
stantially fought and won by the Republicans.
1t says:
Circumstances may occur between this time
and the day of election to change the present
outlook entirely. The Democrats may do some
thing wise-which, by the way is not very
probable-or the Republicans may be guilty of
some stupendous folly, or be made responsible
for some fatal hlunder of the administration,
which is not by any means unlikely. But should
no such change occur, the proceedings of the
Democratic Convention at Saratoga have defin-
itely settled the result Of the November cleo
ton in this State and in the nation. Mr..
Tilden is already defeated for the Presidency,
and the Democratic ticket in New York, whetI-
e. it remains as the Saratoga Convention made
it, or is changed by the State Committee or by
4 new convention, in consequence of Mr.. Sey-
mour's persistence in declining, is as good as
beaten before the canvass has fairly opened
They greatly mistake who consider the work
of that convention as having consisted mainly
in the nomination of Mr.. Seymour. Its sig
nificance did not lie in that act merely. In
deed that part OF the result was of no special
consequence, except that it grew out of other
and more important things. The event Of the
convention was the defeat of Mr.. Ciarkson N.
Potter and the anti-Hlden wing of the party
which supported him.
The necessities of Mr.. Tilden's friends de-
manded the nomination of Mr.. Seymour, with
or without his consent, net because of his
strength as candidate, but because he was the
only instrument &C hand with which they could
head off the Potter movement and save them
selves. The failure to induce Gov. Seymour to
stand the nomination leaves the political in
trguers who performed this grand strategy in
the position they were before the convention as
sembled, with the advantage Of longer time for
consideration OF measures and preparation of
plan. They will have now to decide whether
they will take the chances in another delegate
convention or assume the dangerous RESPONSE
bility of selecting 4 candidate by the State
Committee. Whichever way they turn disas-
ter stares them in the face.
The Graphic, Independent, says:
The zig is up'' with the Democracy. I'm
less some extraordinary and unlooked-for acct
dents occur the Presidential election may be
regarded as settled. The blunder Of the Dem
ocrats in nominating Horatio Seymour against
his consent, and endeavoring to deceive the
public as to his true position, emphasizes
their weakness in this State, and surrenders
their last hope Of carrying it for their Presi-
dental candidate. 1t has long been known in
private circles that 4 political canvass, with its
worry and excitement would simply mean
death to Mr.. Holatio Seymour, or perhaps
worse than death-the loss of his reason. His
nomination under these circumstances was, as
Mr.. Thurlow Weed we'll characterized it, '.re-
morseless.'' 1t was cruel to nominate him. 1t
would be inhuman to keep him in the field,
even were he willing.
There is now no need of waiting the verdict
of Ohio and Indiana in October. Barring ac-
cidents, the Presidential contest of 1876 is set
tied, and the election of Hayes and Wheeler is
assured.
Mr.. Ottendorfer, The great German editor,
whose paper, the Stats Zietung, Which had
declared for Tilden, but is now awaiting to see
what defence the Democratic candidate for
President will make against the charge of hay
ing swndled the Government out of his income
tax, regards the whole action Of the convention
s'swindle," and does not see how the party
can recover from its effects.
Borst had been reading the VIRGINIAN. He
was charmed with the happy conception Of
tombstone statesmen He liked the COIN
age, and applied it to the opponents OF
Harris. Duke couldn't stand that, and -vocif-
erously protested that he was no curbstone
statesman, and wanted to know by what ar-
thority Borst deemed it wise to so designate
him and those who acted with him. Borst did
not explain, but let the sting remain, notwith-
standing Duke has been in Congress. 1t was
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