New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-04-06
A SUCCESSOR For POLK.
THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS SHOWS DECIDED WV
FEDERATE PRoCLIvIrIEs AND No"iNAN'
SOUTHERN GENERAL.

-uy DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS SHOWS DECIDED CON
vRnrRATE PRoCLIvTTIEs AND NoMlNAIEs A
SOUTHERN GENERAL
Try TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNEl
W.sUISGToN, April 5.-The Democratic Heliiooi'
Of the House of Representatives are not yet uono
with their doorkeeper They met TINS ai'ernoon -
oarcrs 70 nominate successor of the displaced
IN, = 1,bore heino only few more than score OF
members present an adjournment was had uhtii
this evening .bo
On reassemblinp a scene not surprising under the
circumstances ensued Mr. Clymer, OF Pennsylpa'
MIA was in the chair. One of the Georgia deleea-
,;on nominated General Chas. W. Field, OF tha'
State. who was a major general In the Ooh-
federate Army. The nomination was secohueu
Inv General Bragg, of Wisconsin, who saiu he
voted for the expulsion OF Colonei foik' ou'
willingly conceded that the position fairly belonged
70 a Southern State All he asked was that soin'
honorable and worthy gentleman should DC notni
nated-one who had gained distinction In the menu
and who would command the respect ana noiioI %
soldiers everywhere. Mr.. Gabriel Bouck' OF WIS
consin. spoke in a somewhat similar strain III i"'oi
of Mr. Field.
Mr. Roberts. of MARYLAND nominated Mt Mccoy,
OF Baltimore.
Mr. Morse. of Massachusetts, nominated Walter
French.
General John B. Clark, of Missouri, nominated
General James Shields, of Missouri. and spoke of
him as the hero of two wars, and grand old Demo-
cratic war-horse. Mr. Crittenden of Missouri, spoke
IN the same strain. Mr.. Franklin, OF Missouri, OPP
rosed the nomination of Shields with considerable
bitterness He said be would not be dictated to
nv Ben Butlerr He said the Democratic party had
bonored Shields with two seats in the Senate and
had elected HIM to the House, but Butler
led movement TO unseat HIM and now
wanted to give him the pitful place of doOrkeeper;
the Speaker Sergeantat-Arms, and Clerk are North
ern men and of the Union Army; he was not from
Confederate State, but had been with them IN
heart and thought they we're entitled to small
share Of the patronage; as he was the only member
from Missouri opposing the nomination OF General
Shields. he felt called upon TO explain ms vote; II
the Democratic party could not do justice 10 the eX
Confederate element of the House without being
shaken 10 pieces, then had better eanlndcpendent
minority.
Several members said they would be glad to honor
General Shields but that he is too old and unfit for
such position and Civil Service reform demands
not only an honest but an efficient officer.
General Banning spoke for General Field. Upon
vote being taken. 116 ballots were cast of which
General Field received 90. Shields 20. Mccoy 20.
and French the remainder. Mr.. Randall moved that
Fields nomination be made unanimous which was
carried General Clark. of Missouri, said that
General Shields did not desire and would not re-
ceive the office at the hands of the Republicans.
The caucus then adjourned.
General Field Is a graduate Of West Point and was
with General Lee during the entire war. He was
one of the American officers recommended for ser
vice IA the khedIYe's army of Egypt by General
Sherman. and served IN that army for some time.