New-York tribune., 1879-09-02
THURLOW WEEDS COUNSEL.
THE VENERABLE POLITICIANS LETTER TO GENERAL
GEORGE n. snARPE-wILLIAM II. EoIERTsoN HIS

GEORGE n. suARPE-wILLIAM II. RoIERTsoN HIS
PREFERENCE.
Thurlow Weed who helped 10 invent the system
of nominating party candidates IN general conven-
ton as far back as 1924. has been constant at
tendant on political conventions during the subse-
quent iifty-fve years reporter of The TRIBUNE
asked him Yesterday if he should attend the Sara
toga Convention.
Il had hoped to do So" he replied, "but find that
my health Will not permit Since cannot be pres
ent have embodied my views of the situation and
of the course that ought to be pursued in letter
which have just written to General George ii.
Sharpe. who, | expect. is already Mt Saratoga"
Mr. Weed was asked If he would allow his letter
to General Sharpe to be copied for publication, and
consented the letter being as fcowsi
NEw-YORK, Sept l, 1870.
DEAR CENTRAL: ! had hoped to be able to at
tend the Republcan State Convention but as the
day approaches. and after much and anxious con-
slderat ion. have come to the conclusion that my
mental health uniits me for duties so exciting and
responsible. While exempted by age and inhrInl-
ties from active participation in business or politics,
soiciude for the welfare of my country is Increased
rather than diminished. Knowing that the pros
pcriy oil our country was the governing motive OF
the Wing party, and that our Government and
Union were preserved by the Republican party my
homes In the future rest upon the continued ascend
ancy of our principles. In view of what Is threat
ened the danger aud the duty OF the present are as
alarming and imperative rs In the past. From this
ton NAV obtain clear view of its responsibilities.
Its duties augmented by the circumstance
that under the amended Constitution the terms of
all elective State officers expire with the present
year. ,
Presidential election will be affected auspciOusly
or disastrously by the defeat of the Re-
publican party of New-York. These considerations
are weighty enough TO impress every delegate with
ficulty and delicacy of delegates will be aggra-
waited by the presence If not the opportunities
of candidates. 1 do not IN this intend to reflect
upon gentlemen who act In accordance with changed
methods of conducting canvass. Yet cannot
but remember tnat there was more freedom OF
opinion and less constralnt IN action when conven-
tons were not thus embarrassed. II may not be out
of place or Improbable TO refer to the origin OF
state conventions They were inaugurated at Al
bany in the Spring of 1924 at Gourley's boarding
house III WashiDpton-st. 1 lie inventors were James
Ialimadge, OF PoqghkeePsie, Henry W heaiSn ana
James Mullett of Chauauqua, Grant Is BALDWIN
ana Gamaliel ii. Barstow, of Iioga, and myself.
Colonel samuel Young had been nominated t0r 10,
Governor by legislative caucus. william ii.
Crawford, OF Georgia, had been nominated FOR Pres
ident by IL Congressional caucus. John Quincy
Adams and Henry Clay were running as IL
ularze the canvass by Nominations 9 Tln-
anatlng directly from the. people, The
reform was eminently successful Governor CLINTON
and General Talimadgc were trinmphanty elected
Governor and dLieuIcnaIt-Governor. The Democracy
substituted State conventions Tor legislative eau
cuses in 1926.
In turning my thoughts back through an interval
of more than half "A century, the evening Of life Is
cbeered Dv tie reflection that participated III the
laDOTs of successive conventions Wnch auOTncu tue
archives OF our State with the names of is best ana
most eminent ct'gens as Governors, Lieutenant
Governors Secretaries of State, Attorneys-Generai,
Ireasurers, Canal Commissioners. etc.
But since my retirement "a new generation OF pub-
lie men has succeeded hose with whom was lden-
titied | am now less competent than formerly 10
iudge of their relative fitness for public dukes Oh
the gentlemen prominently named IA candidates
for Governor, were able 10 attend the convention,
| should vote for William ii. Robertson, whom L
have known long and Intimately enough TO be AS
sured of his ability, hdelity aud integrity.
Judge Robertson, came INTO pubnc llle as II MEN,
Der of Assembly thirty wears ago, and has been
State Legislatures almost ever since. man VINO
has been accustomed to do right Tor series OF
wears acquires habit as useful Ill public as III
private hfc Ii, how veT, either of the other geu-
uenen named should be tue choice OF the conFen-
tion | shall cheerfully acqncsce In It's decision,
giving TO the nominee my hearty support ine re-
sponsl bIiIics and difficulties of the convention Will
not terminate its selection of the first name on
the tickets. That TIC ket to be strong as whole,
should be strong in all its parts. Every nominee
should be selected, not by combinations, but
independently. Here again my limited nc
am constrained. however, to express the hope that
Mr. oan, of Oswego, ana MIR. Rogers. OF Buffalo.
will have prominent positions assigned TO them
upon the ticket 1t for any reason deemed sufficient
the convention should think proper To look out
side of the roll of candidates tney would hnd
Fish Iieutenant Governor George W. Patterson,
VIce-P President " illiain A. Wheeler, Oenera l.. W.
Leavenworth, Congressman Lew l.. Morton, or
MISUNDERSTANDING OF State Frederick W. ward,
Very truly yonrs, THURLOw WEED.
10 General GEORGE II. SHARPE.