Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-03-28
DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION, JULY s,
lS52,-PARIS HILL.

In former letter referred TO the nota-
BILE Convention OF July s, 1852. l have
some recollections Of that Convention
which may be interesting to some Of your
readers. In the first place, Ii was COM
posed OF many OF the leading men In the
county. There was lodge Stephen Emery,
Hiram Hubbard and DR.. T. II. Brown, OF
Paris; Joseph Tobin and Isaac Strickland,
of Livermore; Elbridge Gerry, OF Water
ford; Z. L. Osgood, OF Fryeburg; c. 7.
Kimball, o; Norway; Cyrus ingalls,. OF
Denmark; John Walker, OF Lowell; Alden
Chase, Sidney Perham aud II. c. Davis, Of
Woodstock; Lyman Rawson and A. b.
Goodwin, OF Rumford; n. B. Hubbard and
John II. Spring, of Hiram; II. A. Ellis, OF
Canton, and other men Of note have no
time to mention.
The two wings then existing In the par
ty came together to measure swords, and
1ght TO win. There was bitter contest
over the organization OF the Convention.
Several seats were contested, and much
time was consumed In settling these ques-
tions Then came the tug of war over the
presiding officer, which resulted in the
election OF Isaac Strickland over Judge
Emery. The Convention was held In the
old court house. The day was unsuffera-
bly, hot, and all available room was cram
med with spectators. In some of the votes
upon preliminary questions 1t was impossi-
bic 10 get correct count, and the Conven-
ton adjourned out OF doors, formed two
lines upon the common, and were counted
OF by tellers.
The members stood 1t as long as they
could In the court house, and then ad-
journed to the Baptist church TO renew the
fight.
on the vote for Senator from the west
ern portion OF the county, James Walker
had - votes and ONeil w. Robinson i6.
The majority was Unexpectedly large, and
what was then known As the "hunker"
wing raised shout, and rushed for sec
oud ballot, for q candidate from the east
ern portion; but on account OF certain
flank movements on the part OF the Hub
bard party''-as the other wing was called,
the hunkers became demorsllzed, and
Lyman Rawsop, the candidate ofthe " Hub
bard men," led,-Rawson having IL, j. J.
Holman %, c. 7. Holland 25, John n. Eus-
tbs Is, and IA scattering. The next ballot
Rawson run up to 80, Holman 80. The srd
ballot Rswson had 80, and Holman 62-no
choice, on account OF q few scattering
votes.
At this stage OF the proceedings, 1t now
being about IL o'clock at night, portion
OF the bunker wing 1t was said became
somewhat exhausted and dry" and they
resorted 70 the hotel for " refreshments.
The Hubbard men saw their time had come,
forced a ballot, and by q show Of hands
found themselves in the msjority. The
balloting was nearly completed and the
box about to be turned, which uudoubted-
ly would have shown Judge Rawson nom-
mated. The hunkers saw their dilemma;
they had no time to rally their thirsty
brethren at the hotel; and, as last resort,
to defeat their opponents and break up the
ballot, one OF their number amid the wild
cheering OF the hunkers crdmmed into the
bor a INST fuH Of rOtes, numbering some I'VE
or six hundred. This OF course destroyed
the ballot.
The men at the hotel were rushed back
TO the Convention, and upon the next bal
lot. Holman was declared nominated by /?
majority.
The subsequent ballotings for candidates
did not run on the same lines that divided
the Convention upon the Senatorial candi-
dates. Personal considerations entered
more or less into the issues between can
didates. For Clerk OF the Courts, Charles
W. Walton had 40 votes, and Sullivan Z.
Andrews Al and IL scattering. For Couu-
ty Attorney, David R. Hastings received
~, and Timothy Ludden 40. For County
Commissioners, John n. Spring OF Hiram
beat Cyrus Iugalls and Ajalon Dillingham;
who was the candidate OF the Hubbard
wing, was nominated for the eastern part
Of the county.
Near the close Of the proceedings, a. res
olution was offered pledglug the members
Of the Convention to the support OF reg
ular nominations, which would include DR..
Hubbard, the regular nominee for Governor,
aud laid upon the table by the hunkers.
Messrs. Walker and Holman were elected
by very small majority, and the next win
ter went over to the Wings neck and heels
by voting for VIM. G. Crosby, the Wing
candidate for Governor. 1t was q
want of confidence in their political integ-
rity, that created such vigorous opposi-
ton to their nomination in this Conven-
ton.
The extraordinary proceedings connect
ed with this political meeting was 1.-THE
feather that broke the camel's back" A
large number of the members Of this Con-
vention, including many men OF influence
and high standing, In the political world,
went away determined to fight these pro-
ceedings at the polls, by organized action.
A mass convention Of the unterri6ed De-
mocracy was called and held at Norway,
which placed q new ticket In the field;
and although 1t did not succeed that year,
IL proved the death Of the old Democratic
party in Oxford county, and raised the In
depe ndent flag which now floats under the
name Of Republican" not only in ma
jority o ( States, but over the National Cap
tel a.. m, ahinnfon i. j. 2.