The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-14
PALMER'S POLITICAL PINS
The Ex-Governor Fixing the Wires for
a Presidential Nomination.
a Forthcoming Document Which Is Ex-
Pected to Create a Sensation and
Destroy the Republican Party.
special to ths rndiananoli. .1onrna,.

special 10 the indianapolis Journal
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, Feb. 13.-Soon after the
recent election OF United States senator by
the Legislature of this State, letters began to
come in to Ex-Governor John NJ Palmer, of
this city, who was the Democratic caucus
nominee for that position, urging him to
contest the seat of Senator-elect Cullom,
upon the ground that the constitution pro-
hibits the Legislature from electing a Gov.
ernor to any other position during the
period fer which he was elected. These
appeals have come from leading Democrats
in all parts of the State, and have been
backed by the personal appeals
OF Democratic members of the
Legislature. 1t is understood that
these had had their influence on on the ex-
Governors mind; but after conferences with
his political friends he had decided not to
contest the seat but to content himself with
giving to the country an open letter protest
ing against the election of Culom and going
extensively into the rights of the States in
and to the services of the men elected by
them to fill State offices, and making vigor-
GUS onslaught on the use of public patronage
to aid the reelection of such incumbents or
to secure their promotion. The letter, it is
said will not only deal extensively with
opinions of others on the constitutional
inhibition in Illinois, but will contain Gov
ernor Palmers own views and will urge that
the States should now move in concert to fix
such an inhibitory rule throughout the coun-
try thereby compelling a new recognition
by the general government of the authority
of the States, acting through their Legisla-
lures
The letter, it is understood, has been can
vassed, not only with leading Democrats in
Illinois, but with several who are prominent
in the party in adjoining States, and that it
will be made to take such scope and to
deal with several public questions i'll such
way as to constituteit the foundation fora
Palmer boom for the Democratic nomination
for President in 1884. 1t is well known here
that the Ex-Governor has aspirations in this
direction, and it will be remembered that
some time ago he was in receipt of letter
from Samuel J. Tlden, suggesting to him
that it would be accepted as friendly act il
he would state whether, in case Mr.. Tilden
should conclude to become presidential
candidate, Governor Palmer would consent
to stand for the second place on the ticket.
1t is stated on very good au-
thority that Governor Palmer's reply was
exceedingly friendly and cordial as passing
| letter, but exceedingly noncommittal as
political missive; in fact, that it gave the
sage of Gramercy Park an opportunity to
read between the lines something to the
effect that Palmer considered himself as good
man as Tilden, and not disposed to play
| second fiddle to anybody as Democratic
candidate for the presidenoy---
The time, mentioned indefinitely, for the
appearance of Palmer's letter is about the
expiration of the present Congress, and one
of the exGovernor's friends has been heard
to say that it twill contain few bones for
Western Republicans to gnaw at, and some
things that will attract the attention of the
country"