The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-05-02
The Unit Rule.


The MAHoSE Republican Convention in-
structed its delegates 10 the Republican
National Convention to vote as unit
that Is 10 say, to vote for ARTHUR. These
instructions have no value whatever. In
1880 the New York Republican State Con-
yeniion instructed the delegates from that
State 10 the National Convention to vote as
n unit; and Mr.. CoYELISG, the chairman
OF the delegation, was reported. as having
said that when the name Of the State 81
New York should be called he would
cast It's entire vote, although he knew
that number OF the delegates
claimed the right to vote each as hepleased,
or by districts. But what was the result {!
MIR. GARFIELD as chairman OF the Commit
tee on Rules reported in favor OF district
representation, and the Convention py
large majority adopted that rule, although
the GRANT delegates, led by such inuuen-
tial men as CoYKLISG, CAMERON, and Lo-
GAN, made bitter fight against it. The
adoption Of that rule, which was advo'
Gated and voted for by the BLAINE
men, sealed the fate OF GRANT,
LOGAN. aud C0NKLING, and Of the third
term. Under the operation OF that rule
The votes OF a number OF the instructed
deleeates from New York, Pennsylvania,
Illinois. and other States, were cast and
counted for BLAINE. And the chairman OF
the committee that reported against the
unit rule was made the nominee OF the Ma
,ional Convention. and became President
of the United States.
Now, here in Virginia, in 1854. the Ma
BoNs Republicans have attempted to give
new life to the unit rule discarded in 1850,
and 10 fetter the delegates 10 the Republl-
can National Convention OF this year.
VIII the attempt be successfully OF course
IL the delegates choose TO vote as unit
they can do so. Nobody will object. No
body could successfully object. But II the
delegates from even one district snail
claim the right TO vote for candidate
for whom the delegates from the other
eight districts shall not be willing to
vote, they will be permitted to do SO.
There can be no doubt upon this point.
The question was settled four years ago.
The name Of GARFIELD will prove potent
spell in the next National Republican Con-
vention, composed as it will be largely OF
BLAINE. GARFIELD delegates, and nobody
will dare TO propose to adopt the unit rule
which was rejected by the last Convention
after being denounced by the man who a
year later was murdered.
The Democratic delegation from Vir-
GINA had some trouble in 1876, in st.
Louis, growing out OF the attempt to en-.
force the unit rule in that delegation. Mr..
BOCOCK made a beautiful and eloquent
speech in the delegation in favor OF the
adoption of the unit rule, and the delega-
tion decided by large majority about
four to one) to vote as unit. But the ac-
ton OF the majority was not held to be
binding upon the minority, one OF whom
at least Colonel NJ. G. HARMAN) de-
manded in open Convention and was
accorded the right TO vote for his
own favorite candidate to the last.
He voted on both ballots there were
only two) for HENDRICKS, and when
on the second ballot Mr.. BOCOCK, the chair
man of the delegation, reported that he was
authorized (as he thought he was) to make
the vote of the Virginia delegation unani-
nous for TILDEN, Mr.. HARTMAN still objected.
FITz HUGH LEE, HENRY +. PEYTON, WILL
LIAM LAMB, and Mr.. PRINCE were the dele
gates who voted for BAYARD; and BOCOCK,
FLOURN Y. WATTS, JOHNSON. ANsoN, SUTH-
ERLAND, HINTON, MANN, SoUTHALL, MERE
DITH, GUNTER, O'BMEN, SINCLAIR, NEAL,
CoGBILL, GOODWIN, and General JAMES \.
WALKER for TILDEN.
These names and facts are republished
as interesting. The facts show that the
unit rule Is q rule that binds nobody eX-
cept those who choose to be bound by it,
whether in Democratic or Il Republican
National Convention.
M. DIo,nn Ta-Do,r