The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1884-07-18
FIRST DAYS PROCEEDINGS.

FIRST DAYS PROCEEDINGS.
ION the afternoon preceding the opening Of
the National Democratic convention in Chi
cago meeting of the New York delegation
was held for the purpose of obtaining the
delegates views as to the choice of a presi-
dental candidate. Interest centered in the
New York delegation on account of the divis-
ion among its members regarding the availa-
bllity of Governor Cleveland as a candidate
minority of the members, led by the Tam
many Hall delegates, were opposed to Cover
nor Cleveland, and were determined to make
en- effort to prevent the enforcement of the
unit rule, which provided that the vote of the
delegation should be cast in convention for
the candidate selected by a majority of its
members. An informal ballot on the delegates
choice for presidential candidate showed
that Cleveland had 46 votes; Flower %: Til
den, l; Bayard, /, and Thurman /. Upon
formal ballot the vote resulted: Cleveland
AZ; Slocum, ID; Bayard, g.; Flower l. A
resolution was then offered that the chairman
OF the delegation be instructed to pre- sent
governor Clevelands name to the convention
and that the chairman cast the IL votes of
New York for him until further orders. The
resolution was opposed by Messrs. Kelly and
Grady, and advocated by Colonel Fellows II
was finally passed by ii yeas against
IL nays. Upon ballot being taken sixty
one votes were cast in favor of the enforce
ment of the unit rule and eleven votes against
such enforcement The resolution was
amended at MIR. Grady's request, and by its
provisions Chairman Manning was directed
TO announce upon the call of States that the
Saratoga convention instl ucted the delegates
10 vote as unit; that a vote having been
taken for choice of candidates, forty nine
favored Cleveland and twenty three dele
gates had other preferences and were divided
between Flower, Bayard and Slocuml
The following is an authentic COPY of a
communication to Mr.. Barnum, the chairman
OF the national committee, from Mr. Tilden,
dated at Greystone-on-theH Hudson, and made
public on the eve of the convention:
To The Hon. William II. BaJn,tnl, Chicago,
!H.-l have received your telegram inform
ing me of the disposition to nominate me for
the presidency, and asking, evil you accept
unanimous nomination from the conven-
tlon" and also telegram from Mr.. Manning
saying, ut seems absolutely necessary that
you ~ should answer Barnums telegram as
soon as possible
=, Your inquiry was explicitly answered in
!he negative by my lettor of June 10 to Mr.
Manning. S. ]. TIIDEY,
thoccil ullpISittlu people were present at the
opening of the National Democratic conven-
tlon, held in the vast hall at Chicago occupied
month previous by the National Republican
convention The hall was decorated with
nags, and band of music performed before
the opening of the convention
AT l2:4O ex-senator Banum chairman Of
the national committee raped the conven-
tlon to order Prayer was offered by the
Kew. Mr.. Marquis. Chairman Barnum than
sad that harmony seemed to prevail through
out the party, and it was their intention to
nominate ticket that would harmonic the
country and insure victory in November In
the Seirr'ion made by the national committee
OF a temCorni chairman, it had been guided
py desire To lave an impartial officer Such
q man was Governor Richard b. Hubbard, Of
Texas, whom the committee had elected chair
man unanimously The selection was ratified
by the convention, and Governor Hubbard
was escorted to the stage by A. S. Hewitt, of
New York, Senator Jones' of Louisiana and
George L. Barnes, of Georgia.
Governor Hubbard made an address in
winch he said that there was never n time
when the Democrats had SO good chance for
success as the present; deprecated the bloody
shirt cry of the Republicans: declared the
democrats would reform affairs, and urged
tnat whatever candidates were nominated
should be supported loyalty
General Smalley, OF Vermont, next offered
aresolutlon which was adopted by the nation
previous
conventions rule this convention, with this
difference, that in voting for candidates for
President and Vice President, no State be al
lowed to change the vote until the roll of all
the States was called
Senator Grady, of New York, offered an
amendment that when the vote of any State
was announced it could he challenged and the
roll called by individuals; that the vote as so
announced by individuals should he recorded
as the vote of the delegates.
Debates on Mr. Grady's proposed amend
ment followed Messrs John Kelly. Grady
and Cochran, all of New York, and others
favored the amendment, and MeSsrs. Fellows
ana Jacobs, of New York and Others. opposed
us adoption. When debate had ceased a vote
by States was taken, with the following re-
suit; Total number of votes cast, 7q5: yeas,
SS3%' nays, 463. Mr.. Grady's amendment was
therefore lost, and the original resolution was
adopted unanimously, after which the con-
ing day.