Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-07-03
50 YEARS AGO
Politics Through the Courier's
Spectacles.
AS PAPER SAW 1T THEN
Issue Of June "a, 1852, Contained
Story Of the Nomination of General
Winfield Scott to the Presidency by
the Wings.

In the Courier of June "a, 1852, is an
account of the nomination of General
Winfield Scott, for the presidency by
the Wing convention of that year held
in Baltimore, Nd. Several reports
preliminary to the convention were
given announcing prospects for the
various candidates in the field. From
the report received from Baltimore
dated June 10, Fillmore was announc-
ed as the most favorable candidate;
Webster next, and Scott last. During
the days of the convention the city of
Baltimore was filled with immense
crowds and the new arrivals kept
reaching the city. Excitement was
intense and great interest was mani
tested in the work of the convention.
The Platform.
Sat meeting of the convention
held on June 16 platform was adopt
ed embracing all good Wing doctrines
containing the following principles:
Judicious tariff. improvement of riv-
ers and harbors, non-interference of
foreign powers, the doctrine of Wash
ington, and finality of compromise, in
Guiding the fugitive slave law"
A telegram dated June 16 announc.
ed that Fillmore was out of the cues.
ton with reference to the nomination
for the Presidency and that the con-
test was between Webster and Scott.
Webster's chances are considered the
best as he numbers strong supporters
both among the Scott and Fillmore
men. Some Scott men are sanguine
but the general feeling Is for the de.
feat of Fillmore.
June Is the first inklings of any i'm
portance as to the doings of the Bal.
timore Wing convention were receiv-
ed in the city about s o'clock Satur.
day evening. 1t is to be inferred
from the notice given with regard to
an omission in certain resolution,
that the convention had agreed upon
the platform previous to going into
nomination. On this day the first bal.
lot was taken and resulted as follows:
Fillmore 1873, Scott 131, Webster 90.
Thirty ballots We're taken on that
day and on the last one the result was
Fillmore 1913, Scott 1874, Webster %.
Showing that Webster was holding
his own and Scott made gain of 5
from the forces of Fillmore
Concerning the final outcome O. tt ;
convention the Courier has the follow
ing: eve received yesterday even
ing dispatch dated Baltimore, June
81, conveying the intelligence that
General Winfield Scot twas yesterday
nominated on the fifty-third ballot, as
tho Nhfo candidate
ceiving 152 votes. Nothing further re.
ceived."
Internal improvements.
The Courier of June "a, 1852, con.
tains the following on the manner in
which the people of those times could
look for the position which would be
maintained by the candidates of the
democratic party with regard to in.
ternal improvements:
Whatever doubts may arise from
the phraseology of the Baltimore dem.
ocratic resolutions in regard to the
position of the party upon the ques-
ton of internal improvements are now
definitely settled by the character of
the nominees for the Presidency and
the vice presidency of the United
States.
"The candidate for the presidency
halls from New Hampshire. which
has ever maintained the most nostra
ultra ground against western improve.
ments and protection to home indus.
try. And General Pierce himself
when in congress voted universally
against every bill brought forward OF,
behalf of western improvements, in.
deed, he went so far as to record his
in opposition to several bills of that
character which were passed by con,
gress and approved by Jackson him.
self.
mo one needs information ar to
the position of an Alabama Locofoco
like William R. King, upon these cues.
tons, he would not be an Alabama
Locofoco, if he We're not deadly hos.
tile to the true interests of the north
and west"
Des Moines River Affairs.
The matter of the Des Moines river
improvements was a question that
caused the early Inhabitants of this
section considerable trouble. Con
corning this matter the Courier of
June "a, 1852, contained the follow.
ing:
General Van ANTWERP, commission
er OF river improvements, returned
from the east last week. We under
stand that nothing has been effected
by way OF raising means to carry on
the work. and that matters remain as
they were.
1T Is probable that the official or
gan of the commissioners, the Dis
patch, will be able to give a more de
tailed account of matters, but it viii
be all the same in substance.
ABOUT the last of July or first Of
August We think it safe to calculate
that there will be good news for the
people of the Des Moines valley and
after the election they will have leis
ure to inquire whether the news be
true as well as good"
BRYAN WAR ON CLEVELAND.
Silver Apostle Attacks the Former
Chat M ,r:.x.