The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-02-16
FIRST nominating CONVENTION
WAS HELD IN NEW YORK IN 1871: AND WAS THE RESULT OF IN.
SURGENCY IN THE PARTY

Sullivan gives his story of the Fed
cralist convention in one Of his let
tiers. and his son. who published in
1897 u revised edition of the book
under the title Public Men of the
Revolution gives in 'foctnote to that
particular letter his recollection OF
what his father told him.
! The elder Sullivan. according TO his
sons account. was at Saratoga
Springs in the summer of 1912 with
Il fellow Fcderalist of western Massa-
chuse,ts. Governor Roger Griswcld
of Connecticut. a stiff Fedcralist. also
was then at the Springs. but confin-
ed to his room with illness. Sulli-
Van and his friend used to call upon
Griswoid daily to talk politics and
when the governor was at length too
i'll to receive them, they took long
walks in the woods and continued the
discussions.
The really believed that the union
was in danger because of Madison's
war policy and they at last decided
that the thing to do was TO call a ma
tional convention of the federalists and
nominate a candidate against Madi-
son. They apportioned the work of
correspondence among themselves and
others and Sullivan seems &c think
that but for the chance meeting AT
Saratoga there would have been no
convention.
Kings letters Of midsummer, 1912.
DO not indicate Sullivan's share in
bringing about the convention. 1t
seems. however. that the leaders of
II Federalists believed the time had
come TO make an appeal to the rank
and file of the party and there is I've
somc reason to believe tina the New
York members of the convention we're
chosen by local conventions in at least
SOME of the counties. The term
Peace Party" was employed in the
correspondence of the leaders and the
attempt was to make the movement a
genuine popular uprising of both par
ties against Madison and the Virgin
ians and their southwestern and south
crn allies.
Up to September Q King was doubt
ful whether or not he should attend
the convention, but when it met on the
fifteenth he was present. King says
there were upwards of sixty gentle
mem in attendance. S%ullivan's let
ter says eleven states were represent
ed by seventy delegates. There was
some attempt at A just apportion-
ment. New York had eighteen dele
gates. and most of the smaller states
had from TWO to four. while others
-'''' StH wv A"NiNSs ~ Adlls
fornia was the only far southern state
represented. Sullivan says the body
was one of great distinction and he
begS survivors who read his book to
recall the dignity and patriotism dis
played by the delegates.
King vas not so we'll pleased with
the convention and its work. After
reports from various delegates as to
conditions in their states it was re-
solved that the Fedcralists could not
hope to defeat Madison with Il candi-
date of their WI party. This action
pointed to the Endorsement of Clinton.
The convention sat for three days and
came near breaking up without action
and in strong disagreement. King de-
nounced Clinton A good deal in the
style employed by Hamilton in speak
ing of Burr.
The Pennsylvanians and the mem
bers from the south We're anxious to
take a steamer for Philadelphia at .
o'clock on the eighteenth and the time
was getting short with nothing accom-
plished, when Harrison Gray Otis of
Massachusetts. afterward a leader in
the Hartford convention arose, hat in
hand. TO urge the Endorsement of Gin
ton. He spoke langnidly for a minute
or two and. then. warming up, drop
ped his hat on the floor and poured
forth an eloquent appeal that fairly
took the convention off its feet, IL
performance to be repeated by ora
tors in many great conventions since.
The result was that Clinton was unan-
imously endorsed in spite of Kings
reluctance and the Pennsylvanians
and their southern colleagues caught
the steamer for Philadelphia.