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Digital file copyright by Cornell University
Library 1994.DOCUMENTS
RELATING TO THE
NEW YORK CONTEST
SHOWING THE
CLAIMS OF THE DELEGATION
BLBCTBD BI CONGRESS DISTRICTS,
(IN ACCORDANCE WITH PRECEDENT AND OSAGE,)
TO SEATS IN THE
CHARLESTON CONVENTION.
NEW YORK, MARCH, 1860.
PRINTED BY J. W. BELL, (TIMES BUILDING,) 40 PARK ROW.
I860.DOCUMENTS
RELATING TO
THE NEW YORK CONTEST.
THE FIRST ASTOR HOUSE MEETING.
Pursuant to circulars issued by Hon. Ausburn
Birdsall, a meeting of about one hundred Nau
tional Democrats, from various sections of the
state, met at the Astor House, on the 10th of
May, 1859. Hon. John Cramer, of Saratoga,
was called to the chair, and Hon. Gideon J.
Tucker, of New York, appointed secretary. On
motion of Hon. John 0. Mather, of New York,
a committee of one from each judicial district
was appointed to confer with the Democratic
State Committee, and request a postponement of
the election of delegates to the Charleston Con-
vention, until after the state election, in No-
vember next, shall have been held. On motion
of Thornton M. Niven, Esq., of Orange, the
following resolution was adopted:—
“ Resolved, that it is the sense of this meeting
that the delegates of the Charleston Convention,
should be selected by the Democracy of the se-
veral congressional districts, and not by a state
convention.”
. The chair appointed the following gentlemen,
members of the committee, to confer with the
State Committee, viz:—
1st District—Fernando Wood, New York.
2nd	“	Edwin Oroswell, Westchester.
3rd	“	Wm. F. Russell, Ulster.
4th “ Thos. B. Mitchell, Schenectady.
5th	“	John M. Jaycox, Onondaga.
6th	“	Wm. G, Sands, Chenango.
7th	“	Stephen H. Parker, Ontario. -
8th	“	Harvey Goodrich, Orleans.
On motion, the chairman of the meeting was
added to such committee. The meeting then ad-
journed the 31st instant.
JOHN CRAMER, Chairman.
Gideon J. Tucker, Secretary.
THE SECOND ASTOR HOUSE
MEETING.
A meeting of National Democrats, number-
ing about three hundred persons from every
portion of the state convened at the Astor House,
New York city, on the 31st day of May, 1859,
in compliance with the following circular :
New York, May 21, 1859.
Dear Sir : At the preliminary assemblage of
National Democrats, from different parts of the
state, representing over thirty counties, held at
the Astor House in this city, on the 10th instant,
for consultation in regard to the future action of
the party, it was resolved to hold an adjourned
meeting at the same place on the 31st instant, at
12, M., in order to secure a more general attend-
ance and expression of opinion, and agree upon
a plan of action. The meeting, numbering over
one hundred of our friends, was harmonious and
spirited, giving assurance that the heart of the true
and loyal Democracy, of the state, which has never
faltered in upholding the banner of the party, still
beats true to the cause. At the adjourned meeting,
it is the earnest wish of our friends who assem-
bled on the 10th, that their associates of the Old
Guard should be fully represented from every
county in the state. In their behalf 1 invite
your attendance, and express the hope that you
will not fail to be present.
Respectfully and truly yours,
A. BIRDSALL.
The meeting was called to order by Hon.
Richard Schell, who, in the absence of
Edwin Oroswell, Esq., (who was unavoidably
detained and did not arrive till nearly 1, P. M.,)
moved the Hon. Daniel D. Akin, of Dutchess
county in the chair. Four vice-chairmen and
four secretaries were appointed, as follows:
Vice Chairmen.—Peter S. Danforth, of
Schoharie; James T. Soutter, of New York,
William Williams, of Erie; James D. Lit-
tle, of Putnam.4
DOCUMENTS RELATING TO
Secretaries.—Edmund G-. Sutherland, of place of the next meeting of the State Com-
Westchester : William G-. Bryan, of Genesee : mittee, as soon as agreed upon, and in the mean-
George W. Greene, of Orange; Stephen H.
Parker, of Ontario.
It was stated that the committee appointed
at the meeting held at the Astor House on the
10 th May, (and which had been instructed to
report to this meeting,) had prepared a report,
and it was accordingly read by S. H. Parker,
Esq., as follows:
REPORT.
The committee appointed under and in pur-
suance of the following resolution, viz :
Resolved, That a committee of one from each
judicial district, together-with the chairman of
this meeting, be appointed to meet the State
Committee, in order to produce unity of action
in the Democratic party of this state, and to in-
sist that the selection of delegates to the Charles-
ton Convention shall be made subsequent to the
next state election, and that the committee re-
port to an adjourned meeting, on the 31st inst.,
at noon, at the Astor House, New York,
RESPECTFULLY REPORT:
That your committee immediately organized
by the selection of Fernando Wood, chair-
man, and William G. Sandses secretary, and
a letter, of which the following is a copy, was
prepared and forwarded, by direction of the
committee, to Dean Richmond, Esq., chairman
of the State Committee, at Buffalo:
New York, May 11, 1859.
Dean Richmond, Esq.,
Chairman of the State Central Committee:
Dear Sir : At a meeting of members of the
Democratic party, representing nearly every
congressionol district in the state, held in this
city on the 10th inst., a committee of one from
each judicial district was appointed to confer
with the State Central Committee on subjects of
vital interest to the Democracy of the state. As
chairman of this committee, I have been instruct-
ed to address you, and to respectfully solicit an
ealy meeting of your body to the end that we
may have an opportunity to confer with it
this month upon the subjects referred to.
Respectfully yours,
FERNANDO WOOD,
Chairman of Committee.
On the 21st inst., a reply, of which the follow-
ing is a copy, was received from Mr. Richmond.
New York, May 19, 1859.
Dear Sir : I received your letter just as I was
leaving for New York. The subject of affording
an opportunity for general consultation among
Democrats, with a view to an efficient campaign
next fall, has already been brought to our atten-
tion by our friends in other parts of the state.
Upon consulting with such of my colleagues as I
have seen, and from my knowledge of the general
opinions of the others, I do not doubt they will
be happy to hear any suggestions from you or
others of their Democratic friends, in relation to
any subject of interest to the Democracy of the
state. Notice will be given of the time and
time I will be happy to receive any suggestions
that it may be desirable to lay before it.
Yery truly yours,
DEAN RICHMOND.
Hon. Fernando Wood.
Your committee have not yet been informed of
any meeting of the State Committee, nor does
any notice appear to have been taken of our
respectful request, that such a meeting should be
called by the chairman during the present month.
Our attempt to obtain a formal interview for the
purpose of communicating with the State Com-
mittee has therefore failed.
Your committee might rest in communicating
this correspondence to the meeting of Democrats,
do be re-couvened at the ^stor House, on the 31st
inst., but, in consideration of the unanimous sen-
timents which pervaded the previous assemblage,
on the 10th inst., we deem this a fit occasion to
suggest, that a renewed expression of those sen-
timents be made, in a distinct and public form.
The purposes and motives of ourselves and of
those with whom we act, should, in our judgment,
be set forth with clearness and decision.
The chief desire of those Democrats who con-
vened in a preliminary meeting at the Astor
House, on the 10th May, we understand to be,
that the time for the selection of the delegates to
be chosen to represent the state of New York,
in the Charleston Democratic Presidential Con-
vention, be not earlier than December next: in
other words, that the nominating conventions,
the political campaign, and the general election,
of 1859, be suffered to pass over, without an
agitation of presidential preferences, or a strife
between the friends of rival names, such as we
are now threatened with in our ranks. So
eminently proper and moderate a desire, which
we have not yet had the opportunity of presenting
formally to the State Committee, cannot surely
be gainsaid and ought not to be misrepresented.
The members of the meeting of the 10th May,
were the partisans of no particular candidate or
candidates; there were and are among us the
admirers and friends of each of those distinguished
statesmen whose claims will probably be urged
at Charleston. We are the partisans only of
peace and harmony in the ranks of our own
party, the advocates of moderation and delay for
the mutual good, the protestants against forcing
into a State Convention, and a state canvass,
during the present summer and fall, a premature
and damaging strife, which will weaken our or-
ganization, distract its councils, and repeat the
disastrous folly of the State Convention of 1858,
by throwing New York, once more, into the
hands of the Republicans, on the threshold of a
presidential contest.
We entertain no doubt, whatever, that the state
of New York can be carried by the Democratic
party in this present year, as easily as it was
carried in 1857. But now, even more than in
1857, we need what we then had, (in a happyTHE NEW YORK CONTEST.
-5
moment of conciliatory and harmonious feeling,)
we need an oblivion of past difficulties. All will
be lost if the next State Convention shall follow
in rashness, intolerance, and proscriptiveness, the
ill-omoned precedent of that of September, 1858.
The contrast of the two last State Conventions
is as marked and broad as the result of the
two state elections which respectively succeeded
them. We wish to return to the wiser and more
liberal course which leads to success, and to
repudiate the facticiousness and violence which
inevitably tend to defeat.
The presidential question, if brought into our
approaching State Convention, (the proper duty
of which, is solely the nomination of state officers
and the laying down of a state platform,) will
inevitably prove a firebrand. Grave differences,
both as to measures and men, will be developed ;
and the anticipation of * struggle for delegates
to the Charleston Convention, at Syracuse, in
September next, will light the torch of faction in
every township in our state, and renew those
divisions which it has been the labor of every
lover of his party and of its principles to quell
and extinguish.
From Democrats of every portion of the union,
we have had strong and earnest appeals that we,
of New York, would not suffer anything to stand
in the way of our active, energetic, mutual co-
operation together to redeem New York, in this
last struggle, before the great presidential cam-
paign. New York, proven Democratic in 1859,
can turn the balance in 1860. If the voice of
faction and the intolerance of ambitious leaders
can be made to subside, New York can and will
be Democratic in November next.
Your committee are convinced that the course
which is demanded by us, is not only the true
one by which a victory in this state can be
achieved in November, but it is, also, acknow-
ledged and perceived to be so, by the mass of the
most intelligent and devoted Democrats through-
out the state. There have been laid before your
committee, extracts from over thirty of the lead-
ing Democratic papers, including nearly every
one of our recognized party organs in the stronger
Democratic counties of the state. All these
breathe the same spirit, and unite in the same
request: with one voice they entreat the State
Committee to extinguish this spark of disturb-
ance, before it has burst into a flame.
That the duties of the regular State Nominating
Conventions do not properly, nor unless by the
universal consent or concurrence of their consti-
tuents, include the appointment of delegates to
Presidential Conventions, we have many evi-
dences. In 1848, two sets of delegates were sent
from this state to Baltimore, one by a separate
State Covention, called by a Legislative Caucus ;
the other, chosen by Congressional District Con-
ventions, under authority of a separate State
Convention, held at Albany in January.
In 1852, a single delegation was chosen to
Baltimore by Congressional District Conven-
tions, held in December, 1851, and ordered by
the State Committee. In 1856, double delega-
tions were sent to Cincinnati; one chosen in 1855
by a State Nominating Convention, (which
course, however, was recommended and approved
of by every newspaper in the state sustaining
that organization;) and the other chosen by a
State Convention, held in January, 1856. It will
thus be seen that but one out of five State Nomi-
nating Conventions, held in the years preceding
Presidential Conventions, has proceeded to the
appointment of National delegates, and this one,
in a peculiar instance, and with a unanimous con-
currence among its adherents, which contrasts
strongly with the general dissent expressed by
the Democratic people at this time.
The Democratic Senators and Assemblymen
at the close of the last session of the Legislature,.
have, in the address issued to their constituents,
carefully confined themselves to the discussion of
state matters, and ignored the subject of federal
politics. The newspapers, avowedly the exponents
of the views of the State Committee, have de-
fended and applauded this silence upon general
politics. Nay, the State Convention of 1858,
With a professed anxiety to avoid committal
upon national questions, declared itself in these
words:
Resolved, That the Democracy of New York,
while not indifferent to the merits and claims of
distinguished Democratic statesmen, of their own
and sister states, are devoted to the great work
of establishing the ascendancy of their political
principles within their own limits, and of co-
operating with their brethren of the other states,
in their maintenance thoughout the union, and
cannot be diverted from this paramount duty to
mingle in controversies among political leaders,
or to become subservient to the aspirations of
statesmen, however able and worthy. Principles,
not men, is the sentiment which at this time
peculiarly should be inscribed on their banner
and lead them on to victory.
The request which we now have to make of
the State Committee, is, that it will, for the
present year, still permit the Democratic masses
to withdraw from and avoid all “ controversies
among political leaders ” and ignore all “ aspira-
tions of statesmen.” This, surely, is but reason-
able.
We desire to urge the State Committee, and,
(had we been permitted to appear before them,
would have urged them in accordance with your
instructions,) to declare openly, that in their
judgment, it is not the duty of the next State
Nominating Convention to meddle, in any manner,
with president making. We desire to urge
them to leave over, till after the state election—
till the battle has been fought, and, we trust,
won, in November—the whole question of the
presidency. And this, not in a spirit of dicta-
tion, but frankly as Democrats, members of a
common party, and claiming, therefore, a common
interest, (to quote the resolution under wffiich
your committee has been acting,) “ to produce
unity of action in the party.”
Since we have not had the opportunity of6
DOCUMENTS RELATING TO
appearing before the State Committee, we respect-
fully recommend that the meeting to be held on
the 31st inst., shall distinctly request the State
Committee to suffer the presidential question to
be passed over till the state election has termi-
nated.
All which is respectfully submitted.
FERNANDO WOOD, 1st District.
EDWIN CROSWELL, 2d District.
JOHN CRAMER,	Ud District
WILLIAM F. RUSSELL, j AJlStrlCt'
THOMAS B. MITCHELL, 4th District.
JOHN M. JAYCOX, 5th District.
WILLIAM G. SANDS, 6th District.
STEPHEN H. PARKER, 7th District.
HARVEY GOODRICH, 8th District.
The business of the meeting having been thus
harmoniously concluded, a general interchange of
sentiment was had among prominent gentlemen
present, who expressed themselves, with great
unanimity of opinion, that the state could be
carried for the Democratic candidates in Novem-
ber. 1859, if the disturbing question of the presi-
dency could but be kept out of the convention.
The business of the meeting being concluded,
Hon. Mr. Wilson, of Kings county, proposed
three cheers for James Buchanan, president of
the United States, which was responded to with
a will, and the meeting adjourned.
DANIEL D. AKIN,
Chairman.
Committee.
The following resolutions were then proposed.
Some discussion then took place, and the report
and resolutions were both unanimously adopted.
Peter S. Danforth,
James T. Soutter,
William Williams,
James t). Little,
Vice Chairmen.
Whereas, The chairman of the Democratic State
Committee, has expressed a willingness to lay
before that body any suggestions which may be
offered by individual members of the party, in
order to produce unity of action in the Democratic
party of this state ; and
Edmund G. Sutherland,
William G. Bryan,
George W. Greene,
Stephen H. Parker,
Secretaries.
Whereas, The time and manner of choosing
delegates to represent the Democracy of this
state in Presidential Nominating Conventions,
are unsettled by any fixed custom or precedent,
have been varying on different occasions, and are
matters of much interest and discussion at this
present time in the newspaper press ; and
Whereas, It is the sense of this meeting of
Democrats, from every county and congressional
district in the state, that the choice of delegates
should be postponed until after the general
election of 1859 ; and this also is the opinion and
advice of a majority of the Democratic presses of
the state, which have expressed themselves on the
subject; therefore,
Resolved, That we respectfully request the chair"
man and the secretary of the Democratic State
Committee, to convene a meeting of said com-
mittee at an early day, to take decisive action on
this question, by an expression of the views of
said committee, confining the duties of the next
State Convention to the nomination of a state
ticket, and to the care of the general interests of
the party in state matters, to the end that a
united and unimpeded effort may be made to
elect Democratic state officers and a Democratic
legislature in November next, and the great
state of New York restored to the brotherhood of
Democratic states.
Geo. W. Greene, Esq., editor of the Goshen
1 ndependent Republican, presented the following,
which was adopted unanimously :
Resolved, That the committee of one from each
judicial district, appointed at a meeting of the
National Democrats at the Astor House, be con-
tinued and authorized to receive any communica-
tions from the State Committee, in relation to the
election of delegates to Charleston, and to call
another meeting of this body if it shall be deemed
expedient.
THE PRESS
AND THE STATE COMMITTEE.
The following is a list of the fifty Democrats
newspapers, published in the state of New
York, which, in July and August, 1859, advo-
cated the postponement by the State Committee,
of the question of choosing delegates to the Na-
tional Convention, until after the state election
of November, 1959, and the choice of such de-
legates by single congress districts:
The Daily and Weekly News, New York,
The Democrat, Binghamton,
The Gazette, Elmira,
The Gazette, Cortland, '
The Republican, Plattsburgh,
The American Union, Ellicottville,
The Gazette, Hudson,
The Telegraph, Poughkeepsie,
The Daily and Weekly Democrat, West Troy,
The Daily and. Weekly Standard, Albany,
The Herald, Pine Plains,
The Daily and Weekly Post, Buffalo,
The Montgomery Star, Fonda,
The Daily and Weekly Democrat, Lock port,
The Daily and Weekly Courier, Syracuse,
The Gazette, Geneva,
The Democrat, Ogdensburgh,
The Union Democrat, Deposit,
The Democrat, Batavia,
The Democratic Union, Hamilton,
The Observer, Waterloo,
The Observer, Morrisville,
The Daily News, Schenectady,
The Gazette, Malone,
The Messenger, Canandaigua,
The Daily and Weekly Palladium, Oswego,,
The Independent Republican, Goshen,
The Tri-States Union, Port Jervis,THE NEW YORK CONTEST.
7
The Telegraph, Newburgh,
The Courier, Carmel,
The Democrat, Jamaica,
The Daily and Weekly Budget, Troy,
The Daily & Weekly Republican, Saratoga Spgs.,
The Reflector, Schenectady,
The Republican, Watkins,
The Democratic Herald, Catskill,
The Gazette, Cherry Valley,
The Democratic Republican, Schoharie,
The Republican Watchman, Greenport,
The Highland Democrat, Peekskill,
The Republican Watchman, Monticello,
The Eastern State Journal, White Plains,
The Herald, Yonkers,
The Press and Argus, Dunkirk,
The Wyoming Times, Perry,
The Daily Eagle, Brooklyn,
The Farmer’s Advocate, Bath,
The Republican, Glen’s Falls,
The Bee, Ovid,
The Courier, Canton.
THE MEETING
OF THE STATE COMMITTEE.
The Demoeratie State Committee met at the
Delevan House, Albany, August 3, 1859, Dean
Richmond in the chair, and Peter Oagger, se-
cretary. The following communication received
from the Astor House Committee, was read :
Albany, August 3, 1859.
To Dean Richmond, Esq.,
Chairman of the Democratic State Committee:
Sir : At a meeting of the Democratic citi-
zens, from various parts of state, held in the
city of New York, in May last, the undersigned
were appointed a committee to confer with the
Democratic State Committee in relation to an
effectual union and consolidation of the Demo-
cratic party of the state.
In compliance with the views and intentions of
the large body of Democrats represented at that
meeting, and in the hope of contributing toward
an object of such conceded importance to the
interests of the Democracy of the state and na-
tion, the undersigned avail themselves of the first
meeting of the State Committee, to invite a
frank and friendly interchange of opinions upon
this material question.
The undersigned are strongly impressed with
the conviction, that we are approaching one of
the most important elections ever held in this
state, involving, in its results, momentous con-
sequences to the well being and the good name of
the people of the state and the nation. Be-
sides the state finances and state policy, at that
election, will be presented as an issue, the danger
ous, if not treasonable, doctrines avowed by the
leader of the opposition in his Rochester speech.
Its results will determine whether the people of
our commonwealth are ready to sustain princi-
ples so destructive to the political and commer-
cial prosperity of the union, and so much at war
with the guarantees of the constitution.
The undersigned are impressed with the con-
viction, that it is the duty of the Democratic
party to remove from its councils every disturb-
ing element, to the end that it may enter the
contest free from internal difficulties or obstruc-
tions. Neither in the matter of principles or in
the selection of candidates, are any differences of
opinion apprehended. Unless other and extra-
neous questions are thrown into the State Con-
vention, a concurrence of views, auspicious of
the best result and materially contributing to it,
may be looked for with confidence by the Demo-
cracy of the union, as the harbinger of a glori-
ous triumph in the next great contest—that of
1860.
Having no personal or state preferences to
advance or to retard in the presidential cam-
paign; looking only to the materiality of the
success of the Democratic party of the nation, in
that most important struggle between the single-
handed forces of the Democracy, and the varied
combinations of the opposition, and pledged and
ready to sustain with our best energies the nomi-
nations of the Charleston Convention, we are
prepared to sacrifice every political and personal
interest to that cogent and absorbing consid-
eration, and to unite cordially with our brethren
throughout the state and the union, in earnest
and vigorous effort to secure its accomplishment.
Animated by these views, the undersigned desire
to see every feeling of rivalry, which may have
divided the Democratic party in the past years,
laid aside, and to meet the common adversary in
a resolute determination to carry the state.
This done, and we go into the National Con-
vention with the proud consciousness or having
done all that duty and patriotism demanded, and
with a far better prospect of harmonious action
in our state delegation there, than if we allow
the presidential question prematurely to inter-
mingle with the nominations and issues altogether
local. In this spirit, the undersigned tender for
themselves and for those for whom they act, the
assurance of a cordial fellowship, and respect-
fully submit the following proposition :
That the notice for the annual meeting of the
Democratic State Convention, be limited ex-
clusively to the election of delegates for the state
ticket and to questions of state policy, and that
the choice of delegates to the National Conven-
tion, and the mode thereof, be the subject of
future consideration.
Fernando Wood,	John Cramer,
W. F. Russell,	Edwin Croswell,
Stephen H. Parker, John M. Jayoox,
W. G. Sands,	Harvey Goodrich.
After remarks from Mr. William D. Ken-
nedy, of New York, in opposition to the views
of the memorialists, the following resolutions
were adopted by the State Committee:
Whereas, Some diversity of opinion exists,
among the Democratic electors of the state, In
regard to the subject of the choice of delegates
to the Democratic National Convention. And
whereas, after duly considering the communications
addressed to this committee, advocating on the8
DOCUMENTS RELATING TO
one side an expresss limitation of the action of
the convention, and onthe other a more enlarged
prescription of its duties ; and after a full and
free consultation on the subject, this committee
do not feel disposed to decide a question of this
moment, or to dictate to the Democracy of the
state in relation thereto, by attempting either to
limit or to enlarge the powers of their representa-
tives. And whereas, it is desirable and eminently
proper, that all such differences should be sub-
mitted to the Democratic electors of the state, to
he by them determined in State Convention;
therefore,
Resolved, That the chairman and secretary, in
issuing a call for the election of delegates to the
next Democratic State Convention, give notice
of such purpose in the following form :
The democratic electors of the several assem-
bly districts of the state, are requested to appoint
one delegate each to a State Convention, to be
held at Syracuse, on the 14th day of Septem-
ber next, at 12 o’clock, M., to nominate can-
didates for Secretary of State, Comptroller, Trea-
surer, State Engineer and Surveyor, Canal Com-
missioner, State Prison Inspector, Judge and
Clerk of the Court of Appeals, and to choose dele-
gates to the next National Convention, to he held at
Charleston, or to determine the manner in which, and
the times when, they shall he chosen, and for transact-
ing such other business as to the convention
may seem proper.
The State Committee then adjourned, sine
die.
OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS
OF THE REGULAR STATE CONVENTION.
Pursuant to notice given in the Democratic
newspapers of this state, as follows:
DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION.
At a meeting of the Democratic State Com-
mittee, held at Albany, August 3, the following
resolution was adopted:
Resolved, That the chairman and secretary, in
issuing a call for the election of delegates to the
next Democratic State Convention, give notice
in the following form :
The Democratic electors of the several assem-
bly districts of the state, are requested to appoint
one delegate each to a State Convention, to be
held at Syracuse, on the 14th day of September
next, at 12 o’clock, M., to nominate a candidate
for Secretary of State, Comptroller, Treasurer,
Attorney General, State Engineer and Surveyor,
Canal Commissioner, State Prison Inspector,
Judge and Clerk of the Court of Appeals, and to
choose delegates to the next National Conven-
tion, to be held at Charleston, or to determine
the manner in which, and the time when, they
shall be chosen, and for the transaction of such
other business as to the convention may seem
proper.
1st	Dist,
2d	a
8d	u
4th	a
5th	a
6th	u
7th	it
8th	a
C Daniel E. Sickles, New York,
\ Wm. D. Kennedy, New York,
C Edmund Driggs, Kings,
( Edward Haight, Westchester.
C Peter Cagger, Albany,
l C. L. McArthur, Rensselaer.
C R. H. Cushney, Montgomery,
( R. G. Stone, Clinton.
( John Stryker, Oneida,
l Dewitt C. West, Lewis,
j Harvey Hubbard, Chenango,
{ Hiram A. Beebe, Tioga.
C C. C. B. Walker, Steuben,
( E. P. Ross, Cayuga.
-[ Dean Richmond, Genesee.
The Democratic State Convention assembled
at Wieting Hall, in the city of Syracuse, on
the 14th day of September, 1859.
The hour of twelve, M., having fully arrived,
Mr. Smith, a delegate from Monroe, ascended
the platform and called the meeting to order. He
proposed that the Hon. Thomas G. Alvord, of
Onondaga, be appointed temporary chairman of
the convention, and put the question, which was
carried without opposition. Mr. Alvord as-
sumed the chair.
Mr. C. D. Murray, of Cattaraugus, moved
that Messrs. R. H. Shankland, of Cattaraugus,
and J. B. Hall, of Schoharie, be appointed
secretaries, pro tern, which was agreed to nem
con.
Mr. C. D. Murray, then offered the following
resolution:
Resolved, That regreting the difficulty in the
Democratic party in the city of New York, this
convention will not decide upon the regularity of
the two existing organizations there, and hereby
admit to seats in this convention, both of the
delegations from that city, with equal rights upon
this floor.
Mr. Cochrane, of New York, moved to lay
the resolution on the table, and called for the
ayes and noes.
The president said the ayes and noes could not
be taken at the present stage of the proceedings.
Mr. Cochrane appealed from the decision of
the chair.
The chair said no appeal could be taken before
the organization of the convention.
Mr. Murray continued to address the chair,
in the midst of which,
Mr. Oagger took the platform and nominated
John Stryker, of Oneida, as a temporary presi-
dent of the convention.
Mr. Stryker took a seat beside Mr. Alvord
on the platform.
President Alvord put the question on Mr.
Murray’s resolution, and declared it adopted.
Mr. Wood, of New York, moved a committee
on credentials. Carried.
Much confusion and some violence here oc-
curred, by which the proceedings of the regular
convention were interrupted for some minutes.
Order being partially restored,THE NEW YORK CONTEST.
9
Mr. Cochrane then asked the members of the
convention to retire to the rear of the hall. The
delegates who recognized Mr. Stryker, as chair-
man, then proceeded to that part of the hall.
Mr. Wood, of New York, took the floor. He
regretted that the harmony of this convention
had been marred by an attempt of men to usurp
the organization of the Democratic party. He
hoped that the convention would proceed in an
orderly, legitimate, and legal manner to the trans-
action of the business for which it was assembled.
He could only regret that men were so indifferent
to the integrity and honor of the party, as to
voluntarily absent themselves from this conven-
tion. The convention had proceeded to a tem-
porary organization in the regular manner. At
12 o’clock precisely, by Syracuse time, the con-
vention was organized by Mr. Smith, of Monroe,
whose seat was not contested and who had a
right to move the organization. A. chairman
was then duly chosen by a majority vote. That
chairman still retains the chair, and is the
regularly elected chairman of the Democratic
convention now assembled. (Applause.) The
proceedings had been conducted in accordance
with the custom in all the conventions ever
assembled in the state of New York. They
chose two secretaries, and the question was put
and carried by a decisive vote. No interruption
was made, from any quarter, until Mr. Murray
had moved a resolution respecting the New York
contested seats. They all knew the trouble which
had followed, yet the resolution only sought to
settle, in a fair and honorable manner, the contro-
versy which had so long palsied the arm of the
Democracy of the state. He then commented
on the quarrels in New York, declaring he
respected Old Tammany for what she had done
for the Democracy in the days of the past, but
could not longer support her usurpations. He
was in favor of meeting the Tammany delegates
on fair and equal terms, and the resolution ex-
pressive of that desire had been put and carried
beyond cavil. Fifteen minutes after the hour at
which the State Committee had ordered the
convention to assemble, Peter Cagger, who was
not a member of the convention, had called the
convention to order. Then it was that disgrace-
ful scenes, enough to break down a party twenty
times more powerful than that of the Democrats,
had been enacted. Then it was that they who
were brought here for the purpose, rallied to
support those who had hired them. He sincerely
desired to restore peace and harmony to their
troubled councils. He was desirous to have an
opportunity to continue the proceedings in such
a manner as to secure a triumph in the state.
(Applause.) He was ready to make every sacri-
fice to that end, except that of honor, principle,
and fidelity, to his party friends in New York.
He moved for a committee of five to report
officers for a permanent organization. Carried.
The chair named Mr. Wood, of New York,
Mr. Mather, of Niagara, Mr. Gregg, of'Os-
wego, Mr. Shankland, of Cattaraugus, and
Mr. Hasbrouck, of Ulster.
It was then moved that a committee of one
from each judicial district be appointed to re-
port resolutions. Carried.
Speeches were made by Mr. Wing, of War-
ren, Mr. Birdsall, of Seneca, and others.
Mr. McMahon, of Albany, also addressed
the convention.
Mr. Wood here rose and said he could res-
pond, cheerfully and with sincerity, to the re-
marks made by his respected friend from War-
ren, (Wing.) He, too, thought it lamentable to
find the great Democratic party in the position
in which it appears to-day, and he grieved at the
circumstances that had thus humiliated it. But
he could say to the gentleman, and through the
press he could say to the Democracy of the
whole state and union, if the gentlemen who
have seceded from the convention are earnestly
desirous of union and harmony in the Democratic
party, let them return to this hall, and he (Wood)
stood ready to extend to them the right hand of
fellow ship and of brotherhood. He was willing
to advise that they be equally represented in this
convention on its state ticket, on its committees,
and on the Charleston delegation. He was wil-
ling to stipulate, so far as himself and colleagues
were concerned, that they should come in on
equal terms with themselves. He was willing
to overlook their secession, as the Democratic
party overlooked their secession from its ranks in
1848. (Immense cheers.) He regretted the
humiliating position of the convention at that
time. I f those members who deemed it right to
withdraw, were willing to return, and go into an
organization on an equal and just division, he
pledged the delegates to go as far as the farthest
to restore harmony and unity to their delibera-
tions, but until some one who was authorized to
speakfor the sece'ders, with power to represent those
who left the convention, agreed to do .so, he was
not in favor of doing anything else, except to
preserve the even tenor of their way and com-
plete the business before the convention. If he
found the gentleman from Warren, was not au-
thorized to say this in behalf of the seceders,
then he could not listen to him. He would ask
the convention what was the object of men who
usurped the right to put a badge on the back, and
a ticket in the hands of the delegates elected
to the State Convention, unless it was to achieve
an organization in their own manner. He as-
serted, and defied contradiction, that here, pre-
cisely at 12 o’clock, the convention was called
to order by a gentleman whose seat in the con-
vention was not contested. By what right did
the secretary of the State Committee call the
convention to order when he was not there as a
member of the convention ?
After further remarks, business was proceeded
with, and the following were appointed perma-
nent officers of the convention :
For President—Thomas G. Alvord, of On-
ondaga.
For Yice Presidents—J. R. Babcock, of
Chautauque; H. C. Smith, of Monroe; B.10
THE NEW YORK CONTEST.
Dunlap, of Niagara; D. W. Dean, of Otsego ;
John J. Armstrong, of Queens; L. A. Ed-
wards, of Suffolk ; J. 0. Hasbrouck, of Ulster ;
and Thomas Smith, of Westchester.
For Secretaries—Charles D. Murray, of
Cattaraugus, and Wesley J. Weiant, of Rock-
land.
The following resolution was introduced and
unanimously adopted :
Resolved, That earnestly desirous of maintaining
the integrity of the organization of the Demo-
cratic party, and of leaving to the people of the
several congressional districts the right of elect-
ing their own delegates to the National Conven-
tion, for the nomination of candidates to he
supported by the Democratic party for President
and Vice President, the democracy of the several
congressional districts are hereby requested to
appoint two delegates to represent each district
in the said convention, and the delegates so se-
lected will meet in the city of Syracuse, on the
first Monday of February next, for the purpose
of organization and selecting the four delegates
at large to represent the state in the national con-
vention.
Mr. Hasbrouck moved that the committee
on credentials have power to fill vacancies. Car-
ried.
There were appointed on such committee, Mr.
Hasbrouck, in place of Mr. Bascom, and Mr.
Dunlap, in place of Mr. Staats.
H. C. Smith, of Monroe, moved for a com-
mittee of two from each judicial district to re-
commend names for State Committee, for the
ensuing year. Carried.
An adjournment till 7, P. M., was then carried
evening session.
As the hour for the evening meeting ap-
proached it was. ascertained that the persons who
bolted from the convention in the morning, and
who had -subsequently assembled elsewhere, as a
convention, had, or some one in their name had,
obtained control of Wietiug Hall. The con-
vention was thus deprived of the place of meet-
ing provided by the State Committee and had no
resource except to meet in some other hall. The
Voorhies House was selected, and the regular con-
vention re-assembled at 7 o’clock, the Hon. Thos.
G. Alvord in the chair, and the other officers
present. Seventy-nine delegates answered to their
names.
Hon. T. G. Alvord, addressed the convention
at length, denouncing severely the conduct of
the senders from the convention. Went into
a detailed statement of the organization of the
convention, showing that it had been pro-
perly made, and that there could be no ground
upon which the bolting could be sustained.
He said, that unfortunately for the Democratic
party, it was being made the mere tender to a
railroad corporation, and predicted that the
blighting influence must be destroyed or the
party would materially suffer. (Applause.)
The committee on resolutions presented the
following, which were unanimously adopted with
loud cheers.
Resolved, That the National Democracy of the
State of New York, through delegates in con-
vention assembled, reiterates its fidelity to the
Constitution of the United States, believing that
that instrument, with the compromises made
thereunder, and as construed by the Supreme Ju-
diciary of the land, should he rigidly maintained
and promptly enforced by the executive power
of the Government in every state and territory,
and that the duty will apply to the protection of
persons and property in the territories.
Resolved, That we abhor the incendiary doc-
trines of William H. Seward in his Rochester man-
ifesto. The only “ irrepressible” conflict which
can ever arise in this country, is that which will
be waged by the national and constitution loving
people of all sections of the union, against the
demagogues and traitors who seek, by slavery
agitation, to break down and destroy the glorious
fabric of the American confederation. .
Resolved, That among the most important and
imperative duties of the federal government, is
the protection of its citizens and their property.
They and their property should he fully covered
by the guardianship of the national power, inclu-
ding the persons and property of adopted citizens.
A citizen of the American union, whether by
birth or adoption, is entitled to and possesses
rights which cannot be affected or alienated by
the action of foreign governments, or by the local
laws of states or territories. When American na-
tionality is once stamped upon the brow, it im-
plies that the government has stipulated to give
protection to the person and property of the cit-
izen in all climes, at all-times, and under all cir-
cumstances.
Resolved, That we heartily endorse the admin-
istration of James Buchanan, and are proud of
him as a distinguished Democrat, who has main-
tained with unfaltering fidelity the true interests
of the country, both at home and abroad.
Resolved, That the canals of this state are sa-
credly the property of our people, guaranteed by
the constitution, and we cannot but warn the
people against an evident, if not openly avowed
purpose of some of the so-called leaders of the po-
litical parties, so to shape the machinery of the
government, from the primary meetings of the
people up to and through the election and action
of entire corps of our public servants, as to give
to the antagonistic means of the traffic moA'ement
the advantage over this pride of our state; and
we expressly charge, that a large share of the
troubles and division in the Democratic party is
owing to the unscrupulous means used by the
railroad managers to control our political action
and make it subservient to the private interests
and pecuniary gain of the members of this soul-
less corporation.
Resolved, hat, being in favor of the payment
by the state of its just debts, and utterly opposed
to repudiation, even by implication, the Democ-
racy of the state will vote unanimously in favor
of the passage of a lav/ authorizing the loan of
two and a half millions of dollars, to pay the float-
ing debt of the state.
Resolved,, That the State Committee have the
power to fill any vacancy caused by the non-THE NEW YORK CONTEST,
11
acceptance of any nomination made by this con-
vention.
Resolved, That the State Committee have
the power to appoint a committee in each
congressional district, whose duty it shall be to
call a convention in said congressional district
for the appointment of delegates to the Charleston
Convention.
men addressed the convention. The convention
then adjourned, sine die.
THOMAS G.
The following nominations for state officers
were then made by the convention :
For Secretary of State,
DAVID K. FLOYD JONES, of Queens.
For Comptroller,
SANFORD E. CHURCH, of Orleans.
For Attorney General,
LYMAN TKEMAIN, of Albany.
For State Engineer,
VAN E. RICHMOND, of Wayne.
For State Treasurer,
ISAAC V, VANDERPOEL, of Erie.
For Canal Commissioner,
WM. I. SKINNER, of Herkimer.
For State Prison Inspector,
NOBLE S. ELDERKIN, of St. Lawrence.
For Judge of the Court of Appeals,
ALEX. S. JOHNSON, of Albany,
For Clerk of the Court of Appeals,
EDWARD TIMPSON, of New York,
1st District,
2d District,
3d District,
4th District,
flth District,
j John Cramer, Saratoga,
j Orville Clark, Washington.
6th District,
7th District,
8th District,
John A. Green, Jr., Onondaga,
Wm. Baldwin, Oswego,
j W. G. Sands, Chenango,
\ Charles A, Kohler, Cortland,
j Albert G. Wheeler, Monroe,
{ A. J. McCall, Steuben,
j Harry Wilbur, Genesee,
( G. P. Eddy, Niagara.
ALVORD,
President.
Joshua R. Babcock,
Hiram C. Smith,
Robert Dunlap,
Delos W. Dean,
John J. Armstrong,
L. A. Edwards,
Joseph O. Hasbrouck,
Thomas Smith,
Vice Presidents.
Charles D. Murray,
Wesley J. Weiant,
Secretaries.
THE ORGANIZATION OF THE STATE
CONTENTION.
From the Albany Atlas and Argus, Sept. 15, 1859.
[Reported by D. A. Lewien, Esq., Associate Editor of the
Albany Argus and Atlas.]
Mr. Willett, from the committee on the ap-
pointment of a State Committee, reported the
following:
( C. P. Schermerhorn, New York,
j Benj. Ray, New York,
j Jas. T. Soutter, Queens,
{ Wm. Radford, Westchester.
J Mathew McMahon, Albany,
j J. 0. Hasbroijck, Ulster.
^ A vote of thanks was then moved to the presi-
dent and officers of the convention. The presi-
dent responded in an eloquent and lengthy
speech. Gen. Chamberlain, of Allegany, ad-
dressed the convention, giving a history of the
Democratic party for twenty-five years, and
pledging his zealous support to the proceedings
of that body.
by telegraph.
Special Dispatch to the Atlas and Argus,
FROM SYRACUSE,
DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION.
Syracuse, Sept. 14.
The excitement, so high last night, continues
as the time for the meeting of the convention
approaches. Tickets of admission to the hall are
issued to all delegates and contestants.
Wood, John A. Green, Gideon J. Tucker,
and other Hards have been in session this morn-
ing and resolved to claim a hearing before the
committee on New York contested seats, and
opposed, to extremity, the attempt to settle that
question by resolution.
Dickinson advocates equal representation for
Mozart and Tammany, on the floor, and counsels
moderation.
Rodgers, of Erie, Schell and Mather, do
not act cordially with the Wood party,
Edwin Crosswell is here, and has been in
consultation with Wood and Dickinson.
The convention organized, temporally., at noon.
The Softs are confident, and talk conciliation;
the Wood men positively insist on selecting al-
their share of delegates to Charleston themselves.
Before 12 o’clock, the gallery of the hall was
crowded densely with spectators, and a large
number of delegates were present, and a number
of outsiders.
Immediately on the stroke of twelve o'clock, Hi-
ram C. Smith, of Monroe jumped on the floor
and moved that Thgmas G. Alvord, be tempo-
the convention. The
rary chairman of the convention. The vote
Mr. Dunlap, of Niagara; Mr. Murray, of was instantly put and announced carried.
Cattaraugus; Mr. "Willett, of New York; Mr. Thomas G. Alvord, who was on the platform
Sm th, of Monroe; Mr. Gregg, of Oswego; Mr. took the chair a M called the convention tc
Bhankland, of Cattaraugus, and other gentle- order.12
DOCUMENTS RELATING TO
The motion was then instantly made to elect
Shankland, of OataraguS; and J. B. Hall, of
Schoharie, secretaries.
This resolution was also put amidst a perfect
panic on the part of the Softs.
0. I). Murray, of Cataragus, immediately
took the floor and moved the following resolu-
tion :
Resolved, That regretting difficulty in the
Democratic party in the city of New York, this
convention will not decide upon the regularity
of the two existing organizations there: and
hereby admit to seats in this convention both of
the delegations from that city with equal rights
upon this floor.
Loud and overpowering shouts of Queston!
Question! Question!
John Cochrane, of New York, took the floor.
For a long time his voice was drowned with
shouts of Question ; and a most deafening up-
roar. Jumping upon a seat, Cochrane continued
amidst the immense excitement until Peter Cag-
ger took the platform and called the convention
to order, and nominated John Stryker, of Rome,
as temporary chairman.
An immense riot followed, during which no
word could be heard. This continued until Ryn-
ders came forward in support of Cochrane. He
was confronted by Sheehan and Benjamin Ray,
of New York. Blows were partially struck,
Collahan, a New York boy, sprung at Wood,
exclaiming : “You must stop this fighting.”
Reporting at present is impossible. Fighting
and rioting.
A fter immense excitement, in dum show, Stry-
ker adjourned his convention, and Wood moved
the regular motions for committees, and made a
speech bitterly attacking the disorganizers, as he
called those who had left.
The motions were all put and declared carried.
AFFIDAVITS OF JOHN HEENAN AND
CORNELIUS WOOD.
City and County of New York, ss. John C.
Heenan, of the city of New York, being duly
sworn, doth depose and say, that he went to Sy-
racuse to attend the meeting of the late state
convention, out of curiosity, never having seen
or attended a state convention; and the deponent
further says, that before going to Syracuse, a per-
son holding an office in the Street Department,
approached this deponent to go to Syracuse, for
the purpose of opposing Mayor Wood, and offered
him money to do so ; and this deponent further
says, that wki e at Syracuse he was the guest of
Isaiah Rynders, stopping by his invitation with
him. and that said Rynders, paid his bill at the
Globe Hotel in that city, for the whole time this
deponent remained there ; and this deponent
further says, that said Rynders offered him fifty
collars to take a part in the reception or admission
of persons to the room where the convention met,
but having funds of his own, and not wishing to
be conspicuous or to take any part in any disturb-
ances or improper conduct, he declined the offer ;
and this deponent further says, that he took no
part in the disturbances that took place ; that he
received a ticket of admission to the convention,
signed by Peter Cagger, and which was sent to
him from Room No. 24, in the Voorhies House,
which room was occupied by said Cagger, and
the ticket referred to was not given to him by
Mr. Wood, or any person by his direction.
And this deponent further says, that he .has
never been a supporter of Fernando Wood ; and
further, that he has been offered a place under
the present city government, within three weeks,
which he also declined.
And this deponent further says, that he is not
a politician ; that he is not an adherent of Mo-
zart Hall ; that he is no bully ; that he cannot
be hired for any riotous purposes ; and that he
desires to earn, honestly, a living, and to main-
tain a good reputation.
And this deponent further says, that seeing his
name in the newspapers, connected with the dis-
turbances in an improper manner, he has volun-
tarily made this statement to shield himself from
any unfavorable imputation against his character.
JOHN C. HEENAN.
Sworn, this 19th day of Sept., 1859,
before me,
John Angevine,
Notary Public.
City and. County of New York, ss: Cornelius
Wood, being duly sworn, doth depose and say,
that seeing so many false statements in the public
press, with reference to the occurrence at the late
Democratic State Conventlen at Syracuse, and
finding that injustice is done to many persons
by an act of his own, in which Mr. John Stryker,
was pushed from the platform at the convention,
he is induced to make this deposition.
And deponent saith, that he went to that con-
vention as a politician, to participate with others,
in the excitement which always exists at such
places: that, holding an office at the time under
McIntyre, Bixby, & Co., the contractors for the
government public store labor, he thought he
could be of service to be present.
And this deponent further says, that he receiv-
ed a ticket to enter the hall where the conven-
tion was held, from a person whom he knew to
belong to the political interest opposed to Mayor
Wood ; that the ticket was signed by Peter Cag-
ger, and that he has reason to believe was sent
to him by Peter Cagger or Isaac V. Fowler, and
that he considered himself as belonging to a party
of men who intended to have a fight and break
up the convention, if directed to do so, but in
which the deponent did not intend to participate.
And this deponent further says, that when in
Wieting Hall, after the chairman was made, great
confusion and noise took place ; that Capt. Ryn-
ders commenced the row, threatening to beat
some of the New York delegates; that during
the disturbances this deponent resolved to go
upon the .platform and push the man off; that
this deponent did so, supposing at the time that
he was doing right and getting rid of the man
who had no right to act as chairman of the con-
vention.THE NEW YORK CONTEST.
1?
And this deponent further says, that if he had
known that he was doing wrong, he would no .
have done what he did ; that he has no doubt it
was the intention of the person who told him to
go and push the chairman off the platform, that
he should push Mr. Alvord off and not Mr. Stry-
ker, and that he did not know one from the
other, and supposed he was aiding the Cagger side
of the question in what he did.
And this deponent further says, that he does
not know Mayor Wood personally ; that, he had
no connection with him before or at the conven-
tion, and that he is not in any manner connected
with the Mozart Hall political organization or
Mr. Wood.
CORNELIUS WOOD..
Sworn to this 1st day of October, 1859.
John J. Algevine,
Notary Public.
FIRST MEETING OF THE NATIONAL
DEMOCRATIO STATE COMMITTEE.
The National Democratic State Committee met
at Congress Hall, Albany, September 26,1859 :
twelve members thereof being in attendance.
The organization of the committee was effect-
ed by the unanimous choice of John A. Green,
Jr., Esq., of Onondaga, as chairman, and Mat-
thew McMahon, Esq., of Albany, secretary.
On motion of Mr. .Radford, of Westchester,
the following preamble and resolution were adopt-
ed :
Whereas, The State Convention, by resolu-
tion, gave this committee the power to fill any
vacancies which should occur in the state ticket
nominated by it; and,
Whereas, Mr. Edward Timpson has declined
the nomination for Clerk of the Court of Appeals,
therefore,
Resolved, That John L. Lewis, Jr., be and is
hereby nominated as a candidate for that office.
On motion of Gen. Orville Clark, of Wash-
ington, a committee of three members was ap-
pointed by the chair to prepare an address to the
Democracy of the state.
The chair appointed Gen. Clark, Mr. Scher-
merhorn, of New York, and Mr. Baldwin, of
Oswego.
On motion of Mr. Wheeler, of Monroe, a
committee of three was appointed to act as an
Executive Committee on congressional districts,
organization, and correspondence, to which the
officers of the State Convention were subsequent-
ly added.
The chair appointed Mr. Wheeler, of Mon-
roe, Mr. Hasbrguck, of Ulster, and Mr. Wilbur,
of Genesee.
After the transaction of some other business,
it was resolved to invite the Hod. Fernando
Wood, the Hon. James Wadsworth, and the
Hon. Orville Clark, to address the Democracy
of the state.
Adjourned.
JOHN A. GREEN, Jr.,
Chairman.
M. McMahon,
Secretary.
SECOND MEETING OF THE NATIONAL
DEMOCRATIC STATE COMMITTEE.
ADDRESS AND CALL.
Albany, Dec. 13, 1859.
At a meeting of the National Democratic
State Committee, held at Congress Hall, Albany,
this day, the following address and call for the
election of delegates to the National Convention,
to nominate candidates to be supported by the
National Democratic party for President and
Vice President, was adopted.
To the Democratic Electors of the State of New York :
At the Democratic State Convention, held at
Syracuse on the 14th day of September, 1859,
and presided over by the Hon. Thomas G. Al-
vord, the undersigned were appointed the Demo-
cratic State Committee for the present year, and
until superseded by another State Convention.
It is in that capacity that we now address you
upon matters of the deepest import to our party,
its principles, its organization, aud its future des-
tiny.
The Democratic State Committee, is a body
charged with the general safety and best interests
of the party, in the intervals which occur between
the times of holding State Conventions. Espe-
cial duties may also be imposed upon it by a
convention. The present State Committee was
especially directed by the convention which cre-
ated it, among other things, to perform the duty,
which it is now about to discharge, of directing
and supervising elections for delegates to repre-
sent this state in the Charleston Presidential Con-
vention. In like manner, the State Committee of
1851-2 was invested with a similar power of su-
pervising elections for delegates. We propose
to proceed in this duty strictly according to the
precedents set by the Democratic organizations
in 1848 and 1851-2.
In order that the authority and position of
this State Committee, and the proceedings of
the regular State Convention, by which we were
appointed, may not be misunderstood, it may be
proper here to recapitulate, briefly, the political
events of 1858-59.
The disastrous results of the campaign of 1858.
it cannot be doubted, was brought about by the
arbitrary and factious course of those who seized
upon the organization of the State Convention,
In violation of positive agreement, and in viola-
tion of party usage and custom; Mr. Peter Cag-
ger, who claimed a contested seat in the conven-
tion, called that convention to order and named a
permanent president. This motion was declared14
DOCUMENTS RELATING TO
to be carried, the voices of regular delegates be-
ing overborne and silenced by bogus “ contest-
ants,” of their credentials. The proceedings of
that convention, thus ruled by an accidental ma-
jority, were disgraceful to those who controlled
them, and injurious, in the highest degree, to the
cause of the Democracy. Delegates having the
fairest and most indisputable titles were turned
out of doors, and their seats awarded to claim-
ants improvised on the spot. A convention actua-
ted by such a spirit, could not inaugurate a success-
ful campaign. The generous exertions which all
good Democrats, however aggrieved, lent to the
support of the ticket headed by Judge Parker,
were thrown away, and the state of New York
went back to our political opponents, giving the
Republicans a majority, about equal to that
which she had given one year before, for a fairly
made up and fairly nominated Democratic ticket.
A State Committee for 1858-9, had been ap~
pointed by the convention of 1858, at the head
of which, of course, stood Messrs. Dean Rich-
mond and Peter Cagger, It was called a ho-
mogenous committee, or rather it might have
been said the individuality of all its other mem-
bers was so lost in that of Messrs. Richmond
and Cagger, that the popular mind retains no
other names. It was, therefore, considered, that
this State Committee had already decided the
question, when it was publicly announced in the
spring of 1859, that Messrs. Richmond and
Cagger had determined to elect a presidential
delegation from this state by a State Convention,
instead of by Congressional Districts.
This announcement created much excitement
everywhere among Democrats in this state. It
cannot be doubted that the advocates of the con-
gressional district system were and are in a large
majority in our party. This is the system which
prevailed when we were united in the state, and
victorious throughout the union. It is the system
by which every Democratic voter, in every portion
of the state, is given the opportunity of being re-
presented as to his platform, and his candidates
for the presidency. It is the system which goes
down to the county convention, the town caucus,
the school district meeting, and which never can
be packed, or bought, or carried against the will
of the majority in the various sections of the
state. It is the system adopted in most of the
states of this union, under which delegates to
Charleston have already been chosen during this
present year, in Maine, Yermont, New Hamp-
shire, Massachusetts, and other states. It is the
system inaugurated and first adopted by Virginia,
the mother of Democracy. And finally, it is the
system agreed upon as a compromise between the
Hunker and Barnburner wings of the Democratic
party of the state of New York, in 1851, and
under which we then sent to a presidential con-
vention, the only single and uncontested delegation
which has ever gone from New York, since Tan
Buren opposed the annexation of Texas.
When, therefore, we were informed of the pur-
poses of Messrs Richmond and Cagger, to dis
card the single district system, and to pack a de-
legation by a State Convention, a voluntary
movement took place throughout the state. Over
fifty Democratic papers, constituting three fourths
of the Demo cratic presses of the state, remonstrated
in decided language. Two successive large meet-
ings, composed of most' influential Democrats,
from every county, convened at the Astor House,
in New York, and past resolutions demanding
the district system, recognizing it as the only es-
lished and truly Democratic method of choosing
national delegates, and denying the right of the
State Committee to depart from it.
The State Committee, with that sullen obstinacy?
which too often betrays the possession of power in
unworthy hands, refused to listen to the demands
of their constituents; but shrank, nevertheless,
from announcing their full purpose, and affected “to
leave it to the State Convention itself,” to say
what should be the method of election. We
maintain and submit to you, fellow Democrats of
New York, that these factious would-be-leaders
had already conceived a purpose, and preconcert-
ed a plan, to break up that convention by- vio-
lence and fraud, and to bring about a double or-
ganization in case they should be outnumbered,
so that their purpose of packing a presidential
delegation should not by any means be foiled.
The State Convention assembled on the 14th
of September, under this ambiguous call. We
believe and insist that a large majority of the
delegates, truly and fairly elected to it, were op-
posed to such a usurpation of power as Messrs.
Richmond and Cagger contemplated. A large
majority of them were in favor of postponing the
choice of presidential delegates, and carrying the
state, as might have been done, by a united effort
keeping out of view all dissensions and differences,
and forgetting all enmities, in the sole purpose
of achieving success. It was because such was
the fact, and because the plotters did not dare
trust the question to the decision of all the dele-
gates, that they divided the convention, placed
themselves in the attitude of bolters and disor-
ganizes, and preferred to appear at Charleston
as contestants, rather than yield up the battle
when they had been fairly and honorably defeated.
The records will show that a majority of these
delegates took part in and recognized the first or-
ganization of the convention, under our late
Speaker cf the Assembly, the Hon., Thomas G-.
Alvord. The appointment of Mr. Alvord, as
chairman, was made upon motion of an uncon-
tested delegate, at the hour appointed for the as-
sembling of the convention. He took his seat
without dispute and was recognized as the pre-
siding officer by all those who occupied the floor
in debate and otherwise. John Cochrane, and
other bolting contestants who subsequently organ-
zed the body assuming to be a eon/ention, over
which Ludlow and Stryker presided, addressed
Mr. Alvord as chairman—made motions, and
appealed from the decision of the chair.
Thus, for the first quarter of an hour, no
question was made as to the regularity of the
proceedings. It was then that the master spirit
of mischief in the Democratic party, Mr. Cagger,THE NEW YORK CONTEST.
15
ascended another portion of the platform and in-
terrupted the proceedings, backed by a gang of
bullies and fighting men, by assuming to nominate
and to place in another chair, another temporary
chairman.
The scene of disorder and confusion, termi-
nating in violence, to which Mr. Cagger’s disor-
ganizing and unprecedented conduct was the pre-
lude, it would be painful to dwell upon. The re-
gular convention,thus interrupted in its business,
was, of course, thrown into absolute disorder.
The affidavits and authenticated statements which
have since been published, have served to throw
light upon the nature of the scene, which then
and there took place, and to fully identify the
actors. The responsibility of the violence com-
mitted, is indellibly and forever fastened upon the
Richmond and Cagger partisans, and the Tam-
many Hall interest. The only blows dealt were
given by persons who had gone from New York
to Syracuse in that interest. The nosiest and-
loudest, though perhaps least dangerous of all
these men, was the United States Marshal, Isaiah
Rynders. Other persons of pugilistic fame, pre-
sent in the hall, were John Heenan, alias the
Beneeia Boy, a guest of Mr. Rynders ; Corneli-
us Wood, an employee in the Custom House ;
one Carpenter, afterward in prison in New
York on a charge of murder ; and one Kerri-
gan, who was subsequently presented by the Tam-
many delegates with a gold watch for his gallant-
ry and valor on this occasion!
This, fellow Democrats, is the second time that
a State Convention has been made the theatre of
violence and ruffianism, It is the second time
that peaceable and honest Democrats have seen
our State Convention broken up by the bullies
and convicts of New York city. The same men,
banded together in the same interest, perpetrated
a similar outrage in 1853. Failing to carry a
majority of the delegates, they resorted to force
to accomplish what they could not do by honor-
able effort. In each case the control of a section
of the party was intended to be secured, even
though the best interest of the whole party were
shipwrecked and lost. We charge deliberately
upon these factious and unprincipled partisans,
determination to rule the Democratic party or
ruin it.
What was done in 1853, was so like what was
done again 1859, that it seems appropriate here
to quote from an address issued by the State
Committee, and prepared by Mr. Edwin Cros-
well, in the former year, a description of occur-
rences precisely analagous, in which precisely the
same persons once more figure. Like the State
Committee of 1853, we “ appeal to the people
against the bully and convict power of Tam-
many Hall.” The address of 1853 says:
The delegates were assembling in an orderly
and in the usual manner. Many of them had
assembled a short time before 12 o’clock, when
an organized gang of fighting men, variously es-
timated at from fifty to seventy-five, rushed up
the staircase—entered the hall in a tumultuous
and violent manner, and in a body forced their
way to the platform on which stood Mr. Story,
the chairman of the State Committee, Mr. Mad-
den. of Orange, end some other delegates. Con-
spicious among these ruffians, were William H.
Ludlow, of Suffolk, Speaker of the last Assembly,
Surveyor Cochrane, Postmaster Fowler, and
Sachem Dunlap. They hurried toward the plat-
form, (and some of them mounted it.) many of the
fighting men also jumped on the platform—one
of whom had the audacity to seize hold of Mr.
Story, but was quickly shaken off by him. A
scene of indescribable confusion ensued. Yells,
hooting, and clamor of every kind were heard.
When order had been temporarily restored,
Mr. Story called the convention to order, and
proposed Mr. Barnes, of Chenango, as temporary
chairman. At the same instant Mr. Madden,
named Mr. Skinner, of Wyoming. Both put the
question, and both declared the motion carried,
and each attempted to take the chair. The
fighting men hurried Mr. Skinner upon a table,
and Mr. Cassidy, of the Albany Atlas, [now
better known as Confidence Cassidy,] with a view
of unseating Mr. Barnes, knocked the chair from
under h;m. Gen. Ward, of Westchester, distin-
guished for his association with the Democracy
of the stab;, and respected for his virtues, strove
to get a hearing, and implored persons not dele-
gates to retire to the farther end of the room.
Two of these fighting men stood next him, one
on either side, prepared—for they were armed—
to repeat 'the same operation on him that had
previously been attempted on the chairman of
the New York General Committee, but no signal
was given, and they forebore the assault.
Mr. Cagger’s interruption was finally brought
to a close by an unfortunate incident. Corne-
lius Wood, the Custom House employee and a
Tammany man, in a zeal to assist his friends, (as
he admit in an exculpatory statement published
by himself,) mistakenly tumbled off the platform,
Mr. Stryker, Mr. Cagger’s chairman, whom he
mistook for Mr Alvord, having intended to un
seat the latter according to instructions. Although
Mr. Stryker was at that very moment engaged
in a plot to disturb or break up the convention,
and it was thus, as it may be said, acting in his
own wrong, the assult upon them caused a pro-
found sensation, and terminated the violence of
the hour. He was found, however, not to be
at all hurt, and he withdrew with Mr. Gagger
and his pugilistic friends, leaving Mr. Alvord in
possession of the chair. The convention, relieved
of the presence of these violent men, proceeded
with its business, although in an excited and dis-
turbed condition A Committee on Organization
had been appointed, which reported the name of
Mr. Alvord for permanent presidenl of the con-
vention, with eight secretaries. The following
resolution was also adopted with acclamation, and
the convention then took a recess.
Resolved, That earnestly desirous of maintaining
the integrity of the organization of th eDemoratic
party, and of leaving to the people of the several
congressional districts the right of electing their
own delegates to the National Convention for the
nomination of candidates to be supported by the
Democratic party for President and Vice President,
the Democracy of the several congressional dis*16
DOCUMENTS RELATING TO
tricts are hereby requested to appoint two dele-
gates to represent them in the said convention,
and the delegates so selected will meet in the
city of Syracuse, on the first Monday of February
next, for the purpose of organization and of select-
ing the delegates at large to represent the state
in the National Convention.
During the recess of the regular convention,
the Hall was occupied by the seeeders, who re-
turned to it, Mr. Stryker taking the chair. A
second organization was then effected by these
seeeders, by placing Mr. Ludlow in the chair,
and they then, according to their own statements,
voted down a motion to concur with the Alvord
convention in postponing the choice of presiden-
tial delegates. There is no doubt that such a
motion was made and decided to be lost in the
Ludlow convention, but no list of votes upon it
has ever been published, and those who kept the
tally of the vote have been challenged, in vain,
through the public press, to give it to the world.
It is believed that this motion to postpone was
really carried, and the mystery which attaches to
the matter is indicative of the irregularity and
scanty numbers of the Ludlow convention, and
of the generally indefinite manner in which it
was conducted. Having declared this motion
lost, Mr. Ludlow adjourned his convention for
the day.
The Alvord convention, (which we maintain
to have been the only regular one,) finding the
Hall occupied at the end of its recess, and de-
clining to imitate the example of Messrs. 0ag-
ger and Stryker, by forcing themselves in and
intruding upon those there in session, re-con-
vened at another place. It nominated a full
state ticket, and passed a series of resolutions,
declaring the fidelity of our party to the consti-
tution, as construed by the U. S. Supreme
Court, asserting the rights of citizens to the pro-
tection of both their persons and their property
in the territories; denouncing the incendiary doc-
trines of Seward; claiming the duty of govern-
ment to protect naturalized citizens abroad, and
heartily endorsing the administration of Mr.
Buchanan. It also adopted the following:
Resolved, That the State Committee have the
power to appoint a ccommittee in each congres-
sional district, whose duty it shall be to call a
convention in said congressional districts, for the
appointment of delegates to the Charleston Con-
vention.
The Alvord convention having thus com.
pleted its business, adjourned, sine die, the same
evening. The Ludlow Organization continued
its session the next day, adopted the state ticket
already nominated at the Alaord convention,
and adjourned, after re-appointing Messrs. Rich-
mond and Cagger a State Committee, and
naming a full delegation to attend the Charleston
Convention. This delegation was selected by a
retiring committee, of which Mr. Cagger was,
of course, the chairman, and Mr. Richmond and
several unimportant persons constituted the re-
mainder. This delegation is headed, of course,
by Mr. Richmond, and is entirely controlled by
that gentleman and Mr. Cagger.
The Ludlow convention directed this delega-
tion to vote, (if admitted,) at Charleston, as a
unit, and directed the expulsion from it of any of
its members who might accept of any election as
delegate from a Congressional District Conven-
tion. The entire delegation was made up with-
out reference to the districts, and, in some cases,
the expressed preferences and demands of locali-
ties were utterly disregarded. In brief, it was
packed to order.
We have the fullest confidence and the most
absolute assurance, that the members of this dele-
gation will never be suffered to occupy the seats
they aspire to at Charleston. A delegation cho-
sen by the people—by the Democratic masses—
of men with clean records, coming not with cre-
dentials from a corrupt central regency, but with
certificates of home strength, pledged to no man,
purchased by no man, owned by no man, and for
sale to no man. will be welcomed with prompt-
ness and satisfaction.
Upon Richmond and Cagger, with their tools,
the responsibility for the misconduct of the late
disastrous campaign, in which a portion of our state
ticket was defeated, must devolve. The State Com-
mttee, which now addresses you, made all the ex-
ertions in its power. Deprived of the contributions
of all the federal and state offices, it raised what
funds it could get together, appointed public
speakers to address the people, and, lest any dis-
couragement should result from the schism
brought about by the double organization at Sy-
racuse, it refrained from any appeal on the sub-
ject of the single district system, till after the elec-
tion should have passed.
In this the friends of the district system have
but acted consistently, since from the beginning
we have believed that the precipitating of the
presidential question into the campaign of 1859,
wras most unwise and suicidal. The event has
given mournful confirmation to our worst appre-
hensions. The defeat of a portion of the Demo-
cratic state ticket, and the late and signal tri-
umph of Seward in the state of New York, are
due to those Democrats who forced the question
of the presidency into the late campaign. The
National Convention of the Democracy will ter-
ribly rebuke them for their selfishness and fac-
tion.
The length of this document appears to pre-
clude the discussion of a yet greater question, of
vital importance to the Democracy of the state
and the nation. We allude to the stupendous
national issues now being agitated.
Upon the delegates to be now selected by the
people, will rest the whole power of the Demo-
cratic representation. The true National De-
mocracy of New York hes no reflection in the
political character and antecedents of the Rich-
mond-Cagger delegation. That piebald produc-
tion of an unprincipled coalition, is as void of the
first principle of nationality as it was the creation
of fraud and corruption.THE NEW YORK CONTEST.
17
Fully persuaded of tlie rightfulness of our
cause, not doubting our authority, deploring, yet
ready to encounter, the difficulties which may en-
sue, and washing our hands of any participation
in, or accountability for, the division of the party
which Mr. Cagger inaugurated at Syracuse
when he interrupted the proceedings of a State
Convention, we, the undersigned, constituting the
regular and only Democratic State Committee of
the State of New York, do hereby invite the
Democracy of the several congressional districts
in this state to elect delegates to the several con-
gress district conventions, under the call of the
following named district committees, and to
choose from each congress district two dele-
gates to represent them in the Charleston Con-
vention, there to nominate candidates for Presi-
dent and Yice President: and for the purpose of
securing to the people of each congressional dis-
trict a fair representation to the said National
Convention, and of preserving to them the exclu-
sive authority to determine any contest that may
arise, the said Congressional Committees herein
named, shall certify to the returns of the election
of delegates, and in cases of dispute or doubts, a
majority of the Congressional Committee shall
determine in each case.
[Here follows a list of the thirty-three Con-
gress District Committees appointed, five com-
mitteemen in each district.]
John A. Green, Jr., Onondaga, chairman.
Matthew McMahon, Albany, secretary.
Orville Clark, Washington.
John Cramer, Saratoga.
Wm. Radford, Westchester.
C. P. Schebmeriiorn, New York.
Benjamin Ray, New York.
Harry Wilbur, Genesee.
J. 0. Hasbrouck, Ulster.
Wm. G. Sands, Chenango.
A. G. Wheeler, Monroe.
A. J. McCall, Steuben.
William Baldwin, Oswego.
Carl Aug. Kohler, Cortland.
Geo. P. Eddy, Niagara.
James T. Soutter, Queens.
National Democatic State Committee.
THE MEETING OF THE DISTRICT
DELEGATES AT SYRACUSE.
Feb. 6,1860.
The delegates chosen from the several con-
gress districts of this state, assembled at Syra-
cuse, on Monday, February 6th, 1860, pursuant
to the call of the National Democratic State
Committee, and the resolution adopted by the
last State Convention.
The meeting was called to order by John A.
Green, Jr., Esq., chairman of the State Commit-
tee, who said :
Delegates to the National Convention:—
As chairman of the Democratic State Com-
mittee, I have been requested to call this conven-
tion to order ; and while in the performance of
that duty, permit me to congratulate you upon
being the direct representatives of the sovereign
people—of the first state in the union—in the
next Democratic National Convention, which is
to nominate candidates for President and Yice
President of the United States.
In view of the probability, that your seats in
the Charleston Convention may be contested by
another delegation, selected by a committee of
sixteen, in known disregard of the wnshes of the
people of this great state, it may not be im-
proper for me to remark, that the system of rep-
resen tat ion which it is your high privilege to re-
flect is the system adopted by a majority of the
states in the union. It is the system adopted
by Yirginia—the mother of Presidents. It is
the system hy which this state must and will he
represented, tf the mass of New York's Democracy
are worth consulting. You are the representa-
tives of the National Democracy of the State of
New York—that Democracy whose fidlity to the
constitution and the principles adopted by our
party knows no faltering. You are the represen-
tatives of that portion of the Democracy who con-
tend honestly and faithfully—not hypocritically—
for the reserved, equal, and sovereign rights of
every state in our confederacy. You are the
representatives of that National Democracy,
whose record is not stained with any Wilmot
Provisos or Anti-Slavery agitation; but presents
rather the history of an “ irrepressible conflictn
with all such agitations and such herisies,
whether within or without the Democratic par-
ty. You are the representatives of the largest
and most powerful state in the confederacy.
You are the representatives of a noble constitu-
ency, who will honor you, when vindicating the
principle, that each and all of the states have
equal rights under the constitution, and that the
true interpretation of the original compact guar-
antees to each and every citizen the protection of
his property, whether in state or territory.
The high, the responsible position which you
hold, the important duties with which you are
clothed, are doubly more responsible, and thrice
more important in this crisis of our country’s
affairs, than have been intrusted to any other de-
legation for many, many a year. Already have
been heard the martial array—the summoning
of troops—the preparation for defence—and
for what?—protection against a foreign foe?
No—but sister states have been invaded—still
more are threatened ; and by whom ?—by those
claiming to be citizens of the United States; set
on and encouraged by the incendiary, political,
anti-slavery agitators of the day. Assuming the
slavery question to be a national one, we find
states in our confederacy assailed, bitterly de-
nounced, for the possession of institutions in-
herited by them, in which they alone are inter-
ested, and of the fitness of which they are the
only rightful judges. It will be our grateful18
DOCUMENTS RELATING TO
privilege in the future, as it has been in the past,
to oppose these assailants, and to protect these
states, in all the sacred guarantees of the con-
stitution ; and I know that each and every one
of you, will as zealously contend for their rights,
as you will for your own, and that, in the execu-
tion of the high trust confided to you, you will
not ask, when called upon to nominate a presi-
dent, whether he comes from the North or the
South, the East or the West, but is he a na-
tional man?—will he see the constitution cor-
rectly interpreted, the laws rigidly enforced, and
the rights of each and every one of the states
sacredly and inviolably maintained >? To know
that such is the spirit, and that such is the intent
of every delegate elected by the N ational Demo-
crats, from single districts—by the people in
their sovereign capacity—will be a proud re-
flection lor all true, union-loving people of the
empire state.
I now call upon you to designate your presi-
ding officer.
Hon. Wm. S. Hubbell, of Steuben, moved
that Hon. Thomas G. Alvord, of Onondaga, be
appointed temporary chairman. The motion
was adopted unanimously.
On taking the chair, Mr. Alvord said :
Gentlemen of the Convention :—I thank you
for the distinguished honor you have conferred
upon me, in calling me to preside over your de-
liberations. You have been called together as
the representatives of the Democratic party of
New York, to select state delegates to the
Charleston Convention. I honestly and firmly
believe that we shall go into that convention
without opposition. It is due to the occasion,
that the position we occupy should be alluded
to.—The great question of the day, is the sla-
very question. Let us look and see where we
should plant ourselves on that subject.—This is a
confederated republic, with a diverse climate and
diverse interests. Neither section has the right
to say what social or industrial institutions the
other shall possess. One should not be permitted
to rule the other. Our fathers recognized slaves
as property, to be maintained by the guarantees
of the constitution. This is the doctrine of the
National Democracy of the union. We have
acquired territory, which is the common and
joint property of the union. I hold that no man
is forbidden to take his property in slaves to the
territories; that it is the duty ol congress to
protect this property there. The people of the
territories have no power to interfere with this
species of property until they emerge from the
territorial condition, and are admitted into the
union. This is the position maintained by the
National Democracy of New York, and it is the
doctrine they will maintain at Charleston.
Mr. A. went on to refer to the past history
of the party in reference to the choice of delegates
to National Conventions, and insisted that in
1852 the district system had been agreed upon
by both divisions of the party. The delegates
here, continued Mr. A., are the representatives
of the majority of the Democratic party. We
are not harnessed to a railroad car. The people
are with us. I go to Charleston unbiased, and
I do not doubt you all go there with the same
feeling. The candidate nominated at Charleston
will be elected, and you will have the satisfaction
of seeing him inaugrated on the 4th of March,
1861. (Cheers.)
John J. Yan Allen, Esq., of Schuyler
county, and Samuel G. Courtney, Esq., of
Albany, were then appointed secretaries, pro tern.
Alderman Brown, of the 3d district, moved
that a committee of five be appointed to report
the names of four state delegates to Charleston.
Judge Raplee, of the 26th district, moved
that the committee consist of eight—one from
each judicial district. Carried.
The motion, as amended, was adopted.
The chair announced the following as the
committee on delegates at large:—1st district,
Josiah W. Brown; 2d dist.. Daniel Chaitn-
cey ; 3d dist., J ohn B. Peirson ; 4thudist., Darius
Clark; 5th dist., Norman Maltby ; 6th dist.,
Carl A. Kohler ; 6th dist., Peter Pontius ;
8th dist., Norman Kibbe.
Mr. Patterson, of Monroe, stated that Mayor
Wood, of New York, was present, and moved
that a committee of two be appointed by the
chair to wait upon that distinguished gentleman,
and invite him to take a seat on the platform.
The motion was adopted, and the chair named
Messrs. Patterson and Brady to conduct Mr.
Wood to the platform.
On reaching the platform, a shower of applause
greeted the Mayor.
Mr. Brower moved the appointment of a
committee to prepare business for the convention
to-morrow.
The chair announced the following as the
business committee:—Messrs. Brower, Mur-
phy, Shankland, Follett, and Nichols.
The convention then adjourned until Tuesday
morning, at 9 o’clock.
second day.
The convention was called to order at 10 o’clock,
Tuesday morning, 7th February. Roll called.
Mr. Brower, from the 1st district, from the
committee on business, submitted the following
REPORT.
The business committee beg leave to report
to the convention the following order of busi-
ness :
After the election of delegates at large and
alternates.
1.	A committee of three to nominate a chair-
man of the delegation.
2.	A committee of arrangements and corres-
pondence.
3.	A committee to employ a steamship for the
conveyance of the delegates, alternates, and friends
from New York to Charleston, and to be em-THE NEW YORK CONTEST.
19
ployed as their hotel during their stay at Char-
leston.
4. The last named committee to be furnished
the names and post office*'address of each of the
delegates and alternates comprising this delega-
tion.
Mr. Redfield, of the 22d district, moved the
acceptance of the report. Carried.
Mr. Brower moved the appointment of a
committee of three to report the name of a chair-
man of the Charleston delegates.
The chair stated that there was already a
resolution to that effect, before that conven-
tion.
Mr. Brower said he would then move to take
that resolution from the table.
After further discussion the resolution was
taken up and adopted.
The chair announced Messrs. Shankland,
Beebe, and Dininny, as the committee.
Hon. Mr. Murphy, of the 4th district, pre-
sented the following communication from the
“National Democratic Volunteer Association
i
New York, February 4, 1860.
To the Chairman of the National Democratic State
Convention of Presidential Delegates:
Dear Sir :—On behalf of the National Demo-
cratic Volunteers, of which I have the honor to
be president, I desire to communicate to the
body over which you preside, the tender of our
hospitalities, and the use of our club rooms in
the city of New York, at all times that it may
suit the pleasure and the convenience of the
delegates, and especially on the eve of their
departure for Charleston.
Very respectfully,
JNO. FARREL,
President.
Mr. Brower, of the 1st district,‘moved the
acceptance of the invitation. Carried.
Mr. Brown, from the committee on delegates
at large, reported as follows :
Delegates—Fernando Wood, of New York ;
John A. Green, Jr., of Onondaga; Gideon J.
Tucker, of New York; Joshua R. Babcock,of
Chautauque.
Alternates—Jas. T. Soutter, of New York;
Wm. C. Beardsley, of Cayuga ; John Hagger-
ty, of Chemung ; B. F. Chamberlain, of Catta-
raugus.
Report adopted.
Mr. Beebe, of the 10th dist., moved that a
committee of three be appointed to wait upon
the delegates at large, now in the city, and in-
vite them to take seats in the convention. Car-
ried.
Messrs. Beebe, Dininny, and Harris were
appointed said committee.
Mr. Brower moved to take up the 2d branch
of the report of the business committee. Car-
ried.
Mr. B. moved that the committee of arrange-
ments and correspondence consist of five. Car-
ried.
Messrs. John A. Green, Jr., Fernando Wood,
S. G. Courtney. J. M. Marvin, and 0. W. Can-
dee, were appointed as said committee.
Mr. Brower moved to take up the 3d branch
of the report of the business committee.
Gen. Clark, of the 15t.h district, thought this
whole matter had better be left to the commit-
tee of arrangements.
The proceedings were here interrupted by the
return of the committee appointed to wait on the
delegates at large, accompanied by Messrs. Wood,
Green, and Tucker, who took seats on the plat-
form.
The chair then addressed these delegates as
follows: Gentlemen :—In behalf of the Conven-
tion, I welcome you as three of the delegates at
large to the Charleston Convention, and invite
you to participate in our further deliberations.
Mr. Wood, in response to the welcome, arose
and spoke as follows :—
Gentlemen of the Delegation : I thank
you. The honor you have conferred upon me is
equalled only by its responsibility. I shall en-
deavor to discharge the duty, if not satisfactorily
to all, at least with firmness and conscientious-
ness. To be one of the state representatives thus
selected, by those who have been chosen by the
free suffrages of the National Democracy of the
several congressional districts, is a high and
honorable trust. Such a position is always one
of grave moment to the people represented, but
under the circumstances which surround us, and
the questions to be determined by the convention
to which we have been elected, render my duty
the more arduous and responsible. I shall fill it
as best I can, relying upon your counsels and sup-
port, to make my office profitable to the National
Democracy of the empire state and the nation.
My friends, what is the state of the times ?
Why is it that this great country is now distract-
ed by antagonistic elements fearfully conflicting ;
that a people territorially, commercially, and in
all the essentials which are necessary to make a
nation intelligent, free, and happy, are thus dis-
tracted and nearly destroyed?
In the Northern states, domestic commercial
interests are drooping. A pervading spirit of
fear, doubt, and distrust is manifested. Capital-
ists, timidly shrinking from active participation
in the pursuits of men ; patriotic hearts beating
quickly and feverishly, and for the first time since
the establishment of the federal government, good
men talking seriously, yet with horror, of the pro-
bable approach of an impending national crisis.
At the South, though a different, yet a no less
deplorable public sentiment exists. There, the
common temper is that of men insulted and ag-
grieved. A spirit of armed resistance which,
but yesterday, was confined to the adventurous
and the reckless, now exists in every household,
and actuates every inhabitant. There is but one
feeling, but one determination. The whole coun-
try is a military camp, and every woman prepared
to defend herself against negro insurrection at
home, and against white aggression from abroad.20
DOCUMENTS RELATING TO
Like a fortress upon the eve of siege, the people
of that section are preparing, with one accord, to
throw themselves upon their own resources—to
subsist exclusively upon their own productions—
to be governed by laws altogether of their own
creation—to part with the advantages, so that
they may escape from the insolent interference
of those communities and states which had form-
ed with them a solid compact of fraternity and
federal protection.
Thus, as between these sections, it would ap-
pear an eternal separation is about to take place.
The unity formed by our revolutionary sires, ce-
mented so firmly by revolutionary blood, is shak-
ing upon the eve of dissolution, and that which
God in his wisdom put together, is about to be
at last sundered into fragments by the folly and
wickedness of man.
And now, my friends, why is this ? Whence
the origin of these lamentable internal commo-
tions ? To what cause may be traced antago-
nism, pregnant with such dreadful consequences ?
It is an invidious task to attempt to place respon-
sibility for crime. Would that some other than
myself had assumed the duty of speaking out
boldly, of and pointing to, the causes which have
brought our noble country to the precipice on
which it now stands.
When I first entered public life, twenty years
ago, as a member of congress, we had great do-
mestic national issues. The nation was divided
into two parties, each led, it was true, by warring
statesmen, but each truly national, conservative,
and patriotic. The issues were those appertain-
ing to practical questions of governmental policy.
They referred to the important questions of
finance, of commercial, navigating, and manufac-
turing interests, and to the proper conduct of
our foreign affairs; and, in the assembled wisdom
of congress, represen tiDg every portion of our ex-
tended empire, however much men differed upon
these topics, they were unanimous in upholding
the public honor, the public faith, and protecting
from assault the domestic rights of each others’
constituents.
No man was found bold enough to advocate a
theory which struck at the homes and the firesides
of women and children. No demagogue was
found fool enough to assume an attitude of hos-
tility to the right of families to regulate their
own domestic relations. No party or faction was
found base enough to attempt to obtain political
powers by catering to morbid sentimentality,
founded upon mistaken philanthropy and benevo-
lence ; and, least of all, had it entered the minds
of men or parties that it was profitable or wise
to array one section of this glorious union against
the other.
But, my friends, a few years thereafter, co-
vertly, yet surely, adder seeds were sown. Foiled
and disappointed politicians, utterly bankrupt in
hopes and prospects, conceived an iniquitous ab-
straction by which to regain lost partisan power
of all others. In an evil honr, an eminent, though
disappointed man, was induced to listen to the
insidious advocates of this theory. He was told
that there was a slumbering puritanism in the
N orth, that could be aroused to political useful-
ness—that there existed a fanatical, non-political
element which, under his experienced guidance
might become profitable and available in control-
ling the numerical power of the government.
With humiliation I admit that our state was
selected as the theatre, and our own previously
trusted champion, Van Buren, was chosen the
leader of this hellish plot, by which abolitionism
was first warmed into partisan being, and now
used as an infernal machine, threatening the de-
struction of the country. And thus was laid the
egg from which was produced the so-called Re-
publican party of to-day. From the Buffalo
treason—conceived, applied, and promulgated, as
I have described—has flown the dogmas upon
which has been erected the Black Republican
party of the North; and however odious and
dangerous it is to the peace and continuance of
of the union, let us not. in contemplating it, lose
sight of the just responsibility attached to those
who originally hatched the iniquity. ^
If the present condition of our public affairs
can be traced more directly to the teachings of a
Seward and a Giddings, yet how much more
should the country hold to a rigid accountability
those who originally created, and applied to
partisan purpose, the very dogmas uttered by
those Republican leaders in the North, and prac-
ticed by John Brown in the South. Like the
fallen angel, who was the author of all evil, so is
Martin Van Buren and his adherents justly
chargeable with furnishing the material with
which our national magazine is about to be ex-
ploded, and the fact that he and his adherents,
defeated, abandoned their Free Soil organization
in 1849, does not lessen this accountability. It
but increases it, because they disseminated their
poison into* both of the politicians and dilluting
the principles until integrity and nationality
have almost alike disappeared from each.
My friends, the time has arrived when the
North must have a thoroughly national party
to save the country. It must be national in all
respects. We must go beyond and behind all
hair splitting- discussion of territorial sovereign-
ties. The danger has become too imminent for
us to stop and to discuss the abstract rights of a
handful of men who seek homes in the wilder-
ness. The ship has been driven upon the rocks,
and we cannot stop to discuss the relative rights
of the cabin boy and the captain. The apparent
fearful abyss, ready to swallow up all our great
interests, should admonish us that a superhuman
effort is necessary to save before all is lost. What
is it to you or I, whether the people residing
on the borders of the country are bereft of
proper protection, provided our own great na-
tional interests are jeoparded to the concern ? If
the heart, the source of life is dying, what boots
it whether the extremities are shielded or ex-
posed ? If the life-blood of our common country
is to be exhausted, what matters it whether the
handful of adventurers, inhabiting the territoriesTHE NEW YORK CONTEST.
21
of Kansas and Nebraska, shall have or not have,
free or slave labor ? Is it wise to hazard the con-
tinuance of the union in a struggle to maintain
the rights of persons or property among a people
who are abundantly able to take care of them-
selves ?
And if, therefore, this territorial question is
not of sufficient importance, viewed in any aspect,
to warrant a continuance of this internal danger,
how much less so is its commit ant—that of slave
labor in the states ?
For, if statesmen may differ as to the duties and
powers of questions appertaining to the territories,
there can be none as to the powers and duties of
the government over the question of slavery in
the states. There the constitution protects it.
It is a matter exclusively of state jurisdiction;
whether good or evil, it is not of our concern.
Admitting all the accusatsons, unfounded and
extravagant as they may be, the southern people
are their own custodians, and are not responsible,
either legally or morally, to any other people
under the canopy of Heaven. It is for them to
determine what species of labor they shall employ.
If it be in accordance with their own sentiments
and interests to make bondmen free, they will do
so in good time, and the arrogant and the im-
pertinent interference of others will impede,
rather than hasten this result. The people of
of the South are actuated by the same impulses
as would be the people of the North under
similar circumstances. They are indignant at
aggression. They are determined in resistance.
They will punish interference, and woe betide
those who will attempt again to practically illus-
trate upon Southern soil, the foul teachings of
Northern fanatism. Let the south alone. Stand
off from her borders. Withhold your encroach-
ments upon her constitutional rights. Remem-
ber'it was but yesterday that we, of the North,
held negro slavery. What would we have said
if England, through her Canadian provinces,
would have attempted “ to make all free within
our own borders ?” Where is the man or the
child that would not have been ready to resist it
vi et armis ? But you will say we set our slaves
free. We did ; but by gradual emancipation.
But when ? When they ceased to be profitable.
When no money could be made by the con-
tinuance of the institution in the Northern states
we freed our bondmen. When slavery was no
longer pecuniarily advantageous, we began to be
benevolent. Having wrung the last dollar from
the sinews of the slave, we philanthropically set
him free to support himself. Less humane than
the master to his horse, who provided for his de-
clining years, we turned the negro out to, die
upon the common, or to become degraded and
demoralized. Let us hear no more of Northern
sympathy with the slave at the South, but rather
ask ourselves where and when have the people of
the North ever elevated themselves higher than
the appreciation of a principle connected with
self-interest, and until we have provided and cared
for the oppressed and laboring man in our midst,
we should not extend our sympathy to the
laboring men of other states.
But, my friends, if it be true that slavery is an
evil, and its abolition is a thing to be obtained
by the sacrifices demanded of us, even at the im-
minent peril of the whole country, why does not
the North cease to profit by slave labor ? Why
do not the New England manufacturers, and the
orators, and the poets, and the priests who have
subsisted so long upon the toil and products of
slavery, give up their ill-gotten gains and live as
the South is preparing to do, upon the fruits of
their own labor, depending alone upon their own
resources? Why do not Northern traders, and
merchants, and mechanics, cease to barter in
merchandise for the Southern trade, and why,
indeed, does not the whole Black Republican
party of the North practically execute their doc-
trines by the non-consumption of Southern agri-
cultural products ? If they are sincere, why will
they not do this ? If slavery is wrong, why is it
not wrong to traffic in, or consume its products ?
If negro servitude, at the South, is based upon
cruelty and oppression, why deal in and use as
articles of necessity the fruits of the evil? If
the unanimity exists in the North, against the
institutions of slavery, to the extent stated, a
general determination to do without slave pro-
ducts, would undoubtedly do much to abolish
slave labor.
If anti-slavery England and France, and the
N orthern states of America were to combine in
the exclusion from use of cotton, tobacco, sugar,
and rice, how long would it take to abolish slavery
in these states ? It could not exist without this
custom. It would droop and die under such a
withdrawal of patronage. It would fall a victim
to the imperative commercial law of supply and
demand. Non-producing would speedily follow
the non-intercourse created by non-consumption,
and the states of the South would then be driven,
as were the states of the North, into to the eman-
cipation of their slaves. It is a matter of exclu-
sively local determination. Time alone can sxtin-
guish it, if it be an evil, but when extinguished
who will cultivate the cotton and rice fields of the
South? What will become of those beautiful
savannahs, and the broad fields, fruitful in wealth,
beyond a hundred Californias ? I will not at-
tempt a description of the situation of the South
when slavery shall be abolished within her bor-
ders, for it can be done but in two ways—by the
faggot and the sword, or by the non-consumption
of her products and total impoverishment of the
country, and annihilation of the black race which
must inevitably ensue. As the latter mode appears
not to be the one oontemplated by the Black Re-
publican party of the North, we are to infer that
the former is the dreadful weapon about to be
used. # It has been announced that the whole
country must become all free or all slave; and
therefore, to accomplish such a result, northern
military power must be exercised, and northern
emmissaries to incite negro insurrection, the fear-
ful agencies.
That the object of the Black Republican party22
DOCUMENTS DELATING TO
is such a forcible abolition of slavery, is more or
less distinctly avowed by their leaders on the oc-
casion of an ovation to Mr. Pennington, on the
2d inst., just after his election as speaker.
Mr. Pennington held out the idea of an indis-
soluable union in which a conflict of opinion
must necessarily prevail.
“ We are one people, ■ and I trust in Heaven we shall
ever remain so. There will always be, in a free country
like ours, diversities of opinion, different views and a great
variety of interests which must necessarily prevail.”
What he meant by “ diversities of opinion” he
explained, when a voice was heard: “ What
about Harper’s Ferry?”
“ Never mind Harper’s Ferry,” he replied. “ My
friends, that is a nine days’ wonder. My friends, it always
belongs to Republican institutions, that there mn-t be a great
variety of public opinion upon all questions ; and our only
security is to bear and forbear, and the strength of our in*
Etitutions depends upon love of country.
Mr. Sherman, the first candidate of the Black
Republicans, scouted the idea of dissolution.
He exclaims in triumph :
“ A Republican Speaker is elected and no calamity comes.
A Repubiican speaker is elected and the people rejoice. A
Republican Speaker is elected and stocks advance. A Ke-
publican Speaker is elected and Cotton is worth eleven cents
a pound and upward, and may it advance higher. A Re-
publican Speaker is elected and slave property remains the
same in value. A Republican Speaker is elected, and the
union is sale. So it wid be When a Republican President is
elected, for in that event, every right of every citizen, of
every state will be secured in his hands.
He sneers at the fears of those who apprehend
a dissolution of the union, and reiterates the idea
of a consolidated and inseparable union.
“Pissolvo the union of these states 1 Fellow citizens’
my people iiv<- afar off on the shores of one of the beautitir
lakes of the West. If they were to hear among them such
talk as we hear from the Democratic office-holders of the
federal capital, tney would not hang them, but they would
denounce and curse them.
Passing from these professions of devotion to
the union on the part of Messrs. Pennington and
Sherman, the mission of the Black Republican
party is further unfolded by Mr. HickmaN. He
too, declares, “ that this union shall not be des-
troyed,” and how he would sustain it. He re-
peats language previously made by him in the
House oi Representatives :
“That if any time hereafter, any portion of the peop’e in
the South shall attempt to sever the union which now ex-
ists, and which is cou-ervative and preservative of the rights
and liberties of the whole people, there are eighteen mil-
lions of people in the ■■ or them tree states that are deter-
mined t» preserve it.
And what are the means Mr. Hickman would
employ to preserve the union.
“I say to you to-night, my fellow-citizens, that if it will re-
quire the state of Virginia in arms, to take old John Brown
and seventeen men ami one cow. it will at least require more
than the fifteen feeble states of the South to successfully
compete with the eighteen mighty states of the North.”
A union supported by bayonets is the ideal of
Mr. Hickman. He draws the line strictly, and
seems to glory in the impending sectional conflict.
“Nor is there a divided South, for I tell you, whether
parties in that section be called American or Democratic
they all fight under the same banner, and are enlisted for
the maintenance of a single policy. So in the North, when
the time comes, you will find the divisions have disap-
peared. and if there be a sing e man there who shall dissent
from the policy which it will then become our duty to pur-
sue, we will first hang him as a traitor, and then atteud to
the traitors South.”
Mr. Grow another prominent Republican, in-
forms us what the “ variety of opinions” and “the
policy” of the other speakers mean. He tells us
the conflict is “ as to an element of political econo-
my ;” and again, almost in the language of Mr.
Seward’s Rochester speech :
‘•The quest;on of the day is, whether the men who own
their own labor, whose daily toil is the only means they
have of obtaining a livelihood and support for themselves
and their families, shall be the recipients of this great in-
heritance bequeathed by your fathers—whether those who
own their own labor are to occupy the territories of this,
uinon free from the degradation that contact with slavery
everywhere brings upon free labor, or whether they are to
be occupied by those Who own the labor of others, and
whose capital consists in the bones and muscles of the
laborer.”
Leaving, then, the consideration of the territo-
ries thus ingeniously introduced, Mr. Grow dis-
tinctly avows the issue to be:
“This conflict between the labor that owns itself, and the
capital that owns it, has caused this long struggle in con-
gress. and to-day shakes the political element of the Re-
public.”
The conclusion of the matter is a union based
on force, and intended as a means of carrying on
the irrepressible and necessary conflict between
the two systems of labor. Such is the avowed
policy of the Black Republicans, and in pursuing
it they threaten to hang those who dissent at the
N orth, and to compel the South to submit by
force.
And to this conclusion are we driven. 1 he
sequence of all this territorial agitation comes
at last to this. The pretended hostility to the
extensions of slave territory, contemplates no other
result. Why oppose the spreading of an insti-
tution. if the institution itself is not an evil ? It
is assumed to be an evil. It is declared to be
against the laws of God and man, and it is upon
this assumption that the design is to exterminate
it from the South, under the pretext of restrict-
ing it to Sou (hern soil. Therefore, this hostility
against spreading it in the territories is really
hostility to its existence anywhere. It is To be
abolished. And how ? I have shown it cannot
be by the operation of the law. This result
can only be obtained by the voluntary action of
the slaveholder himself, or through the compulsion
of Northern interference. The latter mode is pre-
dicated upon negro insurrection. The horrors
of St. Domingo are to be re-enacted. Rapine
and massacre incited, encouraged, and protected
by N orthern fanaticism, are to be the instruments
by which these philanthropic results are to be
obtained. How singularly the present attitude
of this question and of this country, rehearses
what existed in the latter part of the eighteenth
century between the island of St. Domingo and
its home government of France. For ten years
proceeding the massacre of St. Domingo, in 1790,
an abolition party existed in France based upon
the same principles, advocating the same doc-
trines, and as applied to negro servitude in the
French colonies, including St Domingo, maintain-
ing the same theories as those enunciated by the
Black Republican party to-day.
Indeed, so faithful is the parallel, that but last
week, W endell Phillips, the high priest of BlackTHE NEW YORK CONTEST,
28
'Republican Abolitionism, eulogized, in a public
address, the leader of the negro insurrection in
St. Domingo. And it is well known that the
highest honors of martyrdom have been awarded
to John Brown for attempting a similar perform- -
ance within the borders of a slave state. There-
fore, am I not right, my friends, in declaring the
design to be to iay waste, with the faggot and
the sword, the Southern section of this union ?
And here we make our stand. Thus the ques-.
tion presents itself. This is the only issue before
the country. It is the only question upon which
political parties are to enter the conflict. Let
Us meet it like men. Let us look the danger square
in the face and meet the issue presented by the
opposition. Let us rally the national men of the
country. Let us erect a purely national party
bassd upon national principles. Let it be com-
posed of men who have never faltered, or never
wavered in the maintenance of such doctrines.
Let all who have ever maintained the doctrine of
non-interference, in any form in which it may have
been presented, be invited to our standard, and
any who have ever sympathized or been identi-
fied with either of the adverse factions to which I
have referred, be excluded from our confidence
and communion. Whatever may have been the
difference of men heretofore in no way connected
with issues on the slavery question, let all be
reconciled and forgotten in an effort to obliterate
and extinguish the followers of the anti-slavery
fiend now stalking abroad to destroy and to de-
vour.
I congratulate you, gentlemen, that not one
man in this delegation has ever been tainted with
Free Soil heresies or Abolition proclivities.
That, truly representing those who have selected
us as their agents, in the coming National Con-
vention, now as heretofore, there is no admixture
of baser metal in our political composition. We
are, therefore, quite prepared to meet this issue,
to go down to the root of the controversy and
to meet our opponents upon the abstract ques-
tion of negro servitude itself. Its discussion
brings us no fear. The people of the North have
never had the naked proposition submitted for
their adjudication. Evasive and ambiguous
generalities have confused the honest minded, and
misled the simple hearted.
Until now public attention had not been
aroused to the designs of the leaders of the Re-
publican party. Men who had mechanically
voted that ticket, without knowing the dreadful
tendencies of its success, are now horror stricken
at the hideousness of the monster wdiich they
helped to create. Those who have supported
what they had deemed a harmless sentiment, are
finding out when, now almost too late, that it has
become a living pregnant fact, fruitful of national
and commercial revulsion. And may we not
therefore, in this view, thank that Providence who
asm thus far so kindly nurtured and protected our
common country, that by its interposition the
premonitory symptoip of Harper’s Ferry was sent
to arouse the slumbering people of the North.
As fearfully as both sections are now agitated,
may we not therefore again hope that the same
hand will be extend 3d over us to allay the
troubled councils of the people.
Bat, my friends, we are to proceed, to Charles-
ton, to lay down a platform of principles, and to
select standard bearers for the contest of next
November. Selected as the representatives of
the National Democracy, pure and simple, the
part we shall act in constructing that platform,
and in the creation of those candidates will re-
dound to the gHry or the shame of those whose
agents we are. The history of the Democratic
party furnisnes no parallel to the condition of
things as now existing. At no period since the
foundation of the government has a presidential
contest presented a similar issue or involved a
imilar consideration For the first time there is
but one issue, and that issue is life or death.
Such stupendous consequences never before were
dependent upon the action of a party, as it were
to be re-constructed by the National Convention
about to assemble; and as this result is depend-
ent upon the success of this recognized and re-
constructed party, so will it rest with that con-
vention whether we shall have a party at all.
If wise counsels shall there prevail, and true pa-
triotism override jealousies and selfish controver-
sies, all will be well; but if intemperate passion,
mistaken availability, and a compromise of prin-
ciple shall be adopted, all will be lost. Ruin
must ensue. The party will become disintegrated
and destroyed, and upon its destruction will be
reared a monument erected to Black Republican
success, to be followed by the inevitable dissolu-
tion of the union.
On the conclusion of Mr. Wood’s remarks,
the convention proceded to the consideration of
the business which was interrupted.
After debate, Mr. Brower withdrew the pro-
position to charter a steamship.
Mayor Wood thereupon moved the appoint-
ment of a committee of arrangements, consisting
of three, to proceed to Charleston, to find quar-
ters for the delegation. Carried.
The chair announced the following as said
committee :—Messrs. Wood, Brower, and Rich-
ard H. Tucker.
Gen. Follett, of the 30th district, moved that
the proceedings of this convention be published
in pamphlet form, that a committee of three be
appointed by the chair to superintend the publi
cation, and that the Hon. Gideon J. Tucker, be
chairman of such committee. Carried.
The chair appointed G. J. Tucker, Frederick
Follett, and Orville Clark as such committee.
Mr. Brower moved that the committee of ar-
rangements b empowered to appoint an agent
to proceed to Charleston to transact the business
entrusted to them. Carried.
Col. Shankland, from the committee appoint-
ed to present a chairman of the delegation, re-
ported the name of Hon. F ernando W ood. Re-
ported adopted.24
DOCUMENTS RELATING TO, &C
It was moved and carried, that Hon. Gideon
•J. Tucker and Gen. Frederick Follett, be ap-
pointed permanent secretaries of the delegation.
On motion, the thanks of the convention were
tendered to the officers for the able manner in
wich they had discharged their duties.
On motion, the thanks of the convention were
tendered to the proprietor of the Voorhies House,
for the use of his hall for the convention.
On motion of Gen. Chamberlain, of the 30th
district, the convention adjourned to meet in
the city of New York, on the call of the corres-
ponding committee.
LIST OF THE NATIONAL DEMO-
23 lys. H. Brown, Watertown, Jefferson Co.
Samuel J. Davis, Carthage, Jefferson Co.
24.	Thomas G. Alvord, Salina, Onondaga Co.
Nathan F. Graves, (for the winter,) N. Y. City.
25.	Obadiah W. Candee, Palmyra, Wayne Co.
George H. Carr, Cato, Cayuga Co.
26.	Nehemiah Raplee, Dundee, Yates Co.
Peter Pontius, Seneca Falls, Seneca Co.
27.	James B. Howe, Newark Valley, Tioga Co.
Chauncey L. Grant, Ithaca, Tompkins Co.
28.	Wm. S. Hubbell, Bath, Steuben Co.
F. C. Dininny, Addison, Steuben Co.
29.	Joseph. Sibley, West Rush, Monroe County,
Geo. B. Redfield, Rochester.
30.	C. T. Chamberlain, Cuba, Allegany Ce.
Frederick Follet, Batavia, Genesee Co.
31.	John T. Murray, Lockport, Niagara Co.
Harvey Goodrich, Albion. Orleans Co.
32.	Thos. C. Reyburn, Buffalo.
Hiram Chambers, Buffalo.
33.	B. F. Chamberlain, East Randolph, Catta’gs Co.
Norman Kibbe, Westfield, Chautauqua Co.
District Alternates.
CRATIC DELEGATION,
WITH POST OFFICE ADDRESSES.
Delegates at Large.
Fernando Wood, New York City.
Gideon J. Tucker, New York City.
John A. Green, Jr., Syracuse.
Joshua R. Babcock, Westfield, Chautauque Co.
Alternates at Large.
William C. Beardsley, Auburn.
James T. Soutter, New York City.
John Haggerty, Big Platts, Chemung Co.
Benj. Chamberlain, Ellicottville, Cattaraugus Co. .
District Delegates.
1.	John H. Brower, Jamaica, Queens Co.
Ephraim Clark, Richmond, Richmond Co.
2.	Daniel Chauncey, Brooklyn.
John Haslett, Brooklyn. *
3.	Benjamin Ray, Patten’s Hotel, N. Y. City.
Josiah W. Brown, Tax Com. Office, N. Y. City.
4.	James Lynch. Aims House Department, N. Y.
J. McLeod Murphy, Senate. Albany
5.	Thomas H. Ferris, Grand-street, N. Y. City.
William Marshall, Williamsburgh, Kings Co.
6 Morgan L Harris, 757B'wy, cor 8th st., N. Y.
Andrew Mills. 207 Second-avenue, N. Y.
7.	Patrick G. Moloney, Alms House Deparfcm’t, N. Y.
James S. Libby. Park Row, New York.
8.	Stephen P. Russel, B’wy Cor Chambers-st., N. Y.
Robert B. Bradford. 42d-st., New York City.
9.	William Radford, Yonkers, Westchester Co.
Francis Burdick, Brewster’s, Putnam Co.
10.	Thornton M. Niven, Bloomingburgh, Sullivan Co.
Gilbert J. Beebe, Middletown, Orange Co.
11.	Jos. 0. Hasbrouck, Tuthill, Ulster Co.
Sylvester Nichols, Athens, Greene Co.
12.	Henry Snyder, Kinderliook, Columbia Co.
Albert Emans, East Fishkill, Dutchess Co.
13.	John B. Pier son,.Troy.
Levi Smith, Troy.
14.	James Brady, West Troy, Albany Co.
Samuel G. Courtney, Albany City.
15.	Orville Clark, Sandy Hill, Washington Co.
J mes M. Marvin, Saratoga Springs, Saratoga Co.
16.	Walter H. Paine, Fort Covington, Franklin Co.
And. L. Ireland, (for winter,) Union Club, N. Y. City.
17.	DariusUlark, Canton, St. Lawrence Co.
Aug. Beardslee, Manheim, Herkimer Co.
18.	Daniel D. Campbell, Schenectady.
Jacob J. Radciiffe, Amsterdam, Montgomery Co.
19.	A. B. Watson, Unadiha, Otsego Co.
Delos W. Dean, Laurens, Otsego Co.
20.	David Moulton, Floyd, Oneida Co.
Norman Maltby, Verona. Oneida Co.
21.	Wm. G. Sands, Oxford, Chenango Co.
Carl Aug. Kohler, Cortland. Cortland Co.
22.	William Baldwin, Oswego City.
William H. Walrath, Cliittenango, Madison Co.
1.	Charles W. Church, Fort Hamilton, Kings Co.
Kerr Boyce, Brooklyn.
2.	Joseph Wilson, Brooklyn.
Richard H. Tucker, Brooklyn.
3.	Sam’l F. Dickinson, New York City.
Daniel Linn, New York City.
4 Eugene Shine, New York City.
Patrick Garrick. New York City.
5. John J. Reilly, New York City
John Tucker, Williamsburgh, Kings Co.
£6. Peter McKnigbt, New York City.
Jos. G. Browning, New Yoxk City.
7.	Wm. J. Brisley, New York City.
Thomas Lawrence,New York City.
8.	Isaac Lawrence, New York City.
Henry Smith, New York City.
9.	Albert R. Learned, Yonkers, Westchester Co.
Salmon Skinner, Yonkers, Westchester Co.
10.	Harvey R. Morris, Wurts - oro, Sullivan Co.
Clias. S. Woodward, Mount Hope. Orauge Co.
11.	Wm. C. Derby. Ellenvilie, Ulster Co.
Samuel McIntyre, Kingston, Ulster Co.
12.	Richard T. Clark, Hudson.
Josh. H. Rogers, Dover Plains, Dutchess Co.
13.	II. G. Van Valkenburgh, Troy.
Chas. J. Wilbur. Scaghticoke, Rensselaer Co.
14.	Stephen S. Wandell, West Troy, Albany Co.
Mathew McMahon, Albany City.
15 Geo. H. Taylor, Fort Edward, Washington Co.
Wm. A. Waldron, Waterford, Saratoga Co.
16.	George Rice, Sckroon Lake, Essex Co.
Benj. F. Tripp, Schroon Lake, Essex Co.
17.	J. C. Harrison, Canton, St. Lawrence Co.
Joseph Lee, Little Falls, Herkirmr Co.
18.	William S. Clark, Sloansville, Schoharie Co.
Fred. W. Hoffman, Schenectady,
19.	John F. Scott, Cooperstown, Otsego Co.
Orrin W. Smith, Delhi, Delaware Co.
20.	Peter Brewer, Utica.
C.	W. Armstrong, Rome, Oneida Co.
21.	Benadam Frink, Plymouth, Chenango Co.
J. F. Van Hoesen, Cortland, Cortland Co.
22.	J. L. McWhorter, Oswego.
Edw. M. Holmes, Cazenovia, Madison Co.
23.	Erastus Hale, Adams, Jefferson Co.
Francis Riall, Copenhagen, Lewis Co.
24.	Henry G. Beach, Lysander, Onondaga Co.
Henry Pratt, Eayetteville, Onondaga Co.
25.	William H. Coffin, Clyde, Wayne Co.
Alex. Thompson, Aurora, Cayuga Co-.
26.	Wm. C. Lapham, Canandaigua, Ontario Co.
Geo. W. Torrence, Victor, Cayuga Co.
27.	J. Burr Clark. Elmira, Chemung Co.
John J. Van Allen, Watkins, Schuyler Co.
28.	Josiah Clark, Livonia, Livingston Co.
Robt. E. Reynolds, Hornellsville, Steuben Co.
29.	E. H. Munn, Rochester.
Matthew Rigney, Rochester.
30.	Simeon Anthony, Almond, Allegany Co.
Trumen S. Gillet, Perry, Wyoming Co.
31.	R. H. Boughton, Lewiston, Niagara Co.
Lewis Warner, Albion, Orleans Co.
32.	Horatio N. Walker, Buffalo.
(Vacancy.)
33.	R. H. ShankLnd, Ellicottville, Cattaraugus Co.
D.	A. A. Nichols, Westfield, Chautauque Co.