Tr
Lb Ry
IW hw
lcm
the
1
any
NS
an
ded
hilip
ne 5
y
Re.
®
’
Ane
Bod pend Bes
Pale 80 pe tap Lope
at
Foley
»
ON
a
- eided approbation of this convention.
————
—
—
BELLEFONTE, CENTRE COUNTY, PE
Yr
N
Vol. V11.
“rh Crawford Convention.
TIE dejcgates appointed in the several
"counties of this state [iendly to the nomination
for President and Vice President of the United
States, made in caucus by the national repres
~ en'atives, at Washington, on the 14th of Febre-
ary, 1824, for the purpose of nominating elec
tors for the ensuing presidential election, hav
ing convened at the court house in Harrisburg,
on the 9th of August inst. proceeded to organ
ise themselves by the appointment of
MATTHEW ROBERTS, of Montgomery
county, President, and
EPHRAIM PENTLAND, Esq. of Pitts.
burg, aod DAVID F. GORDON, Esq. of Pail
adelplia, Secretaries.
A committee being appointed to examine the
credentials of delegates, it was found that the
following persons were present as delecates
from the following counties respectfully, viz.
Philadelfiliia City—Josiah Randall, D. F. Gor-
don, m jor S. H. Perkins, Col. Joseph Strahan.
Joseph Diver, Lambert Keating.
Philedelfi/ia County —James M Ewen, Capt
David Hardie, Joseph P. Lie Clerc, Col. James
Dyer, Jobo Jobnson, Jobn R. Jones.
Moytgomery— Matthew Roberts, Stephen
~ Porter, Mujor James White, John M’Nair, jr.
Chester—Iohn Roberts, Jacob Neiler, John
Wells, John Workhizer.
Delaware—John Worthington.
Lancaster—George C. Lloyd, Lewis Wislar.
Northumberland—David Tweed, William A.
Lloyd.
Columlia—Stephen Baldy.
Allegheny—Epraim Pentland, Robert Burke
Blercer— David l.eech.
Beaver——William Cairns.
Aud that communications from several coun-
ties hud been received, recommentting suitable
persons to be supported for electors,
A committee consisting of Ephraim Pentland
Samuel H. Perkins, Matthew Roberts, Jacob
Neiler, Lewis Wislar, Jamew M’Ewen and Wn
A. Lloyd, baying been appointed, to nominate
electors und report such measures as were ex-
pedient for this convention to adopt, reported
the following resolutions and address, which
were unanimously adopted :
Resolvedy That the system of nominating the
democratic candidates for the offices of Presi.
adent and Vice President of the United States.
by the democratic members of COuEress, as-
semblcd 10 caucus, heretofore pursucd wit)
such signal and upiform success, meets the de.
Resolved, That this convention recognize iv
WILLIAM H. CRAWFORD of Georgia, who
was placed in nomination for the office of Pres
ident ot the United States, by the caucus of re
publican members of congress, lately assembled
in Washington city, a siatesman whose elevat
ed talents, long experience and pure principles
eminently qualify bim for the faithful and able
discharge of the arduous duties ot that distin-
guished station, and decidedly merit for bim the
warm and unanimous support ef the democracy
ot Pennsylvania.
Resolved, That the splendid abilities, the dis-
tinguished services and well tried patriotism
and republicanism of oar fellow citizen AL
ERT GALLATIN, procure for his nomina
tion, as the democratic candidate for the Vice
Presidency of the United States, the unequivo
cal approbation of this convention.
Resolved, That the following persons com-
pose the democratic republican electoral ticket,
10 Pennsylvania, favorable to the national nomin-
ation of William H Crawford for President, and
Albert Gallaitn for Vice President.
Richard Rush,
Samuel Witherill,
John Geyer,
John Conuelly,
Samuel Castor,
Enoch Abrahams,
David Wilson,
John Light,
Christian Snyder,
Jacob Goodheart,
John Walter,
Abel M’Farland,
John Negley,
John A. Scroggs,
Alexander L. Hays,
Anthony Taylor,
Wiiliam Watts,
John Hannah,
Heory W. Soyder,
George Dennison,
Walter Franklin jr.
William M’Kiosury,
John Mullay,
Heory Black,
Isaac Griffin,
Francis M’Clure,
Philip Mechling,
James Montgomery.
-
be aathorised to take |
fill the same. io SliaS~
Mr, Randall, of Philadelphia, after expressing
his high sense of the respectful manner in which
this convention have been treated bythe people
of Harrisburg assembled to witness its delibet-
ations, and the facilities afforded to it in the
course of its proceedings, off.red the following
resolutions, which were unanimously adopted
Resolved, That the thanks of this meeting be
presented to the commissioners of Dauphir
county for the use of the court house.
Resolved, That the thanks of this meeting be
presented to C. Gleim, Esq® sheriff of the saic
county, for the politeness and attention with
which ‘this meeting have been treated during
their session.
Resolved, That the proceedings of this con.
vention be published in the « Pennsylvania In
tellicencer,” and that the editors of all othe:
democratic republican newspapers of the state
be requested to republish the same.
MATTHEW ROBERTS, Pres’:
Attest
Davin F. Gorpon,
x Secretaries.
E. PENTLAND, $
ADDRESS
To the Democratic Citizens of Pennsylvania.
FELLOW CITIZENS ==
HAVING executed the business for which
we were more immediately delegated, we should
feel that we had but imperfectly performed ou
duty, if we did not freely commune with you on
the probable effects on Pennsylvania politics,
likely to result from an abandonment by the
democratic party, of ancient usages and modes,
which bave always been successful and bave al-
ways resuited in honor and advantage to the na-
tion Before we enter upon the discharge ol
this duty, it may be well bricfly to notice some
points in an address which emanated from, al-
though never sanctioned by, a democratic con-
vention which assembled at this place, on the
4th of March last. The observations we shall
make, shall be wholly to correct tacts and not
with any intention to animadvert upon the igno-
rance or misrepresentation of the committee
whose names are subsciibed to the address,
much less to reflect vpon the convention by
whom they were appointed. —\Vhat we write
shall be in a spirit of candor, from the purest
motives and the deepest convictions that the
times and the best interests of our country, our
party and principle require, and we respectful
ly, yet earnestly request it may be read in the
same spirit and with the same feelings,
They complain, heavily of the congressiona!
caucus held at Washington, February 14, 1824,
and advance some assertions in relation to it.
which a regard to truth impels us to correct.
Chey say ‘it was held in utter disregard and de-
fiance of the known wishes of the democratic
parly in congress and throughout the wnien,”
As this assertion is not attempted to be support-
ed, even by the shadow of evidence, and as it is
indeed altogether unsupported by fact, we shal
pass it by, with a simple denial of its truth, and
examine some passages of still more impor.
tance, and which are labored with much anxiety
They are embraced in the following extracts.
“ A congressional caucus could never be de.
fensible but as the echo of the voice of the grea!
republican party of the union. It bas hitherto
consisted of a large majority of the friends of al,
the candidates entering into caucus and surren.
dering their personal predilections on the alta:
of republican ascendency. But the late unpre.
cedented assemblage was holden in direct hos.
tility with every usage and principle of the
democratic party.” “Such a meeting of the
friends of an individual might distract and divide
but could not harmonize and unite the demo
cratic party.”
a
We shall show that most of these assertions
are groundless : the facts we submit shall be of
such notoriety and so easily supported by docu-
ments, that they must carry conviction to every
mind, which will take the trouble 10 examine the
subject. The more it is examined the more
pertect and entire will be the conviction that the
congressional caucus of 1824 was holden not
“in direct hostility to every usage and princi-
ple,” but in exact conformity to all the usages
Kesolved, That the democratic citizens,
friendly to the national nomination, be requested’
to meet in their respective counties, and to ap.
point committees of correspondence to confer
with their democratic brethren on the subject of
the presidential election.
Resolved, That the committee of correspon-
dence at Poiladelphia consist of Jacob Sommer,
C. J. Ingorsoll, Manuel Eyre, Horatio G. Jones,
Samuel! Badger, Thomas F. Gordon and Jesiah
Randall.
Resolved, That the committee of correspon.
dence at Pittsburg consist of James Riddle,
Charles Shaler, William Courtney, John B, But-
ler, Robert Christy, William M’Candless and
Lphraim Pentland.
Resolved, That the said coromittees be au-|
thorised to address the respective individuals,
designated on the electoral ticket,
to remain on the said ticket, aud in case of any
vagancy, by resignation or otherwise, that they,
1
and principles « of the democratic party.”
The caucus of 1824 was called by a public
and general notice, signed and put up in the
usual manner and at the usual places; all the
democratic members of congress were invited
to assemble publicly in the hall of the House
of Representatives, and proceed, as heretofore
to select candidates for the office of President
and Vice president of the United States, This
was In strict conformity to “every usage and
= ty.
the: proper msasuredeio
h Hn by : _y.¥ y *
y
&
: mado Butoh, thus p :
‘er his resignation he was appoint
judges of the supreme court of the 8
>ibly alive to the difficult duties of t
and impressed with the great injury be
by erroneous decisions, he advanced 10
fice with reluctance, and in a short time °
ed it, leaving it open for these who fe
were better qualified than himselfto di
its intricate and important duties.” ®
Such are the reasons given, and t
wate of things is, who were most praisew orthiy
who most anxious to concentrate the strength of
the democratic party, those who declined, oi
those who submitted, to the accustomed arbi
‘rament of the party ? The answer to this ques-
tion determines that William H. Crawford is
ob party principles, pre-eminently entitled to the
support of that party whose usages and princi-
oles, he, alone, has beld sacred.
How far it is correct to averthat congression-
al caucusses have hitherto consisted ot a large
mijority of the democratic members of con-
comected with congressional
Butr, were unanimous'y nominated ;
members attended the caucus, 83 voted for Mr.
Madison.
unanimously nominated, 82 members present.—
James Monros and 54 for Wm, H. Crawford,
lic. as a candidate than Mr. Crawford.
ot the present candidates had been moved b
ination. February 14, 1824, Willi
into caucus, from various causes not to be enu
merated.
From the above statement of facts it appears,
¥
been held:
1I. That less than 80 has been the avera
number of members attending:
II.
didate selected and elected.
1V.
more than two candidates under consideration.
V. That the candidates thus selected for
more than 20 years have been uniformly suc- will not say misrepresentations of the 2 d
cessful,
From these facts it is apparent,
I. That an experience of 24 years has pro-
ved the efficacy and invariable success of con.
gressional caucusses.
IL. That they have uniformly tended to har.
monise and unite the democratic party.
IIL. That considering the great number and
influence of the candidates betore the public, the
congressional caucus this year was as large as
could reasonably be expected and proportional.
ly larger than any former one.
IV. Thatthe assertions that all caucusses
hitherto held « consisted of a large majority of
the democratic members of congress,” is an er.
ror, as is also the assertion that the; were com.
posed of the friends of all the-other candidates
entering into caucus.” These facts and dedye.-
tions are submitted without a sinple remark ;
their own intrinsic weight and direct bearing
upon the question, wi'l se€cure them that por.
tion of public attention which in our estimation
their importance require.
As it does not appear that more than two can-
didates for the presider-y, Andrew Jackson and
William H Crawford, are before the people of
Peansylvania, in such a manner as to concentrate
their opinions at the poll, we shali confine our
observations to these gentlemcn,
Towards general Jackson we have no feeling
so strong as gratiinde, and we shall from re.
gard to our own feeling, treat his character,
conduct and pretensions. with all possible deco.
rum, delicacy and reserve. His glory, and that
of his country were greatly diffused abroad by
the signal defeat of the enemy at New Orleans.
We would not take a ray from the sun of glory
which halos the name of the commander in chief
cp that memorable occasion, nor would we re.
{use the homage of our respect and gratitude to
the privates who fought in the ranks, yet whose
names shall never descend to posterity, or be
known to their countrymen. Let songs of tri.
umph and wreaths of glory swell the trump of
fame, and deck the brow of the major general.
while the name of the private shall pass up-
known and unnoticed down the stream of time.
Let the one receive tens ot thousands from the
public chest, while all that is given to the other
1s a few dollars, and the proud consciousness of
having done his duty. The names of the com.
manders at Bridgewater amd Chippewa, at
Champlain and Erie, at Sandusky and New Op.
principle’ heretofore adopted by the democrzt-
those who did attend, whatever blame may at-
their personal predilections on the altar of re-
publican ascendancy.” There were this year,
republican members of Congress.
tion which necessarily preseats its
Thue ques-|
elf, on this
- = !
tach itselt to those who declined « surrendering’
|
|
leans, shall long emblazon the page of histo
tended they
are
our country,
be able to render more services to the govern.
ment than himself.” Iiis aid and biographer,
gress, composed of the friends of all the candid-
ates” can easily be tested by the following facts,
nominations.
May 10, 1800, Thomas Jefferson and Aaron son v
46 mem-/ciousness retired from those two siations
bers ot Congress attended the caucus. January !conviction that he was not qualified to fil
23,1808, James Madison was nominated, 89 with what propt
May 13, 1812, James Madison was finitely more « intricate and important duth
March 16, 1816, James Monroe was nominated,|ed
119 members attended the caucus, 65 voted for ed by
who had, with rare magnanimity, repeatedly re-jto the Union, general Jackson bore ® an a
fused to stand a candidate in opposition to Mr. (and distinguished par® ii the conve
Monroe, who had been longer before the pub. framed for her the most democra
If anyition of the Union.” Ny
y how far the ascertion, that the constitution
the same high, honorable & well principled con- Tennessee is «¢ the most democratic jn the I
siderations which governed Mr. Crawford, we'ion,” is warranted by its provisions. This
should not now see the democratic party as it quiry shall be strictly limited to a si
is, some for and some against the national nom- one of vital moment, on which
am H. Craw. at all times been peculiarly jealous and wate
ford was nominated, 68 members in the cadcus, ful ; we mean the right of suffrage.
64 voted for Mr. Crawford, and from 30 to 50 very pivot on which deniocracy tu If tl
members, his political friends, declined to go coostitution of Tennessee will not stand this te
- itdoes not deserve the high praise bestowed u
That five congressional caucusses bave sess a freehold or have resided six months in
ge The qualifications of a voter re
That in all these caucusses but one, the Which he represents,
- . ’
members attending were the friends of the can- acres of land.’
|
4 . { y .
That until this year, there never were possess a freehold estae of five hundred
of land.”
lculiar, special and ex
assigned by the intimate, and to this
confidential friend of general Jacks
having resigned the two most dis
( civil stations” he ever beld. If gen
oluntarily and of his own motive
iety can it be urged by o
that he is qualified for a station abounding i
Here is one other civil station which was
by the general, to which our attention is ct
tbe Harrisburg address ot March -
When the state of Tennessee was admitted
We shall fir
Pcnusylva
This ist
rns. If
on it. By that constitation the qualifications
a voter require that every freeman *¢ shall pe
county in which he shall vote. Art. 1, sect.
quire that
“shall possess, in his own right, in the coun
not less than two Aundre
Art. 1,sect. 7. And the gua
fications of the governor require that he
Aft. 2, sect. 3.
| These references shew the fatal €
March 4, & demonstrate that the constitu
Tennessee is so far from being ¢¢ the most
cratic,’ that it is one of the most ‘aristoe
¢ constitutions in the Unior.” Qur task hi
would be impeifectly performed if we would |
shew, that these aristocratic provisions,
bury the right of the poor man beneath th
he cultivates, were sanctioned and SUPPOTL
by general Jackson. From page 29h of #|
journal of the proceedings of the convention
Tennessee, it appears, that « Mr, Cocke me
and was seconded by Mr, Jackson, | Ge
Jackson,] that no person shall be cligible to
seat in the general assembly, who has not. €
ded three yearsin this state, and one in the edu,
‘fs immediately preceeding the election, an
shall possess, in his own right, in the count
which he represents, not less than two hundre
acres of land, and shall have attained the age
21 years,”
Thus it is proved, not only that the constity
tion of Tennessee is one of the most arristocra
ic constitutions of the Union, but that its mg
aristocratic provisions were made with the p
press approbation of gene
al Jackson, We are, in charity, bound to b
lieve that those who subscribed the address
the 4th March, never read 1, and that the ai
thor got up a work of imagination rather th
record of facts. If the Jactsihad heen fai
spread before the convention, they might hay
come to a very different conclusion from w
they did on the groundless assertions whi
were made.
There is but one other statement in the
dress, relative to general Jackson, which y
feel bound to correct. It is so full of errors th
it will be necessary to quote it at length,
though we should be obliged to narrow
our corrections into the smailest possible
pass. © On the eve ofthe battle of New Or}
when alarm and dissatisfaction pervaded
c1'y, general Jackson arrested a person
cred exciting mutiny in his camp, and
him to the civil authority til Orleans
cure. For this refnsal, which probably pre:
ed Orleans from destruction, he was fined
thousand dollars.” oh
refi
was
1
3 r bh] .
[ic party. If the caucus was not more numer-jand command the nations gratitude, but the ted a writ of Habeas Corpus, which
lously attended, that was surely not the fault of cannot I will 1it be con
uali to the highest civil stations in!
H In the ot of March 2 io ed. What an outrage on all our politic
are told that general Jackson is no « less distin. CiPles end forms of government ! 3
tinguished in civil than in military stations” let (ESS a pace ge the 5th and
for the first time, five candidates for the presi-|this assertion be tested by facts. In 1797 hei a jerd > Da pave had
idency, and the friends of no one of the five, butwas elected to the United States senate, but re. em So. a pers Jack
those of Mr. Crawford, were willing to curb; signed according to his confidential friend and ar Ze adv ee ins 6 treat
and ascertain!their ambition and submit their claims, as had’ biographer to make room for another citizen| @//#¢d. It was for this assump
: 2 : . . vo. CI0Z the military over the civi
whether they are willing to permit their names always before been done, to a meeting of the who Ze conjectured, would, in that capacity, "5 | S miliary i nthe
On the 21st January general Jackson ap
ced. in an address to bis army, the complete.
comiiture and retreat of the enemy. Op the
March general Jackson arrested My, Souvaljjere
and imprisoned him in the barracks. He trad
oath to his imprisonment, and judge Hall o
Was 8
upon general Jackson, who not only dis
the writ, but had the judge arrested and
“Or
8
arrived ;
£on had re
¥ bad beer
an, this pia
* See major Eaton's life of genera Brn ois
17, fixst Philadelphia edition, ge gral Jackson, [