Democratic Sentinel, Volume 4, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 July 1880 — PREPARING FOR BATTLE. [ARTICLE]

PREPARING FOR BATTLE.

Meeting of the National Democratic Committee. Hon. W. H. Barnum Unanimously Re-elected Chairman. The Members of the Committee Call Upon Gor. Tllden. The National Democratic Committee met at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, New York, on Tuesday, July 13, and organized by unanimously electing W. H. Barnum, of Connecticut, Chairman. Mr. Barnum briefly thanked the committee for this expression of confidence, saying it had been his wish that some other person should be selected for the position, but that, the committee having expressed its wish that he should preside over it, he would do all in his power to make the campaign successful. Mr. Brown, of Indiana, nominated F. O. Prince, of Boston, for Secretary, and he was unanimously elected. The committee was about to adjourn when Mr. Hewitt called attention to the fact that a sub-committee of the Congressional Committee "was in the hotel and desired to present a communication, The chair appointed Mr. Hewitt and Orestes Cleveland a committee to wait upon the sub-committee. Mr. Hewitt and Mr. Cleveland returned with the sub-committee, which consisted of Senator J. E. McDonald, of Indiana; Senator Wm. Pinckney Whyte, of Maryland; Gen. Eppa Hunton, of Virginia; and Duncan S. Walker, of Washington. Senator McDonald said that the Congressional Committee had been at work for some time in Washington, and desired to put itself into communication with and work in co-operation with the National Committee. He presented a resolution of the committee to that effect. The committee, he said, desired that, when the National Committee had appointed its Executive Committee and selected its headquarters, notice be given to the Congressional Committee. The communications and requests were referred to the Executive Committee, when appointed. The National Committee then took a recess until 8 p. m. Upon reassembling in the evening the committee spent two hours informally, representatives of the different States giving an outline of the political situation in their States and explaining What is lieCeSsarV to be done in each case. The general outlook was reported to be brighter than it has been at the opening of any previous campaign. The Democratic National Coramitteo reassembled ott the morning of the 14th, Senator Barnum presiding. The number of the Executive Committee was increased from thirteen to eighteen. The following were then appointed an Executive Committee: W. H. Barnum, of Connecticut; F. O. Prince, Massachusetts ; George T. Barnes, Georgia, Wra, 0, Cottcly, Illinois ; Aiistjn H. Brown, Indiana ; M. lit. Ham, lowa ; Henry D. McHenry, Kentucky ; B. F. JonaH, Louisiana ; Onterbridge Husey, Maryland ; P. H. Kelly, Minnesota : A. H. Sulloway, New Hampshire ; Orestes Cleveland, New Jersey ; Abram 8. Hewett, New York ; M. W. Ransom, North Carolina; Wm. W. Armstrong, Ohio; Wm. L. Scott, Pennsylvania ; Thomas O’Connor, Tennessee, and B. B. Sinailey, Vermont. After routine business the committee adjourned to the call of the chair. The members subsequently proceeded in a body to the residence of Ex-Gov. Tilden to pay i*espects to that gentleman. •’ The committee, on reaching Mr. Tilden’s residence in Gramercy park, wero received by Henry Tilden, the ex-Gov-ernor’s brother, Senator Kernan, Augustus Schell, and others, When Mr. Tilden appeared, looking unusually well, ex-Gov. Stevenson addressed him as fob lows :

Tne convention of the American Democracy upon the 22d of June last filet at Oittcitifiati and nominated Winfield Scott Hancock, of Pennsylvania, for President, and Wm. H. English, of Indiana, for Vice President. The committeo charged with the duty of informing those eminent statesmen of the high trust which has been committed to them performed that duty yesterday. Tho gentlemen who composed that coximittee now surround you. Having notifiod the nominee, whom the people intend to elect in ides of November, next President and Vice President of the United States, their duty would have been but half performed without ’ waiting in person upon you and tendering tile homage of the entire American people to him who, m 1876, was, by a large majority, erected President of the United Slates. The fact that you chose, in order to avoid civil strife and bloodshed, by noble self-denial, to forego the execution of the duties of Chief Magistracy of tho American republic, thus delegated to you, and from which you were deposed by a conspiracy founded in force and fraud, and by a crime against free representative self-gov-ernment, does not in any manner detract from the high honor and confidence of the American people in your wisdom, virtue and capacity to exercise the high trust and duties of that responsible position. In refusing to allow your name to go before the National Convention as a candidate for President in the approaching election, you have taken from the people the privilege of electing you a second time to the Presidency of the United States and of vindicating in your person the crime committed npon the constitution by a conspiracy founded upon force and fraud and refusing to give effect to the voice of the people in calling you in 1876 to execute the high trust of President of the United States. Those acts of self-denying patriotism on your part only have endeared you to the confidence and regard of lovers of American free government throughout the Union. For these acts of self-denial and patriotism, the Democracy of the United States pray to the Almighty Power that your life may be prolonged for many, very many years more ; particularly that you may live to see the country and its constitutional Government relieved from Jmany incumbrances heaped on them, as well as a rectification of the basest frauds perpetrated upon the people by the overwhelming defeat next November of the Republican party. I speak not by the voice of this committee, but by the voice of the Democratic party throughout this broad land, who unite m pay mg you homage simply because of your patriotism, virtue, and exalted statesmanship.' We know that the country and Constitution would have been as safely guarded by you as by Madison, Jeffereon, or Jackson, had you been installed as President. The speaker here read a resolution in reference to Mr. Tilden, passed by the Cincinnati Convention. Mr. Stevenson then concluded: This document but expresses the true sentiment of every single member of the Democratic party in the whole country. I now hand it to you, and permit me to say that I think you ought to reel proud of it. You have our best wishes for your continued health and prosperity. In reply Mr. Tilden spoke as follows: Mb. Stevenson, President of the Democratic National Convention: I tha * you for the kind terms in which you ** Cn expressed the communication you Me me. The solution which enables the Democratic party of the United States to vindicate the right of the people to choose their Chief Magistrate (a right violated in 1876), and at the same time relieves me of the burden of the canvass and four years of administration, is most agreeable to me. My sincere good wishes and cordial co-operation as a private citizen attend the illustrious soldier whom thePemocraoy have designated as their standard-bearer in the Presidential panvass, I congratulate you

on the favorable prospects with which that canvass has been commenced, and the promise it affords of complete and final success. Tile meiitiiers of the doitiinittee Were then introduced to Mr; Tildeii individually, and soon after took their leave* "Messrs. Hewitt, Smalley, and Barnum were appointed a committee to secure permanent headquarters, and Messrs. Hewitt, Cleveland, Scott, Smalley and Horsey an advisory committee. A sub-committee, consisting of Messrs. Banmm, Hewitt and Scott, was appointed to confer with a subcommittee from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Coininittoe in regard to carrying on the campaign. The latter subcommittee consists of Senators Whyte, of Maryland; McDonald, of Indiana; Wallace, of Pennsylvania ; Eppa Hunton, of Virginia; Augustus Schell, of New York, and Duncan S. Walker, of Washington. It was decided that the Executive Committee should meet the second Tuesday of each month, and the matter of establishing a branch in the West Was discussed but no action taken. The committee then adjourned Until Wednesday next. The matter of two Democratic electoral tickets in Virginia came up, and, after a brief discussion, was referxed to the Executive Committee. The committee selected to notify Hancock and English of their nomination met and resolved that they “do hereby return their sincere thanks to Gov. Stevenson, permanent President of the National Convention, for the dignified and feeling manner in which he presented, this day, members of this committee and their sentiments to Gov. Tilden, and they rejoice to record, not only for themselves, but for tlie Democracy of the republic, the patriotic devotion of Mr. Tilden to the cause and candidate of his party.” x THE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE. The Democratic Congressional Committee met at tlie St. James Hotel, New York, on July 14, Senator Wallace presided, and Duncan S. Walker acted as Secretary. The two vacancies in the committee were filled by the appointment of Gen. Wm. Franklin and Aug. Belmont. Senator Whyte moved that the Executive Committee be increased for tlie present to not less than nine members, and that the committee have power to still further increase the members. On motion of Senator McDonald, the Chairman appointed the following gentlemen ns the ileW Executive Committee : Senators Wm. A. Wallace, W. Pinckney Whyte, J. E. McDonald, and H. G. Davis, Mr. Augustus Schell, Mr. August Belmont, Gen. W. B. Franklin, Congressman Joseph C, S. Blackburn, and ex Congressman John G. Thompson, Duncan S. Walker was elected Secretary, A resolution was adopted authorizing the Executive Committee to co-operate with the National Executive Committee upon the plan of the campaign, and defining the duties of both committees. The headquarters of the Congressional Committee will be at Washington.