Dickinson, Edward B., Stenographer; National Democratic Committee. Official Proceedings of the National Democratic Convention, Held in Chicago, ILL., July 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th, 1884 . New York: Douglas Taylor's Democratic Printing House, 1884. [format: book], [genre: proceedings]. Permission: Northern Illinois University
Persistent link to this document: http://lincoln.lib.niu.edu/file.php?file=democrat1884.html

MR. CHAIRMAN, AND GENTLEMEN OF THE CONVENTION: I pray your indulgence for the briefest possible period while I speak in behalf of the large majority of the New York Delagation, which, by a vote of sixty-one to eleven, instructed the Chairman of our Delegation to present to this Convention the name of Grover Cleveland

for nomination for President of the United States. I shall make no detailed argument. I desire merely to recall to your minds another scene than this, but one strikingly similar in its features. Eight years ago I sat with the New York Delegation in the great Exposition Building in the City of St. Louis, when the New York Delegation there presented to that Convention the name of Samuel J. Tilden to be the nominee for President of the United States. Then, as now, a minority of the Delegation resisted at every step that nomination. Then, as now, the leader of the organization which these two gentlemen have represented — then, as now, the leader of that organization took the platform and told you that Mr. Tilden could not by any possibility carry the State of New York; that his majority, owing to the opposition of Tammany Hall, owing to the opposition of the labor element, owing to other oppositions, that Mr. Tilden's majority in the City of New York would be so cut down that it would be hopeless for him to try to carry the State. That Convention, in its wisdom, disregarded the advice of these gentlemen and placed Mr. Tilden in nomination. What was the result? In the very City of New York, where these gentlemen had predicted the principal defection, Mr. Tilden received a majority of 55,000.

The circumstances are not changed. Mr. Tilden was Governor of the State. So is Mr. Cleveland. Mr. Tilden had been made Governor because of his connection with municipal reform. So has Mr. Cleveland. Mr. Tilden was nominated to the Presidency because his two years as Governor had commended him to the people of the whole United States. So has Mr. Cleveland's. Gentlemen, the situation is a simple one. For more than twelve years past the balance of power in the State of New York has been held by a large unattached vote, which belongs to neither political organization. We have in the State, probably, about 600,000 voters who will vote for the Democratic party nominee whom you may nominate. We have about 580,000 voters who will vote the Republican ticket under any and all circumstances. Now, outside of both these organizations there are a hundred thousand men in the State of New York who do not care a snap of their finger whether the Republican party or the Democratic party, as such, shall carry the election. They vote in every election according to the issues and the candidates presented. These men absolutely hold the control of the politics of New York in their hands. They are the balance of power. You must have their votes or you cannot win. Every time for ten years past when we have appealed to this element victory

has perched upon our banners. When we have failed to do so defeat has come. These men unitedly, to a man, with a vast majority of the Democratic party represented by the Delegates of the Democratic party in this Convention, implore you to nominate to the office of President Mr. Tilden's successor, elected Governor for the same causes. They ask you to place him in nomination in order that all the elements opposed to the longer continuance of the Republican party in power may be united and make its defeat entirely certain.

MR. R. A. COLLINS, of Missouri: Mr. Chairman: The State of Missouri has adopted a very peaceful policy upon this floor, and they desire to be heard in seconding the nomination of a gentleman. They have desired me to present to this Convention Col. Mansur, who is a Delegate-at-large from that representative and proud State, to be heard upon this floor.

HON. JOHN C. JACOBS, of New York: I rise to a question of privilege, and I desire to be heard. I desire to remain no longer under the misrepresentations that have been cast upon me through the statements of the representatives of the majority of the Delegation from New York. I represent a district of the State of New York.

THE CHAIR: The Chair is of the opinion that that is not a question of privilege.

A DELEGATE, from California: He has been slurred and he has a right to throw back the slur.

SENATOR JACOBS: I rise on behalf of those I represent — the largest representation from the State of New York.

THE CHAIR: The question of privilege is not allowed. The gentleman from Missouri has the floor.

SENATOR JACOBS: May I have an opportunity to speak after he gets through?

THE CHAIR: That is for the Convention. The gentlemen from Missouri asks leave to second a nomination, by Col. Mansur, a representative from that State. Unless there be objection leave is granted.

HON. J. M. PALMER, of Illinois: Will Mr. Mansur yield to me for a moment?

MR. MANSUR: Yes.

GOV. PALMER: This Convention has shown its patience, its fairness,

its candor, in listening to every gentleman that desired to present the claims of any candidate. May we not be relieved for an hour or an hour and a half?

THE CHAIR: It is at the pleasure of the Convention to make its own order. The Chair has entertained every parliamentary motion to suspend the order of the Convention.

GOV. PALMER: I have no desire to interfere with the gentlemen from Missouri, but, if it will suit his convenience, we will come back gladly at half past seven or eight, and I therefore move that the proceedings be suspended until eight o'clock.

THE CHAIR: The gentlemen of Illinois moves to suspend the order of business with a view of taking a recess until eight o'clock this evening. This motion is not debatable.

MR. CLUNIE, of California: We want a call of the States.

THE CHAIR: Are you the Chairman of the Delegation?

MR. CLUNIE: I am not the Chairman, but I desire to offer an amendment as to the time.

THE CHAIR: The Chairman of the Delegation represents the States on the call for a call of States.

MR. CLUNIE: We do not want a call of the States. We simply want to change the time of the resolution.

THE CHAIR: There is no resolution except to except to suspend the order of business. Gov. Palmer has the floor.

GOV. PALMER: I was about to say that I am so anxious not to interfere with my friend from Missouri that I withdraw it.

COL. MANSUR: I hope it will be entertained.

GOV. PALMER: I will renew it then.

THE CHAIR: The motion is to suspend the order of business with a view, after the order of business is suspended, of making a motion to take, a recess to eight o'clock this evening. The question is not debatable.

MR. E. L. MARTIN, of Deleware: I move an amendment to that motion — that this Convention adjourn until eleven o'clock to-morrow morning.

THE CHAIR: The motion is not in order. The motion to suspend the order of business is the motion before the Convention.

HON. LEON ABBETT, of New Jersey: I ask on behalf of New Jersey for a call of the states.

THE CHAIR: New Jersey asks for a call of the States on the question.

MR. JON. L. MCKINNEY, of Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania seconds it.

MR. LA RUE, of California: California seconds it.

MR. MCGILVRAY, of Colorado: Colorado seconds it.

THE CHAIR: Colorado seconds it.

JOHN O'DAY, of Missouri: Missouri seconds the motion.

THE CHAIR: The call of States is seconded.

MR. HOUSE, of Tennessee: I rise to a point of order.

THE CHAIR: State your point of order.

MR. HOUSE: My point of order is this: The gentlemen from Deleware moved that this Convention adjourn until to-morrow at eleven o'clock. A motion to adjourn is always in order.

THE CHAIR: The Chair overruled that point of order at the time. The question is on the motion of the gentlemen from Illinois. The call of the States will proceed.

MR. G. V. MENZIES, of Indiana: I move to amend the motion.

THE CHAIR: The call of the States has begun. The order of the Convention will be executed.

GOV. PALMER, of Illinois: Mr. Chairman, may I be allowed to withdraw the motion?

THE CHAIR: The call of the States has begun.

The Clerk called the State of Alabama, and its vote was cast as 20 ayes. The State of Arkansas was called.

MR. SMITH M. WEED, of New York: If the motion had been withdrawn, why should we sit here twenty minutes to take a vote upon it? The gentlemen [Gov. Palmer] says he will withdraw it.

MR. JOSEPH B. MANN, of Illinois: Has not the mover of the proposition to suspend the order of business the right, with the consent of the Convention, to withdraw it?

THE CHAIR: Certainly.

MR. MANN: He offers to withdraw it.

THE CHAIR: It is objected to.

The Clerk then proceeded with the call, as follows:

A large number of the Delegates began to leave the hall, causing great confusion.

THE CHAIR: The gentlemen will please keep their seats. This is only upon the suspension of the order of business. It is not to take a recess.

The Secretary then proceeded with the call, with the following additional responses:

MR. E. F. CULLERTON, of Illinois: I move that the further call of the roll of States be dispensed with.

MR. JOHN D. MCGILVRAY, of Colorado: I move we adjourn till eleven o'clock to-morrow.

THE CHAIR: The question is, shall the order of business be suspended?

The motion was carried.

MR. SMITH M. WEED, of New York: I move we take a recess till half past eight o'clock this evening.

GOV. PALMER, of Illinois: I trust the Convention will allow me to say a word. I desire to say that I have been informed by the officers of the Convention, those who are caring for our comfort, that it is absolutely necessary that they have a respite. I therefore move that this Convention adjourn until eleven o'clock to-morrow.

MR. CHARLES W. CONSTANTINE, of Ohio: I rise to a point of order. The motion to suspend was made for the purpose of moving to take a recess till eight o'clock this evening, and I appeal to the gentleman from Illinois [Gov. Palmer] whether that was not the motion.

THE CHAIR: The point of order the Chair believes to be well taken.

GOV. PALMER: I did not hear what the remark was.

THE CHAIR: The point of order is that the motion was to suspend the order of business for the purpose of a motion to take a recess until eight o'clock.

GOV. PALMER: I am inclined to think that the gentlemen is right. It must have been so understood. I therefore make that motion. I therefore withdraw my motion and make that which I think the gentlemen had a right to suppose would be made.

THE CHAIR: The question is upon the motion to take a recess until eight o'clock to-night. The Chair asks Delegates to take their seats, and he will endeavor to give them all a fair and impartial hearing.

MR. MCGILVRAY: I rise to make a parliamentary inquiry. Is it not pertinent here, sir, to offer an amendment to the resolution pending? I have offered an amendment, sir, and desire to have it put.

THE CHAIR: The Chair has not recognized you as making a motion because he has been endeavoring to get the motion of the gentleman from Illinois [Gov. Palmer] before the house.

MR. MCGILVRAY: I now offer an amendment that we adjourn till eleven o'clock.

MR. JOHN F. HOUSE, of Tennessee: What is the motion?

THE CHAIR: The motion of the gentleman from Illinois (Gov. Palmer) is to take a recess till eight o'clock.

MR. HOUSE: I move to amend by substituting half-past ten o clock to-morrow morning.

GEN. CLUNIE, from California: I second your amendment, and I will appeal from the decision of the Chair if he decides your amendment out of order.

THE CHAIR: It is moved to amend by substituting half-past ten o'clock to-morrow.

MR. DENNIS SPENCER: I second the motion.

MR. CONSTANTINE: I make the same point of order. It was not so stated on the motion to suspend.

THE CHAIR: The Chair is of the opinion that the point of order is not well taken. The question is on the motion of the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. House).

GOV. LEON ABBETT, of New Jersey: Upon that I call for the calling of the roll of States.

THE CHAIR: The gentleman from New Jersey asks for a call of the States on that question. The Chair heard no second to the call of the States. The question is on the motion of the gentleman from Tennessee to substitute half-past ten o'clock to-morrow morning.

The question was put, and the galleries voted.

THE CHAIR: The Chair heard so many voices from the gallery that he is unable to decide.

The question was put again, and the galleries voted as before.

THE CHAIR: The Chair is in doubt.

HON. M. J. MCCAFFERTY, of Massachusetts: I demand the call of the States.

HON. DENNIS SPENCER, of California: Mr. Menzies, of Indiana, and others seconded the call.

THE CHAIR: The call is seconded by five, and will be proceeded with.

The Clerk then began the roll-call. There were no responses from Alabama and Louisiana, the Delegates having left the hall. The call proceeded only as far as Rhode Island, when it became clear that the motion would be adopted.

MR. J. B. BROWN, of Indiana: Mr. Chairman, it is apparent that the motion will be carried, and for that reason I move to suspend the further call of the States.

The vote as far as taken was as follows:

	Yeas.	Nays.
Alabama
Arkansas		14
California	16
Colorado	6
Connecticut		12
Delaware	6
Florida		8
Georgia		24
Illinois	44
Indiana	30
Iowa	8	10
Kansas	12	6
Kentucky	21	5
Louisiana
Maine	12
Maryland		16
	Yeas.	Nays.
Massachusetts	28
Michigan		26
Minnesota	12	4
Mississippi	4	14
Missouri	29	3
Nebraska		10
Nevada	6
New Hampshire	8
New Jersey	18
New York	72
North Carolina
Ohio	46
Oregon	6
Pennsylvania	58	2
Rhode Island		8

THE CHAIR: The motion is to suspend the further call of the States.

The motion was adopted.

THE CHAIR: The question is then upon the motion to amend by substituting half-past ten o'clock as the time to which the Convention will adjourn.

The amendment was adopted.

THE CHAIR: The question recurs on the motion as amended to take recess until half-past ten to-morrow morning.

The motion was adopted, and at 6.18 P. M. the Convention adjourned until Thursday, July 10, at 10.30 A. M.

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