Republican Nomination. at a Numerous and Respectable

REPUBLICAN NOMINATION.

At a numerous and respectable meeting of the Republicans of the county of Dütchess, convened pursuant to public notice, at Kelsey's Long-Room, in the town of Poughkeepsie, on Wednesday evening, April 1st. 1807.

CORNELIUS R. VAN WYCK, Secretary. JOSEPH THORN, Chairman,

Resolved, that the Address to the Electors of the state of New-York, signed by a large majority of the Republican members of the legislature, & the Address of the Republican meeting of New-York, signed by Col. Few, Chairman, be read.

These addresses having been read and unanimously approved.—Thereupon

This meeting considering the present peculiar situation of this state and the republican cause, recollecting that about three years since Morgan Lewis was supported by republicans for the chief magistrate of this state, believing him at the time to possess republican principles and an uniformity of character, but disappointed in the principles, republicanism and conduct, of Morgan Lewis.

Resolved unanimously, That Morgan Lewis does no longer possess our confidence, and in our opinion ought not to receive the support of any elector desirous to promote republican sentiments and ensure peace and harmony to the people. And amongst the many reasons which have led us to this determination we assign the following for the public consideration.

For the duplicity of his conduct in opposing the Merchants Bank before his election and as soon as elected uniting with the colleagues of Purdy & Co to incorporate that institution.

For disseminating the abominable principles that the means employed may be infamous and the motive of every member corrupt, and yet the law in itself be salutary and constitutional, thereby tending to corrupt the public sentiment of a people virtuous and independant.

For uniting with a section & minority of the republican party, and denouncing as a faction a majority of that party which gave him his political existence.

For descending from the dignity of his station, disclosing and misrepresenting the proceedings of his council, and writing with a view to gain partizans to a disappointed candidate for office.

For sanctioning and approving of the proceedings of his present council of appointment, who call themselves republicans, who obtained their places by the aid of seventeen federal votes in the assembly, and who exercise their power in turning out of office republicans to make room for his followers and family connexions.

For demanding in a suit against Thomas Farmer one hundred thousand dollars damages, because he presided as Chairman, and signed the proceedings of a republican meeting consisting, of upwards of one thousand free citizens of New-York, thereby intending to prevent the independant republicans of this state from meeting and expressing their sentiments of the conduct of their officers and servants.

For delaying the appointment of a Judge of the Supreme Court for several months leaving the Supreme Court, the Court of Errors and the Council of Revision, destitute of the aid of an officer whose duties are so important, and as this meeting believe, for the sole purpose of gaining partizans, from among the friends of the expectants of that office.

For not appointing a clerk for the county of Dutchess, in the place of the late Gilbert Livingston, thereby leaving the public records and documents of a respectable county without the care and superintendence of the proper officer, and in our opinion for the like motive of enlisting partizans from among the numerous expectants of that office.

For consenting to become a candidate for Governor on a nomination of a minority of the Republican members of the Legislature, thus violating the first principles of Republicanism in refusing to submit to the majority, or impliedly confessing that he is not the Republican Candidate.

Resolved, That this meeting do highly approve of the nomination made by a large majority of the Republican members of the Legislature of Daniel D. Tompkins, FOR GOVERNOR, AND John Broome, FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, And do recommend the above candidates to the support of all

Resolved That this meeting will nominate a candidate for the office of senator for the Middle District from the county of Dutchess, in the place of Robert Johnston, Enquire, by a committee from the different towns in the county.

The committee then retired and after consultation they returned and reported that they had unanimously agreed to nominate Abraham H. Schenck, To be supported for that office at the ensuing election.

Resolved, That this meeting highly approve of the nomination made by their sand committee.

Resolved, That we concur in the nomination of Clark Lawrance, As a candidate for the office of Senator for the Middle district from the county of Delaware.

Resolved, That we repose entire confidence in the patriotism of the President of the United States, and in the administration of the general government.

Resolved, That we highly approve of the undeviating Republicanism and inflexible integrity of the hon. Robert Johnston.

Resolved, That Gurdon Miller, Samuel Slee, George Bloom, Martin Hoffman, and Jabez Bosworth, be a committee to promote the election of the above candidates.

JOSEPH THORN, Chairman.

CORNELIUS R. VAN WYCK, Secretar

To the Republican Electors of Dutchess County.

Fellow-Citizens,

REPOSING with confidence, on your virtue and discernment, and trusting, for success at the approaching election in the acknowledged integrity and republicanism of Judge Tompkins, we had thought it unnecessary to address you on the present occasion: but such unwarantable attempts have been made to seduce you from the paths of rectitude, that we feel it our duty to come forward, at this crisis, in order to check the progress of error and misrepresentation.

Republican nomination. At a numerous and respectable meeting of the Republicans of the county of Dutchess, convened pursuant to public motice, at Kelsey's Long-Room, in the town of Poughkeepsie, on Wednesday evening, April 1st, 1807 ... [Poughkeepsie, 1807]. http://www.loc.gov/resource/rbpe.11302400 The preceeding resolutions contain a summary of our objections against the re-election of Morgan Lewis. It is not our intention to add to this list of irrefragible charges against him: but, it may not be improper to state, that the Council of Appointment, for the present year, was chosen at an unusually early period. The principal reason, assigned for this extraordinary measure was the urgent necessity of appointing a Clerk for the county of Dutchess, and a Judge of the Supreme Court, offices which had long been vacant. The Council was accordingly chosen on the second day after the Legislature convened. It has often been in session. With this Council Governor Lewis has transacted much business of infinitely less moment to the state, displaced many true and incorruptible republicans, and elevated, to their places, federalists, and his family dependants. What possible explanation, honourable to the Governor and the other members of the Council can be given for this palpable inconsistency of conduct and gross neglect of the public interest? Will they presume to shield themselves, from public odium, under the paltry and pitiful excuse, that the offices are important, and that great deliberation is required in weighing and deciding the claims of the respective applicants for those posts? If the Council, composed of the Governor, and four prominent men of his party, cannot after two months deliberation, select two fit men for those offices, they are surely inadequate to the stations, they fill, and ought not again to receive your support. Yet this subterfuge has been reported to by the friends of Governor Lewis: but on the slightest investigation in fails them, and plainly discovers their object, in delaying these appointments, to be unjustifiable and disgraceful.

Fellow Citizens! Read with candor and attention, the above resolutions, view the evident “defection” of Mr. Lewis from the republican party, and ask yourselves, whether he does not come recommended to you in a truly “questionable shape.” Who nominated him as a candidate for the office of Governor for the next three years? a minority of the republican members of the Legislature. Who are confessedly to support him at the ensuing election? A small minority of the Republicans of the state, in conjunction with the leaders of the federal party.

Republicans! Have you not hitherto combatted federalism from principle? Have you not deemed federal measures productive of incalculable mischief to your country? With what plausibility of reason, or colour of patriotism then, can you abandon first principles and advocate so corrupt a union? Do you ask for proof of this coalition? We refer you to the noisy declamation of leading federalists; to their avowed partiality for Mr. Lewis, to the proceedings of the council of appointment & to the records of the state.

Judge Tompkins, whom the great body of the republicans, will support, is above reproach or suspicion. His probity and republicanism have never been doubted. In the present contest, when if his political opponents could have discovered in him any destitution of principle, or impropriety

Judge Tompkins is not a capricious changeling who can boast of a long line of aristocratic ancestors, who is veered about “by every wind of doctrine,” or who, after “committing a thousand errors, continues still to blunder, and to add obstinacy” to folly and indiscretion; but he is a plain and unaffected republican, the son of an honest and reputable farmer, and revolutionary patriot. Nor does he “now for the first time come forward as a candidate for public honors—on the contrary” he has successively been chosen by the people, a member of the state legislature, a member of the convention of this state, and a delegate to congress; he has long acted as a judge of the supreme court, and was once appointed, by our venerable Jefferson, to the office of Judge of the United States for the district of New-York. The Lewisite committee, chosen to address you on the subject of the ensuing election, remark. “It is said he (Tompkins) is very young, a young man of thirty, of barely ordinary capacity” This is the hackneyed theme of their party. When the ignorant and deluded, advance an idea of this kind, we are disposed to smile at their credulity. But when men who pretend to some standing in their party, shall venture upon an assertion so erroneous, we are induced to believe that it originates from other than correct motives. That committee are certainly not unacquainted with Mr. Tompkins, and must know that after his repeated election to various offices, and three years reputable discharge of the duties of a Judge of the supreme court, his youth can be no objection, and especially when “ as a wife and discreet freeholder” he so preeminently answers the constitutional description of a Governor. We do assert on the best authority, that Mr. Tompkins is in his thirty sixth year, an age to which the patriotic Clinton had not attained, when first elected governor of this state.

That committee also declare, that Judge Tompkins “was a member of the Council of revision, and like Mr. Lewis approved of the incorporation of the Merchant's Bank,” we are constrained to say, that at least one of the gentlemen who belongs to that committee, must have known the allegation to be incorrect. Mr. Tompkins at the time that bill was before the council of revision was in the city of New- York. He never did approve of it.

The following extracts from the minutes of the council will shew the members present at the passage of the bill for the incorporation of the bank.

“At a meeting of the council of revision, held at the chambers of his excellency the Governor, in the city of Albany on the 25th day of March, 1805.

PRESENT:

The Hon. The Chief Justice, Mr. Justice Spencer.

The Hon. Mr. Justice Spencer, to whom was committed the bill entitled “an act to incorporate the Stockholders of the Merchant's Bank in the city of New-York,” reported that it was improper that the said bill should become a law.” &&c.

The idle tale, so industriously circulated by the Lewisites, that Mr. Tompkins would, if elected, be influenced to improper conduct by some republicans, is scarcely worth a serious reply. Mr. Tompkins is known to be as independant a man as ever lived. He would spurn at the person who would attempt to dictate to him, or who would advise him to adopt measures inconsistent with the public welfare. An advocate for the constitutional liberties of his country, a friend of virtue and religion, we have in him, a guarantee for the wife, temperate, and impartial administration of the state government.

Chancellor Lansing has volunteered his exertions to aid the sinking cause of Mr. Lewis. He has malignantly attacked the Vice-President, Judges Spencer, and Tayler, Mr. De Witt Clinton Dr. De Witt, and Solomon Southwick, and charged them with attempting “to pledge him to a particular course of conduct.” They have all, under their respective signatures, denied the charge and accused Mr. Lansing of publishing a falsehood. Will you give credence to the flimsy, electioneering fabrications of one man, when confronted and contradicted by so many characters of merit and known veracity; That you may judge for yourselves, we present you with the letter of the Vice-President on this subject.

City of Washington, 14th April, 1807.

Dear Sir,

Yesterday evening I received your letter of the 8th instant, enclosing a Morning Chronicle of the preceding day, together with a copy of your letter to Mr. Chancellor Lansing, and his answer, on the subject of a publication in that paper under his signature, which you very justly considered as injurious to my reputation.

Since I have had the honor to fill the office I now hold in the general government, I have as well from a sense of propriety as other considerations studiously avoided an interference in any state elections, and I trust it will not be considered as a departure from that rule when I undertake to repel this injurious and unjustifiable attack upon my character, from a quarter whence I had the least

Being ignorant of the circumstances mentioned in Mr. Lansing's publication as having passed between himself, Judge Spencer and De Witt Clinton, it would be as improper for me as it is unnecessary to take any notice of them. I cannot perceive any natural connection either between these or the suspicions which he entertained of Judge Tayler and Doctor De Witt, respecting the manner in which his nomination was announced, and the charge which he has thought proper to exhibit against me. They certainly do not afford the slightest evidence tending to impeach my conduct. They appear indeed to have excited strong jealousy in his mind, which may have perverted his judgement, and led him to do an incorrect thing, and for this they might be offered with some propriety as an imperfect apology.

The only conversation that ever passed between Mr. Lansing and myself on the subject of his nomination, was on the day subsequent to its being made. I was informed that he had taken offence at the manner in which it had been announced in the Albany Register, and some other circumstances, and that in consequence it was probable he would not accept. Entertaining as I did a warm and sincere friendship for Mr. Lansing, and the best opinion of his political principles and integrity, I regretted that any thing had occurred which might prevent his acceptance. In the course of the day, Mr. Lansing called upon me at my house, I believe, tho' I do not perfectly recollect, at my request. I mentioned to him the report I had heard, adding, that I hoped it was not true. He appeared to be considerably agitated, and answered by saying that he considered himself ill treated, and enumerated two or three instances—particularly, the manner in which his nomination had been announced, and some insinuations, which he alledged to have been made, calling in question his political integrity. I replied to him by some conciliatory observations, calculated to pacify and to persuade him to accept of the nomination. In addition to his former, objections he then mentioned that Mrs. Lansing and his family were opposed to his being a candidate. And believing as I did that this last objection could have quite as much weight in forming his decision as either of the former, I mentioned such reasons as I thought best calculated to obviate Mrs. Lansing's objections. Mr. Lansing's soon after left me, apparently with much cordiality, said he would reflect on the subject, and promised to inform me of his final determination in the course of the afternoon. Some short time afterwards I was informed, whether by Mr. Lansing or by common report I do not now recollect, that he had declined the nomination.

That the above statement is substantially correct, I can confidently affirm; and that neither on this nor on any former occasion did I ever mention to Mr. Lansing “ANY COURSE FOR HIS

But lest it should be said that this is not the circumstance alluded to in the charge exhibited by Mr. Lansing, and it should still be insisted upon that attempts were made by me “TO INDUCE HIM TO PLEDGE HIMSELF FOR A PARTICULAR COURSE OF CONDUCT,” calculated either to promote personal views, or any other purpose whatever, inconsistent with the public weal, which appears to me to be the most natural construction of the charge, I request that you will be pleased again to call upon him, and in my name to demand of him an explicit declaration of the time and place that this attempt was made, the inducements offered, and the nature of the course he was to pledge himself to pursue, that I may be enabled pointedly to meet and refute refuse such base and unfounded calumny, which I pledge myself to do in the most satisfactory manner.

I feel much obliged to you for the trouble you have taken upon this disagreeable occasion, and am

Affectionately your's, GEO : CLINTON, George Clinton, Jun. Esq.

Fellow Citizens! The Republicans have again nominated Col. Broome for the office which he has filled, for the last three years, with distinguished honor to himself and his country. We feel a peculiar pleasure in being able to state, that after having served for one term in that office this man of uncommon worth and integrity, this tried and faithful patriot, has not been accused, even by his political enemies, of the least dereliction of principle, or the slightest neglect of official duty. In justice to yourselves and to his character, you are, therefore, called upon to give him your ardent and united support at the approaching election.

In selecting the above candidates for the senate, the republicans have been careful to obtain men of unblemished reputation, and unalterable friends to their country. Their politics have never been

Republicans! The present contest is a contest of principle. Attempts have been made to divide and conquer you. But, we trust the object will be discovered, and the restless, ambitious spirits, who have laid the foundation of discord and disunion among you, will be driven, from public confidence into their merited obscurity. If you were sincere in your former professions if you acted from a conviction of the justice of your cause, if you advocated republican measures because you thought them productive of the greatest good to your country, and if you wish to heal the divisions of your party, you will not hesitate to support Daniel D. Tompkins in preference to Morgan Lewis.

Committee of Correspondence.

GURDON MILLER,

SAMUEL SLEE,

GEORGE BLOOM,

JABISH BOSWORTH, and

MARTIN HOFFMAN, 7.50 (Duchess Co.) Rare Polit. Broadside. 1807 10.00 Dutchess Co. N.Y. McNeel. 1st Sergt.

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