Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-05-17

convention, will claim It as specimen Of
the Intelligence, day and re.p.ot.,
bility" Of the country. Among its mem.
bers, with a very few exceptions, there
was remarkable lack of that open, can
did frankness and manly intelligence,
which so strikingly characterize the coun-
tenances in democratic assemblies. A
deep, sinister expression of physiognomy,
together with an entire absence Of any and
every thing like enthusiasm on the part Of
the delegates, irresistibly impressed the
by-stander with the conviction that they
were fully sensible that they were play
ing deep game, the success of which de-
pended in no small degree upon their not
fully showing their hands.
The members of the convention, how
ever, strove to make up for their lack in
numbers and honest enthusiasm, by the
number of their sessions and their extra
ordinary character-three of them being
secret, and one midnight session. The
main object of the first meeting-which
convened on the evening of the 10th, and
was secret-was understood to be for the
settleing Of the vexed point as to whether
the convention was to be styled Wing
or Taylor convention. Quite an excit-
ing discussion took place, but we are in
formed-for of course we know nothing
about it ourselves-that although the Clay
men were admitted to be in the majority,
noses were not formally counted upon the
question Of preference between Clay and
Taylor, for fear of grand flare up. At
this, and the next meeting, which conven-
ed early on the morning of the 18th, the
business Of the three succeeding and pub
lie meetings was concocted, SO that when
the doors were thrown open, there remain
ed nothing to do but to Ego through the
notions These they might have got
through with in very short time, were
it not for the fact that, somehow or anoth-
er, few members had become possessed
with the obsolete idea that the wing party
have still certain distinguishing set of
principles, other than that of anticipated
rotation into Office, and their consequent
efforts to force the convention definitely
to endorse those principles. This they
were unable to accomplish. 1t is true, a
set Of resolutions were adopted, quasi
Taylor and negatively wing, very bitterly
denouncing every thing democratic, but
extremely cautious in the endorsement of
wing principles. They denounce the adj
ministration and the war, in the most un-
measured and bitter terms, while they man.
ifest a lively interest in, and sympathy for
a ''sister republic" against which this 'un-
righteous war; is being waged.
Pending their passage, two of the most
radical resolutions were stricken out
These strongly endorsed the Wilmot Pro-
viso, and declared, among other things,
that the policy of the wing party is, "The
Union as it is" After much wrangling,
however, the convention adopted the fol-
lowing very modest and cautious resolu-
ton, in place of the two radical ones
stricken out: "Resolved, That we ap-
prove of the Wilmot Proviso, so called"
Even this they did not do until they were
openly tainted by the more consistent of
their number, with being qfraid to stand
up to their principles.
A midnight caucus closed the procede-
ings Of this grave deiiberative assembly.
Its frequent secret sittings were so many
virtual acknowledgement both of the dark
ness and the weakness of its cause.
Shame on the party whose actions will not
bear public scrutiny! Can it be, that these
are the very same party hacks who cry
out so Justify against "caucus dictation?"
Verify, whiggey, thou art jewel of
modesty and consistency!
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