New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-09-30
NETWORK DAILY TRIBUNE, SEPTEMBER 80

exclude Slavery from the Territories of the
Union, present and future, by express legis-
latiop, and they did not believe the Vitality
nor the virtue Of this position destroyed by
the late action of Congress. They had not
been parties, and were determined not to
be, to any arrangement or understanding
whereby this position should be abandoned.
And, while they deprecated needless sgita-
ten and division, they feltoonstrained alike
by inclination, by policy, by frankness and
by good faith, to maintain q position wherein
they should be at liberty and prepared TO
act promptly and efficiently against any at
tempt to extend Slave Power in the Union,
whether by planting Slavery in our present
Territories or by TIE acquisition of others.
The Convention assembled, with some
who were not among its members. Among
the latter, the unusal presence Of the Col
lector of Customs and Sub-Trea5urer for
this Port could not fail to excite interest
and stimulate observation. While no well
informed person could attribute other than
the purest and nobless motives to one Of
tbem-end none will suspect US here of any
personal allusion to the Hon. John Young
yet the whole thing had an ugly look about
it. Admit that they were there only to pro-
mote harmony end secure union among the
Wings of our State, yet the exposition Of
harmony and union by the lesser lights who
reflected their wishes and thoughts they were
improving their own chances for public en-
ploymens or promotion, amounted to this
{" If this Convention passes resolutions at
frmiDg undated hostility to Slavery Ex-
tension and approving the course Of Gov.
Seward, it will break up in row and the
fiWbig party be shivered into fragments
Isit wonder that such an idea of union
and harmony failed to give general satisfac-
ton?
Among the members Of the Convention,
and the able and resolute leader Of the mi
nority therein, appeared Hon. William Do
er, Member of Congress from 0swego and
Madison, who had long since proved lis de-
votion to National as opposed to sectional
Whiggery by voting to lay on the table the
Wilmot Proyiso. That in giving this and Like
votes he acted according to his conception of
duty was unquestioned; that in so doing
he went counter to the wishes Of four-ffths
Of his constituents and the Wings of our
State was deemed equally clear. And at all
events it was felt that he ought throughout
this last, eventful week of the session, to
have been in Washington, exerting the infu-
ence he had fully earned with our Southern
brethren in aid of the struggle then making
for modification of the Tariff in support
of the great Industrial interests of the 0oun-
try. Nothing, surely, could have been less
calculated to incline the majority to the de-
mands of the minority Of the Convention
than the appearance therein Of Mr. Duer as
the leader Of the latter.
There were two efforts made to pro-
cure on informal organization of the Con
vention prior to the hour fixed for it5 regu-
lar meeting. The sole object proposed to
be attained by that informal (not unusual)
meeting, was the settlement Of the contested
seats from this City by some impartia! and
mutually satisfactory arbitration, which
should afford time for thorough scrutiny
and assurance of just award. These eff
forts were defeated by absurd jealousies,
and the consequence was that the contests
were but halfinvestjgated and the decisions
made by the Convention ct hap-hazard-
and we think nine-tenths of cur intelligent
Wings will agree with US in the opinion
that they are, taken as whole, about as
ill.adyised and misehievous as they could
possibly be.
At noon on Thursday the Convention
was formally called to order. Rival nomi-
nations for temporary Chairman were made
The election between them was By Yeas
and Nays-68 for VIM. I. Cornwell Of Cay
uga and IL for VIM. c. Hasbrouck Of Or
ange-a pretty fair test vote, though rather
favorable to the minority. Mr. Cornwe1
took the Chair, and appointed Committee
on Organization by which Hon. Francis
Granger, who had voted in the minority,
was unanimously made President Of the
Convention. Mr.. Granger in due time
appointed Committee on Resolutions,
undoubtedly meant for fair one, but
flee of them (includiDg their candidate, Mr.
Hasbrouck) were chosen from the minority
of forty-two and only three from the major
tie of seventy. The Convention, after dispo-