The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-06-24

cherished by them, or otherwise platform o.
principles to be maintained by the Wings il
the coming contest.
"ResolUed That the members of said com
mittee be selected by the delegation of each
State--each State represented appointing Its
own member and the committee to appoint its
own chairman.
"ReSolued, That this Convention will not pro-
coed to ballot for or otherwise nominate can.
didate for President or Vice President, until
said committee have reported, and this Conven-
ton shall have taken final action on said re-
port"
Mr.. Van Trump of Ohio was surprised that
such resolutions should be brought forward at
this stage of the Convention. Everything was
in confusion-the Committee on Credentials
had not reported-it was not known what del
egates had a right to vote. Action on the reso-
lutions under the circumstances would be I'M
precedented and outrageous.
Mr. Duncan coolly informed him that he
was no less surprised at the opposition raised
by the gentleman from Ohio. For his part he
was willing to show his hand, and he was de-
termned to make others show theirs. He
wished TO know with whom he was to act
Mr. Ashmun of Massachusetts said that he
knew nothing Of the intention to offer the res
Olutions now before the Convention. Why
should he? Southern men trust little to the
North He thought il. would be injurious to
press action upon them, so long as any large
portion of the Convention desired their post
ponement, until the case of contested elections
should be decided
Mr.. Cabell of Florida thought the third reso-
luton should be laid over till the report from
the Committee on Credentials had been re-
ceiyed but there could not be the slightest OBJ
lection to the first two resolutions
Mr.. Van Trump was caught by this cunning
movement, and expressed a wish to modify his
motion. He asked division of the question,
and then moved that so much of the resolutions
as relates to making a platform before the
nomination be laid upon the table Several
Southern members sustained this motion, and
Mr. Duncan finally withdrew the last resolu-
ton Mr.. Van Trump doubtless thought he
had gained point; but the truth was the first
resolution was that which proposed the ap-
pointment of a committee on platform. The
passage of that would really decide the strug-
gle Southern men understood this, but North
ern mon were obtuse This resolution was
adopted, on vote by States, as follows:
Ayes-New Hampshire 5, Vermont s. Mas
4, l.
Pennsylvania 81, Delaware 3, Maryland s,
Virginia Ia, North Carolina 10, South Carolina
8, Georgia 10, Alabama 9, Mississippi I, Louis
lana 6, Ohio !, Kentucky ~, Tennessee -
Illinois IL, Missouri 9, Arkansas 4, Florida g.
Texas d. Iowa 4, California 4-l99
Noes-Maine 8, New York 80, New Jersey
7, Ohio %, Indiana 10, Michigan 6, Wisconsin
$50
The Pennsylvania delegates, although said
to be for Scott and against a platform, went
for. the.resolution en- maSse Governor Johnston
along with them All the New England States
with the exception of Maine wheeled into line
with the Saveholding.
Mr.. Webster has done a great work for his
section.
The second resolution coming up, Mr. Jesup
of Pennsylvania moved to amend by adding
F." And that in said committee each member be
authorized to cast the number of votes to which
said State is entitled in the Electoral College"
This was an attempt to retrieve the ground
lost by the anti-platform men.
1t was not probable that the resolutions to
be reported by the Committee, could be sub
stantally amended in the Conventon-so that
whatever was necessary to prevent the adop-
ton Of the Compromise, must be done in Com
mittee AS all the slave States. and a few of
the free States, were in favor of the fnality
test, it was certain that it would be incorpora
ted in the platform, unless the States could
have voice in.the Committee in proportion to
the number of votes to which they were enti-
tied in the Electoral College.
Mr. Jesup, however, merely stated in gene
raj terms, that as the important business of the
Convention was to be transacted in Conven.
ton it was but an act of justice to the larger
States, that they should have their proper rep
resentaton in these Committees.
The vote was taken by States, and Mr..
Jesup's amendment was adopted-yeas l49,
nays l43 Rhode Island, Iowa, and all the
slave States, except Delaware, voted nay. New
Hampshire and Vermont each gave | vote in
the affirmative, and 4 in the negative; Mas
sachusetts in the affirmative, 10 in the mega
tive Connecticut in the affirmative, 4 in the
negative Wisconsin in the affirmative, in
the negative California in the affirmative, 2
in the negative.
The resolution as amended was then read
as follows
"Resolued, That the members of the commit
tee shall be selected by the delegation from
each State, each State represented appointing
its own member, and the committee to appoint
it's own chairman and in the said committee
each member be authorized to cast the number
of votes to which said State is entitled in the
Electoral College
Mr.. Ewing moved to amend the resolution
as amended by substituting in lieu thereof the
following:
That the committee shall consist Of one
delegate from each State selected by the dele
cation from each State"
Mr.. Jesup moved to amend the substitute by
adding thereto the same clause which on his
motion was added to the resolution of Mr.
Duncan A heated debate sprang up, and it
soon became evident that the Southern dele
gates were determined at all hazards 10 defeat
the movement of Mr. Jesup After several
speeches from other delegates, Mr.. Dawson of
Georgia, who is always pleading for peace in
the tone Of warrior said
8" 1t is with extreme regret that rise to say
word tn the { rvention | trust that we will
all speak wit ut excitement and act with the
utmost deliber ,tion. agree with my friend
from Virginia that this is the first attempt