The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-08-10
FRvE DEMocRATIc CONVENTION.

FREE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION
The Free Democrats of Allegheny county
Pennsylvania met in Convention on Wednes
day morning, July 9, ct the Court House, and
organized by calling George w. jackson, Esq,
to the Chair. Judge Heath was chosen Vice
President, and Messrs Robert Straw and ].
Heron Foster, Secretaries
On motion of DR.. Gazzam, g committee ooD-
sisting of Dr. Gazzsm, DR.. Penniman, David
Reed, James.R obb, and George Wilson, was sp-
pointed By the Chair to draft resolutions and
prepare business for the Convention.
The committee retired, and, after a short alb
sence, returned and reported preamble and
resolutions, which were amended as follows
and adopted
Whereas the only purpose of the Free De-
mocracy is to establish in practice the princi-
pies from time to time promulgated by Con-
Ventions representing said party and whereas
the late Wing Convention of this county did
adopt substantially the platform of the Free
Democracy, and pledged their nominees u all
the prominent principles therein contained !;
but We have seen no indication of an intention
on the part Of the State organization Of either
the Wing or Democratic party to abandon the
platforms adopted q. Baltimore in 1882 and
Whereas our adoption of any ticket pledged
By the last authoritative declarations of the
party nominating it to the support Of either of
the Baltimore platforms would be a virtual
disavowal of the principles of the Free Democ-
raoy which we cannot make but we rejoice to
know and acknowledge that tens Of thousands
Of Wings and Democrats have left, or are pre-
pared to leave, the pro slavery platforms, and
are determined henceforth to speak and vote
and act for liberty and law, and to sustain the
Constitution as our forefathers understood it,
and to support the Union on the principles
upon which it was formedc therefore,
Resolved, That to ell such we hold forth the
right hand Of fellowship, and pledge ourselves
to cooperate with them in the formation of a
party Of freedom, regardless of past differences
and past names, and Of present or former Or
CARNATIONS.
Rssolvsd, That we approve of and commend
the patriotic course recently pursued by the
Republicans of Michigan and we, the Free
Democrats of Allegheny county, arc not only
willing to pursue similar course, by recon-
mending the Withdrawal under similar cir
cumstances) of the Free Democratic State
ticket in Pennsylvania; but, az an earnest OF
what NC are willing to do in State politics, we
| 30 hereby unanimously nop1inate as our can
didOtes the persons recently nominated by the
Wings Of Allegheny on their county ticket
the Wings of this county having taken de-
cided stand IN favor of true Democracy, while
| Douglas Democrats hold forth no hope Of their
| shaking off the incubus of the Slave Power.
| ResolUed, That while such has been the
course of the Wings of this county, and while a
disposition to pursue likecourse probably pre-
walls with large ma ority of individual Wings,
west of the river Sohuylkill; yet, az in their
combined action as an organized State party,
controlled by the slaveholding interests Of
Philadelphia, the Wing party of Pennsylvania
has furnished no evidence that their State can
didates will either repudiate the Baltimore
platform or oppose the aggression Of the Slave
Power, except that on two points that at the
present time arrest the attention of the North
therefore it is our duty to continue to support
the Free Soil State ticket; and we call upon
Mr.. Potts, our candidate for Governor, to meet
Judge Pollock, if he appears on the stump, and
oppose him as earnestly as he would MIR. Big.
Ter. Neither of those gentlemen openly advo.
cate the Nebraska Bill and Fugitive Law, but
neither of them has yet pledged himself to op-
pose all wrong and usurpations of the Slave
Power, and each would be politically free on
all other questions than the two referred TO-
the rights Of the North, and sacrifice the inter.
ests of freemen.
RESOLVED That, should either the Wing OF
! Democratic party, and its candidates, Mr.. Big.
Ter or Mr.. Pollock take such position in "a
yor of Liberty the rights of the North, as
Pennsylvanians should, we will then recon-
mend that MIR. Potts be withdrawn, and the
support of Free Democrats be given to the
candidate of that party which first declares its
full independence, now and forever, of the
Slave Power.
RESOLVED, That we approve the action of the
meeting of Free Democrats, which called this
Convention.
After the usual resolutions, requesting the
city papers to publish the proceedings, &c, the
Convention adjourned.
| The MASSACHUSETTS, MovEMENT-The Bos.
ton Commonwealth says:
1.-THE Journal seys tho Convention ct Wor.
| oester 'was muck sr1aller than was anticpated
So far is This from being true, that we believe
most of those who were present were agreeably
| disappointed in meeting so large q number
| The assertion of the Journal that the Conven.
ton was managed by the Free Soil leaders
is convenient fslsehood to be copied by the
! Pro-Slavery press. There was not promi.
nent Wing or Democrat present. says the
| Journal. But there were q large number
whose prominence at the polls is as great az
that of the leaders We quote again:
Judge Morris, of Springfield, is, we believe
q Wing, and the names of one or taco Other
IVhigs and Democrats were included in the list
of officers
"For zone or tuo,' read snineteen,' and you
get the exact truth as to the number o.
names
KANSAS TERRIToRT.--The pioneer party Of
emigrsnts from New England, for Kansas
whose departure from Boston was recorded
several days since, having received accessionl
at various points on their route, reached st
Louis safely and proceeded up the Missouri
Ilser IN a steamboat In good health and spir
Its, and with the most encouraging anticipa'
tons, The Boston Daily Advertiser says thai
other and larger parties viii press forward a.
soon as the health of the cities at the West
shall be so far established as to make It pru.
dent for persons from the East to travel in thu,
direction.
The 81. Louis Inteiigencer SAYS, that the
proscriptiye sense in which the resolution
adopted by the late meetings held In Kansas
have been understood, sis distinctly repudiated
by those who introduced, voted for, and adopted
! them They ayow that they only meant ID
assert their right under the law, to go e
Kansas with their slaves and that this right
they meant to yindicste BY force, if neces-
! saryn