Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1856-06-20
WHOLE NO. 5O4.

w HO1L I'M. QUA.
Editorial Correspondence ofthe washington Organ
The RePt6iican Coaventior--Second Day-- Great
ConIuston-Ihe Conventions IN an Uproar---
Mclean Se'oard and Chase ,oithdra,cn-P Penn
syiVania Shaking. Iea2
MORNING SESSION. 1@A
PHILADELPHIA, June ls, 1856.
have witnessed this morning the most exciting
scenes IL has ever been my fortune to mings m In
any political convention As the telegraph and
the ordinary newspaper reports win give yon
very feeble idea of what occurred, shall endea.
vor to set forth running, but fhithfl account of
what transpired. @
thought that the harmony Of yesterday was too
perfect to last long, and 30 IL proved After an
opening prayer, by Rev. Anson Rood, the National
Executive Committee for the next four years was
announced consisting Of one individual from each
State and Territory represented. Among them are
Lewis Clephane, of Washington, George G. Fogg,
of New Hampshire, (the runaway clerk Of the
Kansas investigating committes) and Thomas
Spooner, of Ohio, the notorious delegate to the
American National Council that met at PhIladel
phia last February, and who telegraphed home
that the Council had broken up and gone over to
the Republicans. Beautiful managers are these,
and such as these, of any great party.
The resolutions, comprising the platform Of the
party, were then read by David Wilmot, who IL
understood to claim their principal paternity. They
are apparently based on the Declaration Of Inde.
pendence but the language Of that immortal doc.
ument is oftentimes twiste and distorted to such
degree as to be scarcely recognizable. That the
platform does not express the true and real sent-
ments ofthis mongrel party is certain There are,
doubtless, great and good men, well-meaning and
unsuspectng, from all parties, who have been
coaxed or cajoled into their organization, but the
real leaders are the old fashioned ultra Abolition
lists, In the most offensive acceptation of the term,
who seek only to root out the institution ct sla-
very everywhere, at all hazards and at any cost
This has been sufficiently indicated in the speeches
Of the various orators in the Convention, though
studiously avoided in the resolutions or platform.
The particular resolution alluding to apolygamy
and slavery" was the one that was received with
the greatest amount Of applause. The concluding
sentence of the last resolution originally contained
the word "proscriptiye," which was deemed by
Thaddeus Stevens of Pennsylvania as subject to
misconstruction, and likely to be offensive TO the
Americans, whom he candidly admitted to be the
! greatest party in his State He made an excel
lent and judicious speech and was sustained by
Hon. Charles Gibbons of this city, and opposed by
Spooner Of Ohio and one or two of his coad, ,utors
| Quite exciting discussion ensued, In the midst
of which President Lane applied the gag. and
while parties were on the floor whom he refused to
recognise put the question and declared it carried,
whereupon up started the entire Illinois delega-
tion threatening to withdraw if they could not be
heard and would not be quieted until one of their
number was allowed to express his opinions on the
platform. Cries of "free Speech" mo gaglaw,"
| shear him." and Question" resounded throughout
the hail. entirely unheeded by the Chair, and thus
the platform was rushed through, without discus
sion or even consideration.
| A large majority present were evidently deter
mined to have their own way, and prevent discus
sion on any subject The EXTREMIST discourtesy
was shown to gentlemen desiring the foor, and
even while they were speaking, looking very much
as though most of the delegates had never before
been members of a delberative body, and did not
~-ow how to conduct themselves with becoming
decency. ,,n,so,f tbouob be makea csni
| Inc PRESIDENT "a nothing about Parlia-
tai stump speech, kno.. -.kness and nefi-
mentary matters, and, by his We. s,sion,
cheney, added much to the general CON-. ;.
Comparative quiet being at last restored, reso.
luton was introduced, providing that the Conven.
ton proceed at once to an informal ballot for
nominee to the Presidency. Then began, ayain.
confusion worse confounded" James Watson
Webb first obtained the floor, and opposed the
resolution ON the ground that it was premature.
and that more time wanted for conference
among the various delegations. He avowed his
preference for Seward; but, confident that he could
not carry Pennsylvania, his next choice was Judge
Mclean. Gov. Kent, of Maine, seconded Colonel
Webb, and wanted a committee of conference.
Sam. Purviance, NJ. O. from Pennsylvania, tried
to be heard, but, failing in this got Governor Kent
to read resolution he had prepared, but which
the noisy crowd would not permit to be heard.
much to its authors evident chagrin.
DR.. Elder, of this city, made one Of his humor-
GUS and Characteristic speeches, sndeavoring to
throw oil upon the troubled waters, but the mud
boiled up again soon as he had concluded
Mr.. Fry, of Ohio, charged that fraud had been
committed on the Convention (what he meant /
viii relate by and by,) but was called to order by
the chairman and hissed down by the excited
crowd.
Charles Francis Adams Of Massachusetts,, was
In f.vor Of an immediate formal ballot, as their
minds were already made up, and nothing could
be gained by delay, Hewas listened 10 with much
Difference on account Of his paternity.
Governor Root, of Ohio, also wanted an imme-