Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-06-04
Democratic National Convention.

for Pierce. provided they (Greene, Peaslee &
Col would then cast their votes for Buchan-
an. They also refused.
The Douglas men are in secret caucus this
morning. There are rumors that he will
withdraw.
The Massachusetts delegation is organized,
B. F. Butler chairman. On a test vote they
stood, for Pierce II, Buchanan 8.
At quarter before u, cannon were fired
as a signal for the assembling of the conyen-
ton. At II o'clock precisely, the assemblage
was called to order by r. McLane, of Mary
land. Mr. Richardson of Illinois, nominated
Samuel Medary of Ohio, Tor temporary chair
man. Carried unanimously.
Mr.. Hall of Mass, called for the reading of
the call for the Convention. While the call
was being read by Mr.. English, of Indiana, a
sudden uproar arose at the door of the hail.
and a crowd rushed into the room, fighting
and wrangling in direct confusion. The crowd
proved to be the Benton delegation from Mis-
souri,, resolved to force their entrance by vio-
violence. They knocked down the doorkeep-
er. and rushed in. headed by Ex- Gov. Price.
For few moments scene of confusion, i'm
possible to describe, ensued. Members jumped
from their seats, and it seemed as though Sc
rious riot was about to take place. After
while, however, quiet was restored, and the
Mr.. McLane stated that when the creden-
tails of the Missouri delegates were presented,
the Committee of Arrangements would give
tickets of admission TO the delegation, which
presented Pri0aG fdcie evidence of their regu-
lar election, and refused them and others.
New York also appeared with two sets, but
as the committee could not decide which was
entitled to admission, they declined to give
tickets to either, unless they arrange them
selves, as was done in the case of the Missis-
sippi delegation. Both delegations from New
York are now admitted.
Mr.. Medary, on taking the chair, returned
thanks for the honor done him. He said he
had attended every Democratic Convention
since the first that nominated jackson, and
had the honor to be member of that which
nominated Franklin Pierce. He commented
on the progress of democracy, and its extend
ed influence, and believed that occasional
storms in the party were calculated to purify
the atmosphere. lie thought they were des-
tined to triumph despite temporary obstacles.
The Rev. MI Nicholson of Cincinnati, was
introduced, and delivered prayer.
Messrs. Alex. B. Clitheral of Alabama, and
w. B. Richie of Virginia, were elected tenn
porary secretaries.
Mr.. A. g. Brown of Mississippi. introduced
a resolution to admit altsrnates to seats in the
hall.
Mr.. Harris of Illinois, proposed that GER
tain pro rata number from each State, be adj
mitted, the hall not being large enough to
accommodate all.
Mr.. Craig of North Carolina, moved to lay
the resolution on the table Till the convention
was fully organized. Adopted.
Mr.. Harris of Illinois, moved the appoint
ment of a committee on credentials, consisting
of one delegate from each uncontested State,
to be selected by the various delegations
Adopted.
| AS soon as the Committee was announced,
Mr.. Richardson of Illinois, rose and said he
did not wish to interfere with the quarrels of
! States, but the Convention owed to itself, to
| its dignity and propriety, that no person
should be allowed to force an entrance into
| this hall, over the power of the doorkeeper.
! 1t should protect itself from violence and in
| suit.
! Mr.. Hall of Missouri, one of the delegates
! who had forced the door, arose to speak, but
the Chair refused to recognize him, saving
the gentleman (Mr. Hall) must present his
| grievances to the Committee on Credentials.
Mr.. Hall made another effort to speak, but
was interrupted with cries of d" order p or
der !"
Mr.. Price of Missouri, rose and said the
delegation submitted to the decision of the
char, and at once withdrew.
Mr.. Bocock of Virginia, called attention to
the fact that Missouri's seats were contested,
and that Missouri had been allowed TO APP
! point committee man. The Missouri mem
| bers were consequently withdrawn.
Chas. w. Wickliffe of Kentucky, offered
resolution, assigning unoceupied seats to out
| side delegates.
Judge Wilson of Iowa, opposed TIE resolu-
| ton, on the ground that the last Baltimore
| Convention was overridden by outside pres
sure, and all fair representation OF States done
away with.
The Committee on organization was then
| appointed, consisting of one from each State.
Mr.. H. B. Wright of Pennsylvania, moved
that when the Convention adjourn it be till
l. P. NJ.
Col. Black of Pennsylvania, wanted to put
Pennsylvania right ON the matrimonial ques-
ton, and was proceeding with an attempt to
amuse the Convention, when Mr.. Butler of
Massachusetts, interrupted by stating that
Massachusetts had called for verifcation of
the vote on the motion to appoint Commit
tee on platform by States, and had not been
recognised by the Chair. He held that, under
the rules of the last Convention, it was in or
der to demand such verication.
Col. Black, who had been interrupted by
Mr.. Butler, desired to proceed with his re.
marks, but the President recognised Mr..
| Griswold of Massachusetts, who said Massa-
chusetts did not desire to vote by States.
| Mr. Butler" Wen see about that"
Mr. Bocock Of Virginia, held as point of
order, that the States must be called on the
resolution as demanded by Mr.. Butler. The
Convention was bound in this respect by the
rules of the House of Representatives, that
the yeas and nays are always taken in the
House when called for, and that call for
votes by States in the Convention took the
same character as a call for the yeas and nays
| in the House.
The Chair decided the call in order, and
the Convention proceeded to vote by States on
the motion of Mr.. Butler to lay the resolution
on the table. Lost--S4 yeas, III NAYS,
The resolution was then adopted unani-
mously.
John Cotton Smith of Connecticut moved
that a committee of one from each State be
| appointed, excepting New Y ork and Missosri,
to decide at once in regard to the contested
seats of those States. Ruled out of order.
| The following committee on platform was
then appointed New Hampshire--E. l..
| Aver; Vermont-C. g. Eastman Massa-
chusetts-Benj. J.. Hallett Rhode Island
W. i. Lawrence; Connecticut CALVIN 2.
Hyde; New Jersey-E. R.V. Wright Penn
sylvania-S lancy Jones; Mary land-Charles
J. Melvin; Virginia-Aug A. Chapman
North Carolina--Wm S. Ashe; South Car.
olina-G. w. Dudley; Georgia-Augustus
r. Wright; Alabama-John Cochran Mis-
sissippi-Jacob Thompson louisiana Pierre
Soule; Ohio-C. l.. Vallaudingham; Ken
tucky--B. McCorbin; Tennessee-W A.
IL. i