The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1856-05-16
THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION AT
CLEVELAND.
CLEVELAND, May stb,

OLEfLLANDt -hal OtbB AONo.
Mr.. Editor II hasten to give you short
account Of the proceedings Of the Democratic
Convention that assembled here to day
That intensely Democratic sheet, the "Ban-
of Monday last. as almost complete failure,
because we did not shout, stamp, and rave
around like we were mad, but got up and
conducted the meeting in harmonious and
business like manner. suppose the meeting
to-day was all right on the score of enthusi-
asm. Men exhibit pretty strong partizan
feelings who can meet and nominate an Elec-
ter to support their Presidential candidate in
advance of his nomination. and who in
string Of resolutions, unanimously adopted by
the Convention, can deliberately refuse to
express any preference for a candidate for
that high office, but yielding submissively to
the dictation of the tricksters and wire-work-
ers of the Cincinnati Convention, can still
confidently rely on the support and cooper
alton Of the masses of their party. 1t GER
tainly evinces high degree of efficiency in
party drill, if the result. should meet their
calculations. No wonder the great Demo.
cratic party, as it is called, is great power
in the State The old Wing party could new
er be managed SO: there was always too much
independence of thought among the individ-
uals composing it, and their leaders always
found the experiment of attempting to whip
them into ranks rather dangerous business
If they did not like the nominations made by
their Conventions, they usually bolted and
stood aloof The American party exhibits a
good deal Of the same spirit, and something
more is required to induce them to follow,
than merely to erect banner inscribed with
the party name; and l am of the opinion
that some Of the leaders Of the great Demo-
cratic party will find themselves wofully mis-
taken in their calculations, and that there
are many steady. thinking Democrats, who
will not be wheedled into line, simply on
hearing the Democratic war-cry of "whoop
de doodle doc, as given by one of their speak
ers to-day.
But to return to the Convention. The first
speaker Mr.. Burch, endeavored to show that
the impression universal throughout the
South. that Mr.. Fillmore during his admins
tration of the government was true to the in
terests of the South, MS well ms the North,
and that his administration was sound. ma.
tional and conservative, was all mistake,
and that in point of fact he was rs much OPP
posed to the institutions of the South as any
Black Republican or Free Soisr could desire
This he attempted to prove by quoting an
extract from Mr. Fillmore's Louisville speech,
in which he tells the people of Kentucky
that before signing the Fugitive Slave Law,
he had consulted his Attorney General. a
distinguished citizen Of their State, and took
his opinion as to its constitutionality. Mr.
Burch, and all other Democratic speakers
will find as much difficulty in proving to the
people Of the South that Mr.. Fillmore's ad-
ministration was not able, sound, true to the
whole Union, and faithful to the Constitu.
ton, as they will have in proving to the Alb.
olitionists and Republicans Of the North that
Mr.. Fillmore is and always has been with
them. His history, and the history Of his
administration is too well known for that.
After Mr. BIS speech, and after the cand-
date for Elector was selected, string of res
olutions was adopted, which you will soon see
in print. One thought peculiar, coming at the
time, and from the source At did. 1t was in
tended to be token of respect from the
Convention, to the Hon. G. W. Rowles, for
his past services in behalf of the Democratic
party, and request that he would continue
his labors in behalf of the party during the
canvass. In reply, in very pretty speech,
the Judge gave his experience, telling how in
days gone by he had battled for his party
against the old Wing party, until complete
victory had crowned the standard he bore,
ard the Wing party was annlhilated. This
he had done, not for hope Of reward or hon.
or, but for love Of principle, and for the ap-
prevail of his own conscience. He felt more
deeply the Importance of the principles Of
the great Democratic party, and had a great
err love for them now, than at any former Pc
rod Of his life. Thought then, as had Of.
ten thought before, that for his eminent SER
vices it would be more appropriate for his
party to tender to the Judge something more
substantial than mere votes Of thanks. Judg.
ing from communication read by the Chair.
man of the meeting OF its close, such an OPP
portunity will soon be presented. Let us
wait and see what we shall see.
Mr.. Key accepted his nomination in a
speech, which is model Of the manner in
which the canvass is to be conducted in the
South, suppose.
Mr.. Key was thankful for the trust reposed
in him by the Convention; he distrusted his
abilities; his youth and inexperience made
him difident. He would rather have seen
the banner Of his party entrusted to older
and nbler hands. The standard bearers oil
the Democratic party in former times had a
different enemy to contend with than the one
he had to fight. They met open enemies his
was a secret foe, who did not attack boldly
face TO face but changed names and fronts
He did not know where he should find them
next month; they were not like the old Wing
party, that was a noble party. He honored
and respected the noble Wing party, Away,
had done so, it was bold and patriotic, wa;
sorry when it died. Those Wings who had
not yet bowed the knee to other gods, who
had not yet forgotten their first love, would
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