Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-02-28
American National Convention.

assembled al 1HlEluclplild Oll tIS 1Oth
inst. and continued in session until the /
22d, when it gave place to another Con-
vention-composed mostly, however, of
the same delegates in attendance upon
t,is-the former of these Conventions
having been called for the purpose of
harmonizing the party upon some sort OF
= platform of principles, and the latter to
nominate candidates for the Presidency
and Vice Presidency. We said national
Convention, but should qualify the ex-
preston by adding that Vermont, Maine,
and some two or three other States, were
not represented in The Conventions, hav-
ing chosen no delegates to them; and
Vermont having cut loose from the ma
ticnal organization last year.
The proceedings of these Conventions,
so far as they have reached US, have been
anything but harmonious-indeed, we
may say, they have been disorderly and
tumultuous in the extreme, The first
bone Of contention in each, was, as to
which set Of delegates should be admit
ted to seats from Pennsylvania and Lou
isinna. The Edie delegates" so called,
from the former State repudiate the fa-
nous twelfth section"-the pro-slavery
section adopted last June-whilst the
other set endorse It ia full, and as much
more as the South may ask of them
The COMMITTEES finally reported that the
former we're the regularly elected dele
gates, and after an exciting contest, they
were admitted. In Louisiana the Cath
Ollie test is repudiated by large majority
of the order, and go delegates were sent
on from that State, some of whom are
Catholics, and all agreeing that that
should be no disqualification for member
ship. Now this, according to the past
course of the order, is hardly orthodox,
and is much resented by the rank Pro-
tcstant minority in Louisiana; but the
Catholic delegates were, nevertheless,
admitted to seats.
Then came the "tug of war" on the
question of platform-the Northern
delegates declaring that they could no
and would not stand on the infamous
twelfth section" and the Southrons ant
doughaces swearing fealty to that, an,
declaring that those who do not, have II,
right to appear in the Convention, mas
much as they bolted from the nationa
order last summer. After an angry con
test, the matter was finally settled in tn,
first Convention by abrogating the "12tl
section" and adopting the district o
Columbia Platform" as it is called;
being the platform previously adopted b,
the Councils in that District. This is
milk-and-water platform, ignoring tn
Slavery question, and satisfactory to ne
thcr North nor South. Several of tn
Southern delegates now openly bolte
and left the Convention. and some fro,
the North threatened to do the same.
We lave seen but two days proceed
ing Of the Nominating Convention; bi
from these we judge that it is likely to |
even less harmonious than the other
Indeed, several prominent Southernmen
bcrS have refused to serve as Vice Pre-
idents, or TO take any part in the pr
ccedings, because the " Edie delegate.
were admitted from Pennsylvania. III
whole question of platform is to be r
opened, and it seems now inevitable I'll
the Convention must break up in a 70,
a portion from both the North and II
South were anxious to postpone the nor
ination of candidates till July, but til,
were defeated by vote of 128 to
and the nominations were consequently
he made the first of this week. T
Telegraph predicts that Fillmore al
Andrew jackson Donaldson will be moi
mated, whilst the friends of George L;
hope to be able to carry him through.
But 1--WE shall see what we shall see. y
The latest report says the excitement
tremendous, and many both from t
North and the South will bolt"
HuxrER& BELLS PASoR.uA-T