Daily American organ., 1856-02-25
American National Convention.


American National Convention.
The organization of this Convention has already
been announced by TIE telegraph. The following
is report of the debate on the question of admit
ting the Pennsylvania delegation
Mr.. Brownlow, Chairman of the Committee on
Credentials, then submitted report comprising
the names OF 277 delegates. There were two del
egations disputed--those from Pennsylvania and
Louisiana. The following delegates are reported
as having had their credentials approved by ma
jority of the committee. For Pennsylvania:
Delegates at Large--Wm. F. Johnston, Jacob
l.. Gossler
Representative Delegates-G. t. Thorne, Isaac
Hazlehurst H. Bumm, c. A. Waborn, L. Jones,
U. " Pennypacker, Reuben Good @. X. Robin
son, w. G. Evans, Jno. w. Killinger, j. II. Camp
bell, s. P. Kase, NJ. f. Stilwell, Titan j. Coffee,
VIM. H. Irwin, d. e. Small, John s. Pomeroy, g.
q. Dimmick, j. II. Sewell, Andrew Stewart, j. w.
Etherngton, Lemuel Todd, John Williamson, L.
G. Stambaugh, Rob't M. Riddle.
The minority report in favor of the Hunsecker
delegates, was signed by IL members Of the COM
mittee, all from the South. %..
After some discussion, the minority report was
read by one Of the sgners, j. ID. Imboden, of Vir-
ginia 1t takes the grourd that the Edie party had
rejected the national platform, and could not be
considered within the pale of the national party.
A delegate from mississippi uOFeu Iudb TIC iC-
port of the Committee on Credentials be accepted,
except that portion which referred to Pennsylvania
and Louisiana.
Mr.. Baldwin, of Connecticut, spoke against ex-
ceptng any of the States, and eloquently denounc-
ed the platform making as regular trap-setting
business calculated to break down any party. He
appealed to those who had put in the minority re-
port to withdraw it. He was national and con-
servative man but he knew that the platform
making was distastef~l to his section and to the
whole North He also argued strongly against
making any nomination at this time
Hon Percy Walker then took the floor, and de-
lvered long aud powerful speech upon the ne
cessity of having twelfth section to satisfy the
South His speech was frequently interrupted by
applause from the Southern members, and was lis
tened to with strict attention.
Mr.. Webster, of Iowa, replied, and argued at
length to show that his section would have no.
thing to do with the 18th section, and repudiated
slavery. He claimed to be national man, and
freedom was the principal element of his nation
atty All he asked was fair and free discus
sion. He was frequently interrupted by calls to
order, and much excitement and confusion pre-
vailed during the delivery of his address. When
he had finished, large number of gentlemen
claimed the floor, and there were cries of Let
Pennsylvania be heardl" Motion to adjourn.
Mr.. Kilpger said that if the Pennsylvania del
egation were not admitted tonight, they would
not be present. tomorrow. Cries of neither will
the North.
At length, by general consent, Hon. James H.
Campbell, of Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, took
the floor to argue on behalf of the anti-twelfth
section delegates, contending that the twelfth
section was repudiated by the great body of the
people of Pennsylvania the sentiment in
favor of freedom was not to be removed from the
mind of the North. His speech was forcibly de-
livered, and commanded general attention.
Mr.. j. w. Ashmead replied on behalf of the
Hunsecker party going over the same ground that
he did in tho National Council upon the same sub
ject.
Mr. Ford, of Ohio, arose to point of order, and
insisted, amid of great excitement and con-
fusion, that the gentleman had no right to speak
here, because he was not delegate.
Mr. Ashmead was allowed to conclude.
Governor Johnston now took the floor, and was
received with great applause. He said that he was
one of those who seldom allowed himself to get
excited upon these occasions. If he was entitled
to no seat upon the 6oor--if he represented no
constituency--if he was to be turned out of the
convention because he entertained certain senti-
ments, he wanted to know 1t, and he would take
care to let the people know it from every part OF
the State He claimed to be as good Union man
as any upon the floor of the convention and this
he would attempt to show. He was a member of
the National Council of last June that framed
what is called the Philadelphia platform. The
majority of that convention had the power to
make Free-soil platform. He was member of
the committee upon the platform.
All he asked was the restoration of the Mis-
souri, Compromise. Afterwards, he frankly stated
that he could not conscientiously give in his adhe-
sion to the 18th section. He then referred to the
Reading Council, and said that the l2th section
had been repudiated by vote of 200 to 800. He
explained the object of the convention, and agreed
to Justify the action of that body. .v,.
If to refuse the restoration of the Missouri Com
promise, which Henry Clay had introduced.and the
South supported, to quiet agitation, was to be an
Abolitionist, he was an Abolitionist. He would
assert that the Cincinnati Convention had saved
the American party in the North. Give the party
the proper platform, and nominate the right men,
and he would show that the Convention had saved
the party lie then replied to some of the argu-
ments advanced by Mr.. Ashmead, and contended
that all the defeats which that gentleman attributed
to Free-soilism were due to disorganizers-men
who bolted because they could not carry out their
views. The gentleman who had presided had voted
for Kimber Cleayer.
Mr.. Ashmead said he had voted for Mr.. Mich
olson. -..s .tnr...r
Governor Johnson Then you voted for man
whom you knew to have been adopted as a Black
Republican. Then the vote thrown away on Kim
Der Cleaver and Passmore Williamson contributed
to the defeat of the party. Personally, he cared
very little about being admitted to the Convention,
but he spoke because he thought the party had
heavy interest at stake in considering the question
of admitting the Edie delegates He wanted re-
buke administered to the enemies of the great body
of the party in Pennsylvania. IF the Edie dele
gates were rejected upon the sentiments of that
minority, he would say that the blow would fall
upon the whole North, and do more damage to
the party than he could do if he was to devote the
remainder of his life to that object.
Another minority report was then submitted up
on the subject of the Pennsylvania difficulty, with
resolution to the effect that the subject be re-
committed
Mr.. Brewster, of Massachusetts,, moved to amend
the motion of the gentleman from Mississippi, to