Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-02-27
THE AMERICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION.

This Convention met on Saturday last, al
Sansom Street Hall. The body was called to
order by the President, at l0a o'clock. Rev.
Mr.. Campbell offered an appropriate prayer.
The Chair stated that this was nominating
Convention, and that it had not met to discuss
the distracting questions of the day. The time
for such discussions had gone by. Applause. ]
1t was ennounced that Mr.. Hazelhurst of Pa,
had retired, and that hi alternate, Mr.. Martin,
would take his place. Mr.. E. Small, of Penn.
announced that he had paper which he would
offer as compromise on the slavery question.
After some discussion, the resolutions of
Mr.. Small were read-they were as follows:-
Resolved, That we repudiate all platforms
adopted by the National Councils.
Resolved, That this Convention put forth as
simple platform of the American Party-THE
BIBLE AND THE CoNsTTrUTIoN-and upon that
rear the following five points Of fellowship:
l. American Institutions should be controll-
ed only by Americas men.
2. American labor should be protected from
foreign competition.
8. American resources should be adopted by
every legal means.
T. American compromises, made in good
faith, should be observed in spirit at least as a
guaranty of American integrity and loyalty.
3. American citizens abroad should be pro-
tccted in their rights of conscience, of religi-
GUS worship and honorable burial.
The chair said he had already stated that
the object of the meeting was to make NOM
nation, and not to discuss dstracting ques-
tions. Various motions were made, some of
which were entertained by the President, and
he became so befogged and bewildered that it
was impossible to understand the position of
affairs SO inextricably were they confused.
Gov. Call, of Florida, finally had the floor.
accorded him for the purpose of speaking up
on the resolutions. He spoke of the lowering
aspect of affairs. He proclaimed himself a
Union man. A dozen or more delegates took
advantage of q pause, to claim tho floor. Gov.
Call said he had not ended. laughter
Mr.. Small obtained permission and said that
he would accord with the views of Gov. Call,
for the sake of harmony, and would, if the lat
ter would abide by it, strike out all in his res
olutions after the words esBible and the Con-
sttution." [Applause.l
Gov. Call did not seem to relish this ar
rangement, and again stated his determina-
ton to retire. He had come to battle against
the innovations of the foreign party in the U.
States, and the influence of theEPope of Rome.
Gov. Call now said Farewell" Voices
'.New York is with your 'sPennsylyania is
with you!'' [Applause and hisses.l
The widest kind. of an excitement here fol-
lowed. Twenty delegates endeavored to obtain
the floor, which was accorded to Mr.. Bartlett,
of Ky, who made an earnest appeal to Gov.
Call, and others, not to leave and desert their
friends in the Convention. He would say to
Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania that we have
had enough of platform making. He inpIored
Mr. Small to withdraw his resolution. Mr.. Bart
lett feelingly appealed to the delegates rot te
destroy the hopes of the American party. The
speaker was earnest and eloquent in his appeal
for harmony, and tears coursed down his
cheeks while speaking. In conclusion, Mr..
Bartlett moved that this Convention do now
adjourn to the Sd of July next.
Cries of ssNo''-ssYes''-"Seco the mo-
tion''-':Vote it down.
Mr.. Bartlett accepted an amendment fixing
Louisville, Ky, the place of meeting.
The President decided that the motion was
not in order under the peculiar circumstances.
The decision was appealed from. motion
was made to lay the appeal upon the table.
The amendment fixing the place of meeting
was Withdrawn. The business before the Con-
vention was on motion laid on the table.
The motion to edjourn until the Sd of July
| was then renewed.
Great excitementfollowed-cr for walk
err call ''the ayes and nays''-and all sorts of
confusion. A motion was made TO lay the
motion to adjourn on the table.
The question was taken on the motion to Law
on the table, and the motion was voted down.
A deleg egate-ssAll Philadelphia is voting out
there"
The ayes and nays were demanded and ia
ken on the motion to lay upon the table. Sew
eral delegates gave their views when their
names were called. There was so much con
fusion that the President protested that he
would be compelled to stop the proceedings,
if better order was not preserved.
The Convention re-asscmbled on Monday.
Much excitement prevailed, and after consid-
cradle talk, the motion to lay Mr.. Small's res
olutions on the table was negatiped by a vote
of l41 to go. The previous question was then
ordered, after which a resolution, declaring
that the Convention forthwith proceed to nom
mate candidates for President and Vice Pres
ident, was carried by vote of Isl to 81. The
Convention then proceeded to nominate. Mr.
Stewart nominated Millard Fillmore for Pres
ident, and Mr.. Sly, W. R. Smith, of Alabama,
for Vice President. At this juncture, the
Connecticut delegation withdrew. 1t is sup
posed that New Hampshire, Rhode Island, To-
wa, and in part Pennsylvania, Ohio, Massachu-
setts and Illinois will bolt.