Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1856-05-24
PrrTSBURG CONVENTION.

PITrSBURG CONVENTION.
Extracts of which have pubs-
ed ga long time ago."
H. . In Committee. t.s1.s ... . ...
PlrrsnuRG, Feb. %, 1856.
1t was quite unfortunate for me that there
were not other Delegates from Minnesota, as
have been obliged to serve on every Committee
was en- the Committee t, nominate permanent
officers for the Convention. That as a matter Of
course, could not escape. Then l was made
one of the Vice Presidents. This objected to,
and substituted the name of one of our citizens.
My objection, however, was overruled, on the
ground that it was necessary to have Rue men,
and inasmuch as was the only live man from
Minnesota, therefore must serve. Submitting
to this, l consoed myself with the hope that
should now have an opportunity to participate in
the proceedings of the convention and avoid con-
fnement on one of the Committees. My wish
had scarcely taken shape when a motion for
committee of one from each State was made AMI
carried, to draft an address and resolutions, and
was placed on this Committee. Again asked
to be excused, but the same objections were
raised as before. Then; a Committee was appoin-
ted on plan of organization, and finding that
was a member of this Committee also, came
to the conclusion to let them do with me as they
pleased. So, from this, our readers will observe,
that Minnesota was not overlooked in the appoint
ment Of Committees.
The Committee on address and resolutions,
ABIJAH MANN of New York, being Chairman, re-
paired to the parlor of the Monongahela House,
where two addresses were submitted for consid-
Grafton. One was of considerable length, written
by Lieut.. Governor Raymond, of New York, and
editor of the New York Times, and the other by
Joshua R. Giddings of Ohio. These addresses
were read, the first occupying ever an hour,-the
second some forty minutes. The first set forth
the purposes of the party in a calm, dignifed,
temperate manner and concluded with an ap-
peal to the Freemen of the country. The Sec
ond was not as we'll written but set forth the
purposes of the party in a more earnest manner.
The question arose which address should the
Committee adopt? or should they refuse to adopt
either? The main objection to MIR. Raymond:s
address was its extreme length. | strenuously
opposed it on this grounl, believing a short and
pthv document would be far preferable to the
voluminous one before US. 1t was thought by the
Delegates from Vermont, Iowa and Wisconsin,
that it did not 60 far enou yh-that it should pro-
claim that no more slave States should be added
to this Union--that the Fugitive Slave Law was
unconstitutional, and that Slavery should be d.
vorccd from the Free States. The Delegates
from New York, Pennsylvania, (present men,
Der of Congress, Mr.. Allison) Massachusetts, In
diana and Mary land thought it best not to bring in
these questions, but base the whole matter upon
one single issue--the non extension of Slavery,
the repeal of the Kansas Nebraska bill, and the
admission of Kansas into the Union as free
State. In this, for Minnesota, most heartily
concurred, and took occasion to state to the
committee, that while the people of Minnesota
would 90 as far any other in erad;cating Sla-
very-whilc they hated it, and would gladly see
it abolished in the States-while they believed
that certain portions of the Fugitive Slave Law
are unconstitutional, still, at the present crisis,
they, in my opinion, would waive their earnest
wishes, and meet New York, Massachusetts,, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, Maryland and Indiana on one
common ground and move shou lder to shoulder
in the great cause that animates us all. When
we had accomplished one great object (no fur
ther extension of Slavery then Minnesota stood
ready to take another step still higher and bolder.
need not say, that this expression for Minneso-
to, (and in it | believe | am right) met with
warm reception from a ma ority of the Commit
tee and any further effort to incorporate extreme
views into the address, was abandoned. IL should
ho IL,
ed by Judge Iloar, New York, represented by
Abjah Mann, Ohio, represented by Mr.. Dennison,
an eminent gentleman of that State, Pennsylva-
mia, represented by Hon. John Allison, and Mary
land represented by Francis p. Blair, the adviser
of jackson, were willing to adopt the address
(bating its lengthy it stood, and it appeared to
me- under these circumstances, to be unwise not
to 20 with them.
The question now arose as to the curtailment
of the address, and the necessity for the action
seeming to exist, a Sub Committee was appointed
for that purpose, consisting of FIVE, among whom
were Mr.. Blair and Mr.. Mann. The Committee,
having been in session from O'Clock p. NJ. un-
It'll y, adjourned to meet at 10 o'clock, and hear
the report of the Sub. Committee. At 10 O'Clock
the Committee again met, discussed the question
and adjourned until the morrow ut O'Clock
On the meeting of the Committee in the morn
ing, the report of the Sub Committee was made,
which recommended the striking out in the ad-
dress of all that portion relating to the history
OF Slavery and adding thereto certain amend
ments. On motion, the address as amended was
read, when it was clearly discerned that the har-
mony Of its parts was materially destroyed,
and with the understanding that the author would
cut 1t down as much as possible, it was finally
unanimously adopted by the Committee, as orig
inally presented, with the amendments proposed
by the Committee, and the resolutions already
published. .t @..
The Committee having been in Session for
nearly one day aud good part of the night, en-
entered the Hall, and thr ,ugh their Chairman, MIR.
Mann, made their report. ....
Thus ended my duties on the Committees, and
have been thus particular, because had been in
the Convention, should have made known the
TACT that MINNESOTA is coming into the Union not
only as Free State, but with Republican Sena-
tors and Republican Representatives. Let our
friends be active in perfectins complete organi-
zation. and Minnesota will soon be regenerated
from the curse of government officials and politi-
cal renegades. r.x.S.
Winding mp Of the Convention.
PITTSBURGH, Feb. 2Sd, 1856.
The Convention met this morning, at 9 O'Clock,
w. Sherman, ESQ.,, of New Jersey, ono of the
Vice Presidents, in the chair. The attendance