Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-03-12
DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION.

and organized permanently by selecting Hen
drick FL. Wright as President, assisted by q
Vice Presidents, and l3 Secretaries.
The following is the Committee on Resolu-
tions: John L. Dawson, Howard L. Miller, r.
Biddle Roberts, David Tidball, VIM. Montgo-
mery, Emanuel Street, Franklin Vansant, Jno.
f. Means, James L. Reynolds, Miffiin Han
mum, Wilson Reilly, and ]. G. Montgomery.
A committee, consisting of one from each
Congressional District, was selected to report
delegates to the National Convention, and
Electors. The contest for delegates to Gin
cinnati was exceedingly spirited. Gov. Big
Ter was here importuning members to send him
there, urging that it was expected at Washing
ton that he would go; but the Convention
concluded to send men who had not been con-
taminated by Washington atmosphere.
The delegation is understood to have but
one choice for President, and according 10 the
instructions of the Convention, must vote for
Buchanan, dead or alive.
Several speeches were then delivered in glo-
rifcation of Buchanan and Democracy, when
The Convention adjourned until Wednesday.
WEDNESDAY, Mar. 5.-A committee of five
was selected to inform Mr.. Buchanan that he
had been nominated for the Presidency. The
platform was then reported and adopted, when
the Convention proceeded to nominate can
didate for Canal Commissioner, which result
ed in the choice OF Geo. Scott, of Columbia.
On the 9Th ballot Jacob Fry, Jr., of Montgo-
merry, was selected as the candidate for Audi
tor General, and on the 4th ballot, Timothy
Ives, of Potter was declared the nominee for
Surveyor General. The 4th ballot stood as fol-
lows Ives SO, Alexander 40, scattering %.
Some interesting incidents occurred during
the progress of the nominations. Mr.. Rely,
of Schuylkilt was before the Convention as a
candidate for Canal Commissioner, basing his
claims upon the ground that he was born in
Ireland. OF course the Convention would not
nominate him, but in lieu of that he was given
the fullest measure of Democratic applause
Like many other aspiring patriots, Mr.. Reilly
had a letter read TO the Convention declining
the nomination, when il was evident that he
could not get it, and his letter was received
with the liveliest enthusiasm. Sam Black was
fitly chosen rs the Irish champion, and he
dwelt eloquently on the fact that Mr.. Reilly,
though an Irishman, breathed sentiments of
loyalty to this country that would do credit to
a native citizen! This remarkable condesccn-
sion on the part of Mr.. Reilly-a man born on
a foreign soil, and yet consenting to obey the
laws and sustain the Constitution of this coun-
try affected the speaker we'll nigh to tears land
the Convention manifested its appreciation OF
him. He rose to the dignity of ten votes. The
Convention adjourned after having made nom
nations until the afternoon, when the dele
gates met to hear and be heard by each other.
A number of speeches were made, ranging
| from very good to very indifferent-from
Judpe wilkins down 10 Sam Black, after
-,,.ren the Convention adjourned sine die.
The following are the resolutions adopted,
constituting the last Democratic platform:
Resolved, That in the present distracted
condition of parties. in which sectional and
partial issues have been allowed to attain a
dangerous supremacy, We recognize in the
policy of the Democratic party, that which
rests upon the Constitution as its basis: and
that it is the party which above all others has,
| in the language of the lluStrious Madison ev-
| er continued ''to hold the union of the States
as the basis of their peace and happiness to
! support the Constitution, which is the cement
/ of the Union, as well in its limitations as its
authorities; to respect the rights and authori-
| ties reserved to the States and to the people,
/ as equally incorporated with and essential to
| the success of the general system; and TO avoid
| the slightest Interference with the rights of
| conscience or the functions of religion. SO
wisely exempted from civil jurisdiction
Resolved, That by the general consent OF
the wise and virtuous of all nations, the fra
mers of the Republic of the United States. eS-
| hIh.ted their fndiyiHnal oh I'D -
| the result of their public deliberations, de-
gree of virtue and practical statesmanship,
| to which the history of the world affords no
parallel that in part of the Federal Com
| pact is the wisdom of our fathers more con-
uspicuos, than in leaving the whole question OF
| slavery to the states in their separate capaci-
ties; and that in the provision for the re -deiv-
| cry of fugitives escaped from labour or ser
! vice, they demonstrated sense of iustice-an
| appreciation of the value of the Union-an at
| tachment to its preservation-an avoidance of
e-sided philanthrophy, and impracticable
theories of goveFnment-which present pro-
per example for the guidance and imitation of
us, their descendants.
Resolved, That we look only to the Consti-
tuition, and the exposition thereof which has
been afforded by the practice of Democratic
administrations, for the chart of our policy
That these constitute, till the fundamental law
is changed by methods which itself provides,
the HIGHEST LAW of our obedience as citizens :;
and that We utterly discard that partial and ex-
aGgerated sympathy, the attempt to carry
which into practice, is at the peril OF our dear
est interests as nation, and threatens the in-
Fiction of evils of tenfold magnitude to those
which it proposes to heal.
Resolved, That the equality of the States is
the vital element of the Constitution ITSELF and
that all interference with the rights of the
States by those who seek TO disregard the sa-
cred guarantees of the past, and by all others,
should be rebuked with the same spirit that
would denounce and repudiate all attempts to
erect odious distinctions between those who