The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1858-03-17
Geo. w. Manypenny, President.
SPEECH OF GOV. STANTON.
Letters from Distinguished Democrats


ocracy, convened at Columbus yesterday,
was one of the largest political assemble
ges ever held at the Capitol of Ohio
The prominent men of the Democracy be-
gan to arrive in large numbers on Tues
day afternoon and evening, and as the
trains came in during the early hours of
yesterday, the hotels and streets were
thronged with hard working and leading
Democrats from all portions of the State.
Abous nine O'Clock Myers Brass Band
was out; and procession of several hun
dred of the Democracy Of Franklin Coun-
ty formed aud marched TO the Depot, in
command of the Marshal of the Day and
his deputies, to receive the delegation
from Hamilton County and Southern
Ohio.
An accident occurred to the train be-
tween Aenia aud Columbus, which delayed
it over an hour. In the mean time, the
large crowd of Democrats in waiting at
the depot called for speeches, and were
addressed by Hon. D. o. MORTON, of Toll
edo, and Major GRooM, of Pickaway coun-
ty, in sound Democratic anti -Lecompton
speeches, until the arrival of the cars.
When the train arrived, the procession
formed end were immediately conducted
to the Theatre The scene here was most
cheering to the Democracy. 1t became
manifest to those who may have doubted
before, that the demonstration would be
com N Suroto RI tho iptanco ond rono,oI
hostility of the Democracy of Ohio against
the Lecompton Constitution, as q party
measure All the available space in the
large building was crowded to overflow
ing. When thescrowd became composed,
Hon. VIM. r. RANKIN, of Franklin coun-
ty, caled'the meeting to order, and moved
that GEO. W MANYPENNY be appointed
Chairman of the Convention, which was
carried, amidst enthusiastic cheering
Col. MANYPENNY, on being conducted
to the Chair spoke as follows:
Mr. Manypenny said he had been for
the last twenty five years citizen of the
State of Ohio, and during that time he
had been member Of every Democratic
State Convention held in the State, ex-
cept those of the three years when he
was absent from the State on public bust
ness and he had never felt more the pro-
priety of such meeting of the Democra-
cy than now. At the time of the adop-
tion OF the Federal Constitution, the ques-
ton Of the organization of Territorial
governments seems not to have arisen, and
thus no provision upon that subject was
inserted by the trainers of that instrument.
In the earlier stages of the National gov
ernment it was assumed that in terrific
rial governments the people ought not to
be permitted to manage their own affairs.
Thus, we in the Northwest territory had
our Governor and Council appointed by
the general government. But owing tn
the conflicts which frequently arose upon
these territorial questions iu Congress,
the Democratic party in 1854 took the
position that the people of the several ter
ritories should be allowed to decide their
institutions for themselves. This posi-
tion was re-afirmed by the Convention
assembled at Cincinnati, which nomina.
ted james Buchanan. The Republicans
opposed this doctrine, and advocated the
right of Congressional intervention; and
on this principle we went before the peo-
pie aud defeated them, and elected Mr..
Buchanan President And it is to re.
affirm this principle that we have met to.
day.
He saw before him Democrats from al
parts of ~the State, whose faces were fa.