The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1859-12-02
The Adjourned Convention.

1.-The Chairman Of the Democratic
State Central Committee is in almost daily
receipt of letters of enquiry in reference to
the adjourned State Convention-whether
il was the intention Of the Convention to
peroetuate itself, or TO postpone the cleo
ton Of delegates and the nomination of
electors to a convention to be called for
that purpose. Whatever the intention Of
the members voting for the postponement
NAV have been, the literal RstIuctIon of
their resolution was, an adjournment OF
the BODY then existing and perpeiuation
Of its organization TO the 22d Of February
next.
at may well be questioned whether that
Convention was endowed with power Of
continuance, and we should BE sorry - see
precedent established so pregnant with
troublous consequence as this would be -
IF the convention may adjourn for four or
five months, why may it not, when again
assembled, adjourn 10 the fall Of SCI, " to
nominate candidates for State Offices, ac
cording to the terms Of the call under
which it was originally held 9-Hadison
Patriot, 22d Ne.
Until reading the above, we had heard
no question Of the power of the Conven-
ton to adjourn, or the propriety Of the adj
journment to the Cpd Of February, for the
purpose Of electing Delegates to the Char
lesion Convention, and the nomination Of
Presidential Electors Before the Conven-
ton assembled at Madison we urged the
adjournment on the ground of policy, that
no jealousies might arise among Democrats
by the selection Of Delegates at that time,
whose preferences for Presidential candi
date would be either known, or even dis
cussed before the State Election. Did the
Convention in this adjournment act within
the scope Of its Legitimate power? And
if SO, was such action polite, wise, and jul
dicious The Pafriot seems to assume
that the Convention had no such power, or
if it had, the exercise Of that power is
fraught with dangerous consequences
We are unable to discover the correctness
OF such assumption, or any good reason
for putting it forth.
The Convention was called for tie pur-
pose of nominating candidates for State
offices, candidates for Presidential Electors,
and electing Delegates to the National
Convention. The Convention met on the
day designated, organized, and adjourned
one day, when it nominated a State Tick
ct, and adjourned again to the 22d Febru-
airy next, for the purpose Of discha-ging
fully the duties which were delegated by
the several constituencies of the party in
the State. Had the Convention the pow
er to make the nomination of Electoral
candidates, and elect Delegates to the Ma
tional Convention Then the adjournment
for that purpose is neither an assumption
of power, or an attempt to perpetuate any
power in Itself to be exercised in the flu
ture. Had the Convention made this NOM
ination and election at the time of nomi
mating State ticket, would any one have
questioned lis power to DO it! If not
who can question the right to adjourn one
day, or longer, until those acts were per-
formed and duties fully discharged
Would it be good policy for the State
Central Committee to call upon the Dem
ocrats Of the several counties in the State
to meet in Convention and elect Delegates
to a State Convention We beg leave to
question it. If this should be done, how
would the matter be treated by tie mem
bers of the late adjourned Convention >
Would they not regard it as dictation by
the Central Committee, and assemble on
the adjourned LAY, and make their nomina-
ton and election We think so. If So
and another Convention should be held for
the same purpose the result would inevita
by be two sets of Delegates to the Char
lesion Convention, and two Electoral tick
cts. Such a result, in the language of the
Patriot, would be pregnant with troub-
lous consequences
We do not know the views of the Con-
yention as now constituted, on the subject
of Presidential candidate, but presume
that the duty devolying upon it will be
faithfully discharged, and that the Democ-
racy Of the State will lie well satisfied with
tie results Of It's deliberations We believe
that the Democrats of Manitowoc county
are satisfied with their present Delegates,
and 10 not desire to be called into County
Convention for the purpose of re nomina
ting them, or OF nominating others over
their heads.
Coon Submissive see that the street
between WILLIAMS UoTEL and the Post