The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-09-17
THE DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION
GRAND FINALE OF THE PROCEEDINGS AT
SYRACUSE
{ Despatch to Tie Me,o York Hernzd.1

u RAACOOE
despatch to the Ne,7 York Herald.1
SYRACUSE, Sept. l5.--Had it not been for the
promptitude of John Cochrane, yesterday morning
the Regency would have been, as far as Charleston
goes and the organization of the State for the i'm
mediate future, blown to tindless atoms The Mo-
Zart Hall people were unprepared for the lightning
spring which he gave upon a chair, under the very
of the Speaker, rendering it impossible not to
give him the word. Certainly not over ten seconds
elapsed from the "Begin, boys" which was the sig
nal for Alvord's being hurried into the chair to
which he was not elected, and the commencement
of Cochrane's speech to the resolution admitting
the Mozart Hall people delegates Wood was
the first to perceive Cochranes movement and rose
within second of him, but neither the wells of the
front rank the menacing gestures of the bull
lies could get the floor away from the former
Probably had Alvord been a more experienced con-
spirator, he would have ruled it out of order for
any speeches to be made, excepting by his own
friends. This would have been more absurd
than his subsequent decisions But, unfortunately
for his cause, he did not at first anticipate so in
glorious and brief a reign.
Wood marshalled his men into the hall very ear
ly, made them take seats he designated, the
heaviest muscle in the centre-gentlemen like ex-
Sheriff Wilet being placed in the extreme flank
He pointedou the Benicia Boys chair with marked
and emphatic gesture, and then marched backward
and forward before his troops, like a captain on
field day. He was lividly pale, almost yellow, the
muscles of his face tight ground, and with dan
gerous look, which caused bystander to remark
"What picture for Zouayep' After Cochrane
had spoken for about minute, Rav. Tom Ferris,
Billy Wilson, Nealy Woods, Dan Linn, and the
fighting bows generally, were evidently disrusted
at receiving sign to resort at to 'the last
reason of the unterrifed." When AlvOrd called
him to order, however, for ceasing to stare him as
Speaker, directly in the face, they could not be en-
trelv restrained and for about ten minutes it looked
as though a storm was going to break out with
vengeance. Rynders posted himself where the first
blow was expected, and did wonders in keeping
the peace. 1t may be said, even, that he prevent
ed blOodshed, as a small, dangerous looking man
stood back of COchrane, with a pistol concealed
under his coat, resolved the first assault on the
latter to blow out the brains ofFernando Wood.
The Regency were greatly terrified. Cassidy was
probably hidden away under bed at home, at least
he made show of himself until several hours
after all danger was over. Fowler, who is a late
riser, was probably picking his teeth in his room
after breakfast Messages sent to Richmond
but his ocund bury form only rolled itself into the
room after the squal had blown by. Pete Cagger
was far more pluckv, and excited no small amount
of admiration by the noiseless. gentlemanly firm.
with which he placed himself in front of AlvOrd
while the latter was answering COchrane's ques-
ton, whether the Speaker was the supreme arbter
of Parliamentary rule, by declaring, ''Yes that at
least he (Mr. Alvord) was" Cagger quietly ex-
claimed ''the hour of twelve having arrived, |, as
chairman of the committee, call the Convention to
order, and move that John Stryker be appointed
temporary chairman"
The "boys" never ought to have permitted this
speech to have ended. 1t awfully disastrous to
them, and their own tactics were deplorable. As
a measure of prudence they ought to have killed
Cagger, or at least thrown him out the window be-
fore he could utter word. Perhaps they had re-
ceived no orders, or did not catch their cue with
sufficient readiness Nealy Woods assault on
Stryker, small, sickly looking, amiable gentle
man, finished their business. He was the wrong
point of attack in the first place, and then even in
Tammany Hall, sneaking behind man and strik-
ing him unawares is not wholly approved Of Sheriff
Wiet and all of the "gentlemen'' raised an outcry
at the outrage-the greatest, all declare, that ever
was witnessed at any Convention in the State The
Benicia Boy growed loudly against such a viola
tion of the ''rules of the ring.
In fact the sympathy excited for Stryker carried
disorder into the ranks of the Mozart Hall invaders
themselves, and when Cochrane brought forward
his resolution moving that "as violence had been
offered, and further stay in the hall was nconsist
ent with the personal safety of the delegates the
Convention adjourn" the thing was up, and com
plete victory ensued in behalf of law and order
The time had come to laugh instead of crv on the
strange events of the preceding half hour. And
material for merriment was not wanting in the re
membrance of Alvords blunt declaration, thai
parliamentary rule being untitled for the present
occasion, he took the responsibility of substituting
for it his own arbitrary decisions" CochranC
asked him point blank if he did so, and he replied
that he did Like Jack Cade, ''his mouth was the
Parliament of England" Mingled swearing and
| laughing made up the sum of noise made by the
delegates in descending the stairs, though ali wa;
subdued by emotions more tender upon witnessing
Stryker limping with extreme pain, from crowd tt
crowd, imploring that little mention might be
made of his sutferngs possible, lest it might gel
into the papers, and the feelings of his family ot
narrowed by what had been done.
The indignation of Hon. Daniel s. Dickinson anC
| Edwin Croswell at the outrages which had beer
! perpetrated, drew them completely out of thei
usual reserve. The cold Roman of the Susque
hanna desired that his ''reprobation of the whole
affair from beginning to end, might receive the ut
most publicity; and Mr.. Croswell thought tha
especially gentlemen, whose membership Of the As