The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-03-19
THE DEMOCRATIC STATE CONVENTION OF PENN
STL I'M
Edward Y. Buchanan.

Wepubished in brief yesterday morning the proceedings
OF the democratic State convention of Pennsylvania,
which assembled at Harrisburg on the 10th instant.
On assuming the chair, Hon. Arnold Plummer spoke
as follows
Gentlemen Delegates:
The honor which your partiality has assigned me of
presiding over this convention, l accept with profound,
heartfelt gratitude, and enter upon the duties it involves
with a consciousness that / wish to do right. l am,
nevertheless, aware that ! may come short of your just
expectations.
10 preside over the deliberations of a body of men as
numerous, respectable and intelligent as the convention
now before me, is a task surrounded with great response
bility, and requiring much discretion and tact. My hope
of success is in the forbearance and the generous indul
gence of the members, assuring you, individually and
collectively, that any error / may commit will DO entire
ly unintentional.
ocratic party of this good old Commonwealth, upon the
favorable auspices presented by this meeting
oTruth, crushed to earth, win rise again.
If / am able to read the signs of the times If l am
able to comprehend the inward working of the gathering
here to-day if don't widely mistake the sentiment that
pervades this body, the defeat which the democratic party
suffered at our late election is to be, and will be, follow
ed by n victory that will consign our opponents TO dis
comfture and dismay. The democratic party of this
State and this nation have n common mission the vital
existence of the government rests and must rest upon the
success of democratic principles in the administration of
government, and in the dissemination Of those princi-
pies In detail, minor anu SURROUNDING u1lcIcIlCcb IL Opln-
ion are always want to exist, and are always to be expect
ed. Those differences of opinion have to be encount-
cred and il is always the part of wisdom, as 1t is the
duty of all good democrats, to meet them In a proper
spirit of mutual forbearance and mutual concession al
lowing to each other a large latitude in matters Of detail,
while upon great general principles we should be a unit.
once more tender to you, individually and collect
lively, my grateful Acknowledgements for this distinguish
ed mark of your appreciation, and hope the result of our
labors may rebound to the success of the democratic
party, and meet with a hearty response from those whom
we represent.
A committee was then appointed to draft resolutions
expressive of the sense of the convention, and whilst they
were engaged in the performance of that duty, the con-
ventiop in the afternoon resolved itself into q mass con
yention of the democracy. Speeches were made by Mr..
Snowden, of Philadelphia, Mr.. Hugus, of Somerset, and
Mr.. Hopkins, of Washington, who each coupselled such
action as would secure harmonious and united effort by
which alone could entire and complete success be at
tanned. After a brief recess, the convention ~reassembled
at 7 o'clock, p. m, when Mr.. Haldeman, from the COM
mittee on resolutions, reported the following; which
were unanimously adopted
RESOLVED, That the democracy of Pennsylvania have I'M
abated and full confidence in the patriotism, integrity,
and capacity of James Buchanan, the President of the
United States, and desire to sustain his administration
from a conviction of the intimate connection of its prin-
ciples with the best interests of our common country.
RESOLVED, That the complete success achieved by James
Buchanan in ~amicably settling with Great Britain, in ac-
cordance with the American doctrine, the long mooted
question of ''the freedom of the seas from the surveil-
lance and annoyance of a maritime police in quoting
the civil broils of Kansas in promptly and efectually
suppressing an armed disafecton and rebellion in Utah
in speedily terminating the Indian wars which threaten
ed TO desolate our western frontier and his resolutc ef-
forts to secure for American trade and travel safe and
proper transit routes between the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans to maintain the influence and honor of the ma
ton, and to protect the lives, business, and property of
citizens of the United States in the anarchical or ll-gov-
erned States of Mexico, Central America, and South
America entitIe him to the esteem, gratitude, and conf
dence of the people of Pennsylvania, as well as OF the
whole Union.
Resolved, That the democracy OF Pennsylvania have al
ways advocated, and still advocate, an adequate encour-
agement and discriminating protection of iron and coal
and Of the industrial interests OF this State, within the
scope of a tariff for necessary revenue and believing that
the revenue accruing from the existing tariff will be i'm
sufficient for the unavoidable expenditures of the federal
government, and that an obstinate adherence to it will
result in the accumulation, in time of peace, of a heavy
national debt, always dangerous to tho peace, liberty,
aud prosperity of a free people they now, by their rep
resentatives in this convention, earnestly invite the pco-
pie of this State, by a frank and cordial support Of the
policy OF the first President whom Pennsylvania has given
to the Union, to aid and strengthen him In his future en-
deavors to procure a revision OF the tariff act of 1857 by
the next Congress, on the principle set forth in his last
annual message.
Resolved, That while an economical administration Of
the government of the Union is demanded by The whole