Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-02-15

tbs cOzmittss vita sstirs uransy, svsrT sssnssr Geu
every sts having sgnifsd biz pese. sesuipes IN hsss
lutions, relating to The foreign policy Of the country While
portion Of The platform proper 70 state that they were not
adopted with entire unanimity.'
Mark this; and then he sdds:
instructed renor, resoluon as recommended
by the CONCERNING Communication tetVern the Allan
he reports The resolutions in regard to the Pacific
railroad, not part ct the platform Then comes
the platform Of resolutions reported signed by 'B
+. Hallett, chairman and this is added
munioation With The Paeiae.r
Then comes The resolution, an outside measure
Dotlaid down as tenet OF article Of faith, which
was edomeI by the DemOeTa i, party in that con-
ventien This resolution vas takea up, and Mr.
H. Saulsberry, Of Delaware, moved 10 sy it on the
table. When we come 10 read this resolution, all
that it did was to assert the duty Of Congress to
exercise all its constitutional power on the subject
1t did not even assume that Congress had any power
In the matter. If they had none it vas q nullity
and meant nothing at all The resolution was
taken up, and Mr. Salisbury, Of Delaware moved TO
lay it the table. The motion prevailed yeas l54
nays 100; and the resolution was laid on the table,
The convention then, after having eompleted the
Democratic platform, proceeded 20 the nomination
of their candidate for the Presidency Of the United
States. Mr.. Buchanan was nominated. The nom
inatiOu over, the platform complete; the creed
of the Democratic party, so far that convention
went, was finished. In the evening session, after
the candidate for the Presidency was nominated,
Mr.. Shields, of Missouri, presented the following
resolutions
Res5ged That is the duty Federal Government, to
construct, far has constitutional power safe
overland Communication within territory between the
Pacific and Atlantic States"
Teen the original resolution, which had been re-
jeciej, offered in lien Of this at the request Of
fta Ms a Al 5a IN
was adopted, in these words:
Resoleed, the Democratic party recognizes great
importance IN political and commercial point of vew of
tween the Atlantic aud Pacific coasts Of the Union and that it
the duty Of the Federal Government to exercise all its eonsu-
onal power that object thereby binding
the Union OF these States in ndolube bonds and opening
the rich commerce Of Asia an overland transit from the Pacific to
the Missipp river AMI the great lakes Of the North"
Mark you, the Presi lent, was nominated at tais
time, AID this resolution was adopted merely as
suggestive it having once been rejected BY decid
ed vote 1t not adopted a part Of the
platform, but simply an outside, struggling reso
luton in the convention The Vice PRECEDENT was
then nOmiRaied; ard in the acceptance Of his nom
ination, hear what his language is, aud this goes
to show ths; he did not understand that resolution
IS being part OF th' platform:
1.-THE platform you have unanimously adoptsi"-
not the resolution that had been onee rejected
and taken up aud adOped as an outside measure !;
but
The platform you have unanimously adopted not
State rights cordially approve and indOrse
What construction does the Vice President put
upon this resolution? What construction doet eVe>
rybody else put upon a resOluti IN which has been
sent forth to the country as being Democratic
measure, as an article Of the Democratic faith
say according even the proceedings of that con-
venton il is no article OF the filth Of the party to
which | belong IL il 10 tenet of my creed, and 1
consider myself democrat, and do not 10 X on it
1oc ~ l,on l. 20 al
out as suggestive It is nothing more thaa mere
apOcrypha; it is a toDes, article Of our faith
[ remember very well, that after the nomination
Wss made, the question came up as TO whether this
plank had been laid doEn part of our creed and
| know that in the sec ion Of country where / was
during the canvass, il WAS Tepudisted and con-
demDed by all not being part Of the Democratic
faith. l know that MIR. buchanan was not vnder-
stood in that region entertaining opinions favor
able to the Pacific railroad and admitting its ecr-
stitutionaliy Although the opinion may have
been expressed, and it may have lain hidden some>
where else yet during that canvass it was not before
the public mind as measure Of the Democratic par
ty. On the contrary, well remember the surprise
with Itch, in my section, the people received news
from the State of California after the election was
over after victory had perched upon the Democratic
standard, that Mr.. buchanan had written a letter
to Cslifornis, committing himself to the Pacific rail-
road; and it SURPRISE that some even looks
ed upon that letter. being published after the cleo
ton was over, hoax, not authentic, gotten
up for the occasion. But let that be il may, the
letter was written in september, went to Califors
MA and did its work there, if it did any do not
know whether it Influenced the election there or
not but il was not known in the region Of country
from which came until after the election was over,
and it took us By surprise. l know there are some
in my section of the country who are for Pacific
railroad, without regard to the Constitution, with
out regard to the existence of the power anywhere,
and who look upon it as a great measure For my
self, however, prefer, on such questions to con-
suit the Constitution of my country.
TO BE CONTINUED.