Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-05-11
CONSTITUTIONAL UNION CONVENTION
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..


crowded, and the greatest enthusiasm prevailed
large number Of ladies filled the west os11erv
and viewed with Intense interest the deifbera-
tons Of the Convention. Scattered around the
hall was printed letter from General Ho,,.ton.
dated Austin, Texas, March 18th. in which he
declines TO be the nominee Of the Charleston Con-
vention, as also ticket headed Peoples Union
Ticket, with the name of Gen. Sam Houston In
scribed upon ii for the Presidency and that of
| the Hon. Edward Everett fer the Vice Presidency.
The Committee on Business reported the fol-
lowing Platform and resolutions:
w hereas, Experience has demonstrated that
platforms adopted by the partisan Conventions of
the country have had the effect to mislead and
deceive the people, and az the same time to widen
the Poltcal divisions OF the country, by the crea-
ton and encouragement of geographical and sec
uonaI parties therefore
Rssolred, That it is both the part of patriotism
and of duty to recognize no political principles
other than the Constitution of the Coi,ntrv the
Union of the States, and the Enforcement II the
Laws; and that as the representatives of the Con-
| stitutional Union men Of the country In National
Convention assembled, we here pledge ourselves
to maintain, protect, and defend, separately and
unitedy, those great principles Of public liberty
and national safety, against all enemies at home
and abroad, believing that thereby peace NAV
| once more be restored to the country, fbe inst
rights of the People, and of the States ,elesiab
lished and the Government again placed in that
condition Of justice, fraternity, and eonaIity.
which, under the example and Constitution of
our fathers, has solemnly bound every CITIZEN of
the United States to maintain ga more nerfeet
union, establish justice, insure domestic tran
guilty, provide for the common defense pro-
mote the general welfare, and secure the blessings
OF liberty to ourselves and our posterityD
RcSOtred, That each State shall be entitled To
| the same number Of votes in this Convention as
It's electoral vote, and that each delegation shall
| be cast. '-'
Resolred, That in balloting for President and
Vice President, ballots shall be taken until can
dldate nominated shall receive majority of all
ma ef. bot
shall be first ballOted for and selected and then
| the candidate for Vice President
delegate from Tennessee desired to know II
II was understood by that resolution that the ma
| OF the minority?
Mr.. Brooks, of N. Y, said that as there ap-
| peared to be some diversity of sentiment on the
qnesion OF the last resolution, he moved that the
vote be taken on the Platform and the resolution.
The vote was put by the President and declared
unanimously adopted, amid much enthusiasm
and applause.
Mr.. Stevens, of n Y, thought an amendment
something like the following, would meet the
views of the Convention:
"ReSolUed, That the delegates to this Conyen-
ton shall each be entitled to one vote"
MIR. Comegys, of Del, thought that every dele
gate In this Convention should have the right to
vote for the man Of his own choice.
Mr.. Goggin, of Va, said that be had In his
hands resolution which he thought would en-
BODY the views of nearly every member of the
Convention:
'R.Sotred, That the chairman of each dsleq,-
tion SHALL cast the vote of his State for each dele
gate from such, in such way as be NAV be in
structed by the delegate entitled to vote and
when there is not full representation from anv
State, then majority of such delegation shall
declde how the vote Of the district unrepresented
snail be cast, or when there be two delegates from
district who cannot agree, each shall be entitled
TO half vote"
BY common consent, Mr. Gosgin's proposition
was received a substitute for the other nronosi-
tons that had been submitted: and agreed To
y motion was then made TO proceed to the
nomination of candidates for the President and.
vice PRESIDENT, which was unanimously adopted
The President requested the various decorations
to consult together prior to casting Their votes
and be prepared in a few minutes
On motion the President appointed Mr. Brooks.
OF N. Y, Mr.. Rockwell, of Con, Mr.. Watson III
Miss, and Mr.. Pickett as tellers
MIR. Swami asked perInissi on to allow the Narv
land delegation TO retire for fifteen minutes to
consult, as there is some misunderstanding with
regard TO the restl ltion of Mr. Goppin
On motion, the resolution was laid on the table
MI Buel moved that the Convention do now
proceed to ballot for candidate for President
me fresident-Before proceeding to the order
OF business, the Chair would respectfully suggest
that the members Of the various DELEGATIONS now
confer amongst themselves, prepare their ballots
ana authorize the Chairman of each delegation to
annouhce tne votes OF the State when the proper
time shall come for calling the roll of States The
first business is for each delegation to prepare It's
vote, to be ready to respond when the name of the
State shall be called
The balloting was then proceeded with with
the following result: ~
First Bailos-Everett IS, Houston 81. Bell ssK
Crittenden Is, Goggin 3, Graham "a, Mclean 10
bous w Sharkey Z, Rives, 10. Whole number
OF votes 2ol nect ssary to a choice l27L
Second BGHot-Everett az, Houston 60 Bell
Us, Grah ham l5X, Mclean 1, Crittenden l. Coz
gin 2, Bolts 5h Sharkey SK
Inc Observation-Disclosures of the Convention
rise 10 discharge the proudest duty of life
ask you, In putting the motion which has inst
been submitted by my colleague from New York
tMt. Brooks,) that this Convention will now
Iiidhe the nominate OF john Bell, of Tennessee
uhihlnous now put the QuestiOn-all who are
In favor OF the unanimous nomination Of Jobn
Bell OF tennessee, as the candidate Of the Con-
su'uuonal Union party for President of the United
''aIeS vii! make 1t manifest by saying aye.
In response thereto there was one universal
AYE" from all parts Of the Hall, with waving OF
hats and handkerchiefs, and cheer repeated after
cheer. ~-''i
The President believe the vote is unanimous.
now declare that John Bell, of Tennessee by the
unanimous vote of ths Convention is the candi
Date OF the Union COnstitut ona party of the Uni.
Yea states Tor the Presidency. Loud and pro-
MIR. Henry, of Tenn, said to be a grandson Of
the celebrated Patrick Henry, Of Virginia, then
assembled the platform and made a speech Of con-
a SD length, thanking the Convention, on
nomination they had just made.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Mr.. Switzler, Of Mo-, desired to know If the
nomination OF candidate for the Vice Pres den
cy was in order.
The President stated that ii was
Mrs SwitZler-l move then, that we proceed IN
nominate, and will make a nomination TCries
OF mo, nos ballot, ballot ~
MI Switzler resumed-Well, I won't make
ONE l only stood up on this bench in order
though am modest man, that the ladies mi bt
see and hear; but before get down will merely
mention the name of Edward Everett, and IL Won
don't vote for him, the ladies will loud an
plause P
MIR. Henry, OF Tenn, moved that bv n unani.
nous vote the Convention declare Hon Edward
Everett, of Mass, the candidate of the Consttt,,
nonal Union party for Vice President of the United
At this period the cheering and applause was So
great That II was with some difficulty order was
restored. WIS
Erastus Brooks of N. Y rose and said that he
desired TO present the name of Edward Everett as
the unanimous choice of the New York delegation
Ex-Gov. Morehead, of N. c. said that however
sovereign the people might be, his delegation had
been Instructed when leaving home to vote n GER
tain Way. The fact was, that Edward Everett
was SO In the hearts Of the people of his Statein
The hearts OF her wives and daug htersLtbat they
must propose him. NY
Mr.. Dauley, of Ark would, in behalf of b,s
delegation, endorse the Hon. Ed ard Everett n
we could not elect him, we could, at least. fall
with faces TO the foe ' 900
Of w o.iA