Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-05-08

The seceders, Convention.

The Seceders' Convention.
The Southern members who seeded from the
Charleston Convention, on Monday, the 3oth
ult., met that night at ST. Andrews Hail. Mr..
John @. Preston, of South Carolina, was called
to preside. He addressed the Convention-de-
claring that he considered this great occasion,
a movement of the constitutional lovers of the
Union We are here, he said, to preserve our
rights and redress our wrongs.
Mr.. Yancey, of Alabama, said they had been
sent to the National Convention as delegates and
that their mission had been fulfilled. They had
retired and now stood in the attitude of private
citizens That Convention was now a mere Sec
tiopal gathering. Should Douglas be nomina-
ted it would then become their duty to present
or recommend to the people of the United States,
candidates for the Presidency and Vice Presi,
dencv. on a National Constitutional basis, and,
therefore, Southern basis No action should
be taken by the seeding delegates, until the
proper time.
Mr.. Bayard, of Delaware, regarded the infu-
ence that overruled principle in the Convention,
as thirst for power and plumber. He was Sc
we're on the New York delegation, who. he said,
had turned their backs on the South. He trust
ed the other Southern States would withdraw,
and that the Convention would be utterly dis
solved. He did not consider that seceders had
power to make a regular nomination, but be
| would recommend, if it should be found necessa-
ry, that they should unite in g recommendation
of suitable candidates for the two offices to be
filled, and would put forth written address to
their constituents easfga 5a.ll -
After some remarks by Mr.. Matthews, of La
the States were called. When New York was
called, DR.. Skinner, of the Wood delegation, said
l !, ~
and had been kept Sitting out in the cold,, fol-
eight days-the delegation to which be belonged
having been ousted from their seats by fraud
The entire Wood delegation subsequently, Joined
she secedeps. ~ 81
| A Committee on Organization was appointed
and an adjournment was made to City Hall
where Mr.. Yancey and others addressed large
meeting.
| On Tuesday, the Convention adopted the ma
| iority report, as presented by the Committee or
the Platform to the National Convention.
/ A proposition to adopt the name of the Con
lstitptional Democracy, after long debate wa
voted down, the body claiming to be the true
National Democracy. sf
\ The Pacific Railroad resolutions were adopted
but not without considerable opposition.
Nothing more was done during the morning
At the evening session, Mr.. Hatch, of Louisiana
moved to adjourn till the morning, as the othe
Convention had made no nomination. Adopted
A large audience was in-attendance, including
great many ladies. One of the Virginia dele
gates, Mr.. Fisher, of northampton, Joined tn,
seceders.
The Convention met again on Thursday, abou
40 delegates present, and Senator Bayard presi
ding.
A considerable diversity of sentiment among
the members was developed. Some of them de
sired to make nominations for President ant
Vice President; others wished merely to issu,
an address to the people. Some proposed to g
back into the regular Convention when it assem-
bles at Baltimore; others advocated the holding
of separate Gonyenton. Judge Meek, Of Ala
bama, said that any Southern State that wen
into the Baltimore Convention did so as an ap
proven of Squatter Sovereignty. Gen. Simons
: of S. c., would not follow the Convention tt
. Baltimore-he had left it forever.
At the night session, Mr.. Bayard took The
, floor and spoke for an hour. He could not ap
prove the resolutions for an address and meeting
in Washington one week before the Baltimor,
! Convention He desired the unity of the Dem
ocratic party, and was prepared to support thei
nominee, If made now or a month hence, if b.
should prove to be truly national man. Hi
personal preference was for Mr.. Hunter, of Vir
gnia He styled the New York delegation as
band Of political gambler and concluded b.
5 saying be could not retain Q seat in the OonVen
ton if the pending resolution was adopted
: though be wonld approve of it if he was dele
gate from a cotton State. He therefore aske'
: permission of the Convention to decline the pc
8 sition liz which they had placed him and to re
, tire from the Convention. A great part of MI
Bayard's speech was directed against disunion.
On Mr.. Bayard's retiring, Robert Scott. O
n
> The resolution for an address was withdrawn
when
6 Mr.. Jackson offered his resolution for South
ern Convention to be held in Richmond on th
I'd Monday of June, which was adopted, witt
; five or six dissenting voices.
! A resolution for the publication of a narrativ
Of the grounds Of seeding, together with tn
: proceedings of the Convention, was adopted.
: The Convention then adjourned.