The register. (Monroe, La.) 185?-1861, 1860-05-24
Democratic Stats Central Com.
mittee. "a
NEW Og1gAhs. Nav IA, 1860.

NEW ORLEANS, May IA, 1901.
According to the usages ofsthe Democratic
party, Convention was called 10 this State for
the purpose of sending delegates to the National
Convention to assemble at Charleston for the
purpose Of nominating candidates for President
and Vice President of the United States. After
every part of the State had been canvassed,
the Delegates elected to the State Convention
assembled at Baton Rouge, on the 9Th of March
last, and elected Delegates TO the National
Convention. The Convention at Charleston
having requested vacancies to be filed, thereby
unauthorlzedly assuming that the Delegates
who withdrew vacated their seats we conceive
the Delegates elected to, the Baton Rouge State
Convention as. the constituency of the Del
egation elected to Charleston, and regard them
as the only constituency to whom they are
amenable. And, as an unexpected emergency
has arisen which, in our opinion, renders neces-
sary the reassemblage Of the Delegates to the
State Convention we, therefore, recommend
that body to reconvene and take such action as
may be deemed necessary.
If vacancies had occurred in the delegation,
by death or resignation, within few days after
they were elected, the right Of the State Con
vention to reassemble and fill them could moi
be questioned. We consider their right to re-
assemble and act under existing circumstances
equally clear; and that the Convention has
the right to convene as often as may be neces
sary, until the functions for which the delegatel
were elected are accomplished, to-wit: the
naming Of candidates of the party for President
and Vice-President. The Democratic Central
Committee was created for the purpose of act
ing as the Executive organ Of the party, an6
has, in our opinion, the rights in regard to THU
Convention usually exercised by the Chief Elk
ecutive of the State, in reconvening the State
Legislature on extraordinary emergencies. Il
has been suggested by some that new Con
vention should be called. We do not feel au
thorized to do SO for the following reasons:
l. tits unnecessary and unwarranted, because
there has been already full expression of thu
opinion OF the people of the State on the Pres
identia question, in the election Of delegates tt
the State Convention, aud in declaring tn.
principles which should govern them.
2. The delegates which were elected to th,
Charleston Convention are accountable to tb,
State Convention and no other Convention, fo
the manner.in which they discharged their au
ties. 1t is for that Convention alone to deter
mine whether vacancies exist in the delegation
elected by them, and, if so, how to be filled
1t is alike due to the delegation to the Charles
ton Convention, as we'll as to the State Conven
ton, that the matter should be referred tt
them.
8. If the Democratic State Central Commit
tee had the power under the circumstances tt
call new Convention, to which they by M
means assent, the very act of calling that Con
ventlon to I'LL vacancies, supposed to be occa
stoned by the withdrawal of portion of the
delegation, would imply disapproval and cen
sure of the course pursued by the delegation
If we were inclined to pass upon their conduct
we consider we have no such jurisdiction, hui
that 1t belongs exclusively to the Convention
that elected them.
4. But even if all these difficulties were
overcome, still there is not sufficient time with
IN which to call new Convention, in which
the whole State could be represented, Be il
therefore s-7
Resolved, BY Tie Democratic State Central Com
na'tee, That the delegates elected to the Demo
cratic State Convention, which assembled a
Baton Rouge on the 9Th of March last, he re
qnestcd to reasonable at the same plac,
on Monday. the 4th Of June next, to re
ceive the report Of their delegates to the lat
Charleston Convention, and to take such acton
as they may deem necessary and proper.
WIN. W. KING, President pro tenn.
+. H. KNAPP. Secretary.