The register. (Monroe, La.) 185?-1861, 1860-06-07

Although had not the honor to be mem
Der of our delegation, was at Charleston
during the sitting Of the Convention, had daily
communication with our delegates, and, while
on no occasion present at their deliberations,
had full and free conversations with most Of
them on the questions pending before the Con-
vention. have not the presumption to sup
| on their actions their high character, sound
judgment, independent position, political and
social, forbid such an idea; but say with
pride and pleasure that I found entire sympa-
thy and almost perfect coincidence in the views
we mutually entertained and expressed. Tbey
will render you full account Of their steward
ship and give you details Of the proceedings at
Charleston, into which the limits of an oriiina-
~ letter will not permit me to enter. But
there are few salient points, necessary for the
proper understanding Of the position In which
our delegates found themselves, to which will
allude. Experience has demonstrated that the
organic basis of representation in National
Conventions is essentially false, and that it does
not secure fair reflex Of Democratic princi-
pies, or offer fair probability of the selection
Of candidates, acceptable to the States by
whose votes In the electoral colleges their cleo
ton can only be effected. States hopelessly
abolitfonizcd, such as Maine, New Hampshire,
Massachusetts,, Vermont, Michigan and Wiscon.
ua.
Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tex.
as and Arkansas This injustice must be remc-
died by the adoption of some more equitable
basis Of representation, or the slave States
must hereafter refuse to enter into National
Convention. If, besides the votes AZ cast at
present, an additional vote were given to each
State for every Democratic Senator and Repre-
sentative 1t might at the time have in Congress.
this objection would be, In great degree re-
moved. But this Inherent difficulty in the
basis Of representation was greatly aggravated
by the unscrupulous manner in which the ma.
lority, composed almost entirely of delegates
from States not to be relied on for electoral
votes, exercise their power. The first manifes-
tation Of this disposition was in the adoption
Of rule, without precedent in any previous
Convention, by which the majority were ena-
bled to exert absolute authority in all the
States where the opposefs Of sound platform
and the friends of Judge Douglas had the as
tendency thus sitting in the delegations of
New York, Ohio and Indiana at least twenty
five votes that would otherwise have been cast
for the resolutions reported by seventeen
States, and for another candidate than Douglas,
while Pennsylvania and New Jersey, the only
other States that can be relied on for Uemocra-
tic votes in the Presidential election we're de-
prived Of the power to give unit vote. The
unfairness was more fragrant in the case Of New
Jersey, whose delegates had been recommended
not to divide their votes, for when the distin-
guished Chairman of the Convention decided
that the rule authorized the majority to control
the entire vote, his decision was overrulcd GU
An appeal by majority Of four, while, If New
Jersey had been allowed to vote on this cues.
ton, the Chair would have been sustained.
Seventeen States adopted platform Of prin-
clples which they submitted TO The Convention.
These States cast one hundred and twenty seven
electoral votes, every one of which might be
relied on for our nominees in November had
could honestly and honorably stand upon it.
Pennsylvania and New Jersey, the only free
States, California and Oregan excepted, upon
whose support we can confidently rely in the
Presidential contest, were not represented in the
Committee on Resolutions, because the persons
selected for that purpose did not choose to carry
out what they we'll knew to be the wishes Of
their respective delegations. Had they been
properly represented iu the committee, the
majority report, with immatcrial notifications
would have had the unanimous support of the
nineteen States whose electoral votes may be
counted on in November. The delegates of
eight States, as you know, retired when the
majority Of the Convention refused to adopt
resolutions which they considered indispensable
to their safety. Having thus retired, they
awaited the further action of the Convention
in the hope rather than the expectation that
reflection would induce the majority to retrace
their steps and present to the retiring States a
platform which they could accept with honor.
Had this been done, the retiring delegations
would have resumed their seats, as they then
had and unquestionably still have the right to
do. The adjournment TO Baltimore leaves
everything precisely in the same state in which
it would have been had it been only to the
next day, and not for six weeks.
What then should our State Convention do :?
cannot better answer than by referring you
to an address on the subject signed by number
Of Senators and Representatives and of which
send you copy, recommending it to the
careful consideration Of the Convention, with
this qualification only, that our delegates
should meet at Richmond. and adjourn over to
day subsequent to that fixed for the meeting
of the Convention at Baltimore This believe,
was the intention Of the signers of the address,
although it is not clearly so expressed. 1t Ger
tainly was mine.
We have this day received the news of the
nomination made by the Rlack Republican Con-
yention at Chicago. had supposed that Mr..
Seward would certainly have been their candi-
date for the Presidency, and had the Charleston
Convention resulted in the harmonious adop-
ton of sound platform and man pledged to
carry out its principles, would have preferred
that direct issue should have been presented
to the people Of the free States by the nomiua.
ton of Mr.. Seward. That issue would, in my
opinion, have been, shall the Union be pre-
served or destroyed! Mr.. Lincoln may be,
and probably is, as hostile to the institution Of
slavery as Mr.. Seward, but his record on that
subject, which have not yet had the opportu-
nifty to examine, is comparatively obscure and
incomplete, and bis election, especially if the
contest be complicated by any division in
our own ranks, would not present as abso-
lutte and unmistakable test Of Northern senti-
ment as that of Mr.. Seward.
In conclusion, permit me to avail myself of
this opportunity Of returning my heartfelt
thanks to the Convention for The signal honor
conferred on me at their previous meeting, in
March. l shall ever treasure it as the proudest
recollection of my life. What may vet remain
of that life shall be devoted to the effort to
prove myself worthy of the confidence of
Louisiana, and of that Democracy of which I
have ever been, in veal or in woe, in sunshine
or storm, IN urdinching, and, trust, not an
inefficient supporter.
Very faithfully and respectfully,
Your friend and servant,
JOHN SLlDELL.
GREAT Snow STORM AT SALT LAKE CRY. UrAB
TEskIroRr.-On Saturday the 9Th of May last
n CI ant