Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-06-23

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remarkable fact that has been developed since the
sion of this body in distant Southern city, and refer
to for the purpose of saying word in respect TO the
Abors OF the committee credentials and the manner
in which those dbors have been performed by that
nit The report just submitted you doubtless
you all know involves new complex and unusual ques-
tons that have arisen since the session ut Charleston The
committee to whom those questions referred have
in the discharge Of their duties desired do Justice and
to discharge those duties with fidelity aud in their be-
half desire say that they have abored with indus
try that have never surpassed and rarely equaled
| A limited time allowed to your committee for Mr..
President, that you sitting here i'm
patiently. We had the conviction thrust upon that it
necessary have labors completed early
day. We come before you therefore, knowing that our
work has been but imperectly performed. If further
time had been allowed us doubtless could have
perfected IL and presented more elaborate report
These remarks, thought due to the committee
Now, Mr. President have only to say that has been
communicated to the chairman of the committee that a
portion OF that committee desired to present minority
report and in addition TO that that of the committee
desires to present another minority report and trust
opportunity will be given TO those gentlemen 10 do
MAIN MINORITY REPORT.
Mr. Stevens, Of Oregon, then and submitted the
minority report follows:
70 he President of The Democratic National Conrention
SIG-We, the undersigned members of the committee
credentials, feel constrained to dissent from many Of
the views and large portion Of the action Of the ma
jorty of the committee in respect the rights OF dele.
gates seats referred them by the conven ion and
to respectfully recommend the adoption OF the following
resolutions:
l. Resoired That B. F. Hallet il entitled to a seat in
this convention a delegate from the 9TH Congressional
District in Massachusetts,.
>. Reso,yed That johnson B. Clardy is entitled to
seat in this convention as delegate from the Sth Con-
gressioral District of the State of Missouri.
3. Resolccd That James A, Bayard and w. G. White
y entitled to seats in this Convention delegates
from the State of Delaware
4 Reso'red, That the delegation headed by r. w.
Johnson entitled delegates in this Conven-
liou from the State Of Arkansas.
8. Resoloed Tina, the delegation Of which Guy NJ. Bry
i chairman entitled to seats delegates in this
Convention from the State of Texas.
&. Resolved That the delegation Of which John Tare-
ton is chairman entitled seats ia this Convention
as delegates from the State of Louisiana.
Z. Reso'Ced That the delegation of which L. P. Wal
ker is chairman entitled to seats in this Convention
| from the State Of Alabama
S. Re'oired That the delegation of which Henry l..
Denham l. chairman entitled 10 seats in this Conyen-
! ton from the State OF Georgia.
9. Resoirsi That the delegation from the State Of
Florida accredited to the Charleston Convention
entitled axe in this Convention and cast the
vote Of Florida
The principles involved in these resolutions and the
facts which they rest Of such gravity and moment
that deem il due 10 the Convention aud ourselves
to them forth with and Particularly. We differ
radically from the majority Of the Committee both in
much OF the action We recommend 10 the Convention
and the principles which should control such action. It
is question simply of the integrity but the existence
of the Democratic party several States of this Union
| 1t is question whether the Democratic party in said
States shall be obsracsed and branded unworthy of
aRiiaton with the national organization
II is question whether persons rreguarly called
withdrawing from the regular Convention shall have the
! If q
rebellion against their respective State organizations. 1t
is question whether the convention itself shall repudate
its own deliberate action at Charleston. We do not
magnify the importance of these questions when
sert that upon their proper solution depends the fact
to whether there shall be National Democratic party
or not The task will not be difficult to show that the
action recommended by the majority of the Committee
grossly inconsistent, and should be rcprobated and
condemned by this convention But TO the task without
| further preamble.
Reservng to the closing portion Of this report the
cases of contested in the Massachusetts, and Mssou
ri delegations at once to the Of the dele
gates who withdrew from the Charleston Convention
This Convention, on the OF its adjournment at
Charleston and in the great Of the restoration of
harmony to distracted party, respectfully recon-
menied to the Democratic party OF the several States
make provision for supplying all vacancies in their
spective delegations to this Convention when it shall
assemble" We call particular attention to the wording
of the resolution Certain delegates had Withdrawn
withdrawal.
They still, however, were the representatives Of the
Democratic party of their several States Their with
drawa not resignation. 1t not considered
by the Convention The vacancies referred to had
ference to the contingency of vacancies at tie time of
re-dsmJlg and the resolution proposed to provide for
supplying tn, m. The Convention did not presume TO
touch the question to whether the withdrawal of the
delegates constituted resignation had it any right
to interfere in the matter resignation must be made
to the appointing power, and to be comp lee and final
must be accepted by the appointing power. It well
known the adjournment OF the Convention at Charles
that the Withdrawing delegates desired the instruc
of their several constituencies before deciding
| their future course.
Such was the spirit aud purpose OF their deliberations
at Charleston. They consulted their respective const
tuerces In every case except the of South Caro-
lima their constituencies directed authorized them
the vacancies being filed contemplated in the resolu
ton of the Convention-to repair to Baltimore and
there in earnest effort with their brethren of the C0nvcu
tiOu TO endeavor to unite their party and
promote harmony and peace in the great of their
country The resolution Of the Convention did not pre-
Judge the question srenuOuy raised that their
withdrawal a resignation but left the whole ques
ion to the said delegates and their respective consu
ences to the end that every State of this Union might
be represented in Baltimore.
The Committee has passed resolutions declaring by
vote of l6 TO that the delegation from louisiana head
ed by Pierre Soule by vote of If to that the dele
CATION from Alabama, headed by Parsons and by vote
Of l3 to To- that half OF each delegation claiming
from Georgia. are entitled to seats in the Convention
The resolutions recommended by the undersigned the
Convention declare the right of the delegations elected
Charleston, with vacancies supplied contemplated
in the resolution of the Convention TO which reference
has been made aud accredited Baltimore said
The Committee which thus recommended the irregu lar
delegates from these three States have rejected the r
regular delegates from Delaware, and admitted the
Charleston delegates.
1t has admitted irregular ega.esifrom Arkansas and
rejected portion of tue Charleston delegates mod
fed by the filing of vacances 1t has admitted the
Charleston) delegates from Mississippi by of %
. aud the charleston delegates from Texas by Of
10 to G. The fact that delegations contested does
establish the right seats in the convention There
may be irregular delegates without contest aud there may
be contest between two sets of irregular delegates The
right of persons to seats delegates to be determined
by the fact whether they appointed by the
stituency which they claim represent and appointed
cordng the usages Of said constituency. Wanting these
essential prerequisites they not entitled to Seats
if there be contestants and having these their right
seats is not impaired affected by contestants.
The COMMITTEE in deciding by vote Of % to q that
the Charleston delegates from Mississippi entitled to
seats in the Baltimore convention have decided rightly
since resigned and have received instructions from
the State of Mississippi through convention called Of the
Democratic Executive Committee OF the State, to return
Baltimore.
The Charleston delegates, both from Alabama and
Georgia, stand in precisely the same position. They
were also duly accredited TO Charleston, They with