Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-03-29
1rmutrat aud 9ews.
THURSDAY MARCH 20, 1867


The Council buns DUyfc OF last
sock contains lengthy and ably writ
%, review Of the proceedings Of the late
Democratic State Convention. The
article alluded to is from the pen Of that
noble Democrat, lioa. \. II. Palmer,
who wa- a delegate from Pottawottamie
comfy 10 thc State Convention. lie,
Ike every true and sound National Dem
ocrat, vino loves principles better than
men, who are ever identified with the
best interests Of the country, fearlessiy
denoances the action oil that toIy as we
have done. after reviewing the action Of
the Convention with regard to its pro
tossed endorsement Of the Cincinnati
Platform, subject, however, TO Mr.. Doug
las INTERPRETATION, and ON accordance
,cith the opinions Of Step hen Il. Doug-
las,'' very pcrtinently asks, "ohould Mr.
Douglas not receive The nomination at
Charleston, which is at least within the
scope Of possibility, in what position
would the Democracy of Iowa find them
selves. under this action OF their Conven-
ton - We leave those gentlemen tc
whom the question comes home with
nocul;ar force 70 answer il themselves.
The position would, to say the least, be
far from pleasant.
The writer consilcrs this attempt ito
narrow down the standard Of Democra-
cy to the opinions OF an indivldual'
whatever he may be, or however potent
his NAME as ''simply an absurdty, and
as suicidal as absurd "Men change
PRINCIPLES necer;," hence, "PRlNcIPLEs,
nat man, is the motto Of the Demo
cratic party.
The balance of Mr.. PaImcr's remarks
we publish in full, that our readers may
see and read the opinion OF delegate
to that Convention, of its action:
When it ia further considered that a siren
nous effort was made to put down resolution
pledging the Democracy of this State to q
INIT cd support Of the candidate to be nomina
ted aud the platform to be adopted by the
Charleston Convention, upon the stale pretext
AS false and grouni-ss Is it was transparent
that possibly plank might there be Insert
ed in favor Of re opening the African slave
trade. it will not be wondered at that life-lou G
Il, thair abo
principe5 IN Iowa FRI III before the foundation
Of her government, should feel somewhat out
of place in that Convention, whore the supper,
of a Democratic Administration was REGARDED
n. crime OF such enormity as to exclude
them both from the organization and the com
mttees, especially the Committee on Resol~
tionS.
This prescription was the more marked
from the fact that opposition to Democratic
Administration was an essential recommends
ton to confidence or favor with those whose
counsels rule the hour; ins0much that he
who could show the longest record OF tina,
character, in bitter and unrelenting opposition
to t,oo democratic Administrations consecutive
ly, was honoreG with peculiar marks of dis
tincton as leader.
After what have here said, it will doubt
less surprise your readers, asit did me, to leari
that the resolutions presented by the Commit
tee are reported by Democratic papers as hav
inc been unanimously adopted, and consequent
lv that |, in common with all other delegates
voted for all Of them. The Dubuque Herald
Of the 4th inst, in speaking OF WIN. H. Mer
rift as author OF said resolutions, makes tn
folio wing statement:
I've would say further that Mr.. Merritt
was not only chairman of the committee, bu
that the resolutions reported and which wer
unanin, ,,4siy adopted bu the Convention, wer
almost precisely drawn by him.
AZ the editor of that paper was Secretary o
the Conv enlion, he could not but know tina
the above statement contained, IN tho word
italicised 10y himself, palpaJle and gross mis-
reprea ntaion-to use the mldest terms re
CURED by personal courtesy. In the common
acceptation unanimous vote implies the vot'
of all the members of an assembly for Of
against proposition; or if by license. a vote
may be said to be unanimous when but por
ton, large or small, Of the members vote, il
must be an ascertained and established fact thai
all who do not vote concur with those who do
Websters definition of "unanimous" is being
of one mind-agreeing IN opinion etc; "unan
iWously, Nth entire agreement Of minds"
Upon the adoption OF that Committees re
port, it is quite safe to say that not more than
haJ Of the delegates, and think less than half
voted aye" though l will not deny that q
larger number would probably have voted &C
upon division. While 1t is true that those
opposed to the report "as originally drawn
did not vote on the proposition, it was vel
known to every man present that there was ne
such 'entre agreement of minds" in favor o
the resolutions ne to warrant the Secretary II
reporting that they were Unanimously adopt
ed On the contrary, it was well known that
large number of delegates present would have
voted against two of the resolutions, but for
being convinced that they were in the minor
ty, and not being disposed to enter into a use
less controversy. They would cheerfuly have
supported part OF the resolutions, could they
have done 80 without voting for all of them
1t Is certain that over q hundred delegates, j
not majority, would have voted to strike out
the qualifying clause In the second resolution
which have noticed before, had the PROPOSE
tlon been made, it'll fair char &c for discus
SION. Common courtesy and Democratic usage
required that an opportunity should be giver
to those differing with the Committee, howev
er much in the minority, to be heard ant
placed fairly upon the record. That they die
not there assert this right, was owing partly I.
tho commendable (N zeal and remarkable dis
patch OF the presiding officers, in putting tn
report through in about fifteen seconds from tn
reading.
A note is also made in the Cincinnati En-
q"srer, Of the entire harmony" of this con
vention, adding: at no previous one has Their
been such unanimity Such representation
may suit the purpose of partisan presses m,
cor espondents; but had they said that neve
in a Democratic convention was 30 little re
spect shown to the views, feelings and rights .
minority.-that never in the history Of th
party was such rank intolerance and proscrir