Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-04-29

N y I
gates and that the seventy Delegates thus selected
be admitted to this Convention as Delegates from
the New York Democracy, and that they be allowed |
two hours to report their selection The two Dele
cations vote separately, each to be entitled 10
seventeen votes the remaining vote to be cast altef
nateIv by the two DelegatiOns-the sitting members
TO cast it the first time.
Notag-eed to-yeas 55, nays llO9.
Mr. BROOKS moved the adoption Of the minority
resolution. -
Mr.. LAWRENCE. of Louisiana, and Mr. FISHER,
of Virginia, seconded the motion.
The PRESIDENT, The report IS accepted by the
Convention, but the question before the Convention
is on the adoption Of the resolutions accompanying
the majority report The resolutions presented by
the minority can only be entertained as an amend
ment
Mr.. BROOKS Then 1 offer it as an amendment
to the last resolution of the majority.
The PRESIDENT That will be in order.
Mr.. BROOKS. The Committee Of which he
was a member had devoted much time to the exam
nation of the question of the New York contested
Delegation but had not had sufficient time to exam
inc the of testimony so thoroughly as the I'M
portance of the question demanded. Enough was,
however disclosed to present one OF the most hu-
initiating cases it had ever been his misfortune TO
investigate If they were to take the mass OF eVI-
dence before them, they would find that every tact
on both sides was apparently substantated by the
most mdIsputable testimony. The athdaylts ana
counter-afidavits made, it is alleged, by the most
respectable citizens of New York; present most
bumiliating spectacle. He felt humbed, as 4 mem
Der of the Democratic Convention and as a citizen
Of the Republic, at the evidences Of corruption on
one side and corruption on the other side, presented
by these conflicting afidavits.
He hoped that New York would never again ap-
pear before National Convention in so dsgraceful
an attitude. He would state, before commencing
upou the testimony, that whatever was proven on
one side by atfdavits disproven on the other by
affdavits also. 1t appeared that in the New York
State Convention, held at Syracuse on the 18th OF
September, 1859, the seats OF the New York Dele
gallon were contested. There We're no contested
seats out of the CITY of New York but the City, en-
titled to Il Delegates sent 81 to the Convention one
set headed by Fernando Wood, and the other by
Peter Cagger. At the hour Of L, at which the
Convention was called, or one minute alter, reg1-
lar Delegate temporarily organized the convention
bv nominating Mr.. AlvOrd for chairman Mr.. AlVOfu
took the chair and the Convention proceeded to
business That Convention was regularly organized
What was the evidence Of this? \ regular Dele
gate made the motion. \ Secretary was appointed
I The very Delegates who afterwards left the hau
and organized another COnvention-some OF them
here among the sitting Delegation and
( addressed the Convention. One OF those VINO dd
so was gentleman of elOquence and ability, VINO Is
now present-Mr. John Cochrane He recognized
the Convention in the fullest extent and according
to every parliamentary rule
/ Mr.. COCHRANE VIII the gentleman allow me to
/ correct a statement?
A DELEGATE [ rise to point Of order. The gen
tleman from New York Is on trial and has no right
/ to interpOse.
/ The PRESIDENT Does the gentleman from Ala
/ hanna Weld the floor The Char reminds the gen
tleman that the House Is under the operation VI the
/ fifteen minute rule. but if he chooses to yield
/ any norton of that time to the gentleman from
] New York the Chair will voluntarily recognize
! the gentleman. He said reluctantly, because
/ he knew that in the House Of Representatives
! the great source Of confusion was this constant
Interruptions of speakers, for questions ana cor
/ rectiOns
/ Mr. BROOKS was not aware Of the passage Of
/ the fifteen minute rule. He declined TO yield the
floor He held IN his hand the official record OF the
proceedings of the State Convention; and the gen
/ tleman from New York had admitted before the
committee that he had addressed and recognized the
J Chairman of the Wood Convention. He stated this
/ on the honor of man, and was prepared to mann
tain it to the fullest extent. At certain time when
] a motion was about to be made, Mr.. Caggef appear
ed upon the platform and nominated Mr. Stry ker Tor
/ temporary Chairman and he took seat beside the
regular Chairman. He was shortly afterwards
thrown from the platform and then ensued scene OF
confusion it was difficult to describe, and which was
a disgrace TO the State.
The Convention shortly after separated, Mr. Coch-
rane carrying off with him about 40 out OF l2e
members Some 20 remained in what was called
the Wood Convention, and transacted business up to
one or two O'Clock and then adjourned. When they
returned they found the doors closed against them
They then repaired TO another place, NOorhe 5
Hal and the record shows that ~ we're present, OU
of whom were regular delegates. The Convention
proceeded with the transaction of its business ana
adjourned that night On the next day all the reg
Mar delegates. except two, repaired to the OJhef
Convention and participated in Its deliberations.
So they took two chances-In the words OF one OF
the contestants they resolved to make good their
chances whichever side turned up Jack lLauG II
teri m
Wood Convention was Organized-it went on and
closed its proceedings with majority OF the dele
gates But the other side tell you this Is not So and
ii YOU refer to the affdavits they prove the case
Just as clearly on the other side
Amidst this conflict of opinion, what could they
doy In his Judgment there was but two things L
do-to turn them ali out, or to let them all H. II
had been admitted by one Of the parties that you
could not rely upon the testimony, lot Ihat you
could prove ANYTHING in New Ork, and he tod me
Convention in this case they had done It, In refer
ence to points about which there was no chance OF
being mistaken, the proof was conclusive DoII
WAYS Ii is said the atiidavits are all made by
reputable men 1t might be said that the grea
State of New York should not be entirely de
prived of representation here. Then let her Be
represented by delegates Of both parties, and thus
unite the now conflicting interests of the state De
Democracy.
report would be adopted. The minority report
was signed by six members Of the committee
only. Without gong into an argument, MS mo
ton would be for the adoption OF the majority
resolutions.
Mr. NcCOOK said when he was on the floor
he moved the adoption of the resolutions accom-
panving the majority report, and was about &c
move the previous question when he had given way
to the chair, for the purpose Of allowing tht
report of the minority to be read. he now asked
for a division Of the question on his former notion
! and also called for tie previous question:
| Mr. WHITLEY, of Delaware, asked that the pre-
vious question might be Withdrawn.
Mr. NcCOOK. OF Ohio. II the gentleman Will re
.H1..
Mr. WHITLEY. l ask that the majority Of tbs
| committee NAV have an opportunity to be heard.
Nm. BARRY, of Mississippi. | ask if the gentle
man from Delaware is entitled to the iloor
The PRESIDENT. He is not. The gentleman
from Ohio has called for the previous question anC
| | the chair does not understand him to have with
Drawn IT. The chair permitted the gentleman iron
Delaware to make Il request OF the gentleman IRON
: Ohio. III, ......-
~ tho action of the Cincinnati Convention on sim
liar case TO this and he made the point OF order Una
| tbo 11inoritv report took the shape OF an amend
ment and was first in order
THE PRESIDENT. The question OF orler RAISED
by the gentleman from ONO need nor DC nv
the chair as it is not before the convention lH'
? oenheman from Missouri presented the report O
tho p,iorit and after it had been read yielded llt
floor The gentleman from Ohio moved Ihe auop
ton OF the resolutions accompanying 'he Il'Jot =,
report After that, by consent OF the COW eHtIUH
= gentleman from Alabama then moved the auuPaUi
=, Of the minority resolution as an amendment % In
resolution of the majority. This disemOarTasse
the of the point raised by the gentleman IRON
p Delaware. (NrSaulsbury) and viii bring the nous
S first to a vote the minority resolution IN 'h'
Il shape Of an amendment.
l. Mr.. WHITLEY, of Delaware AGAIN appealed q
IS the gentleman from Ohio (Alr MeCook) to withdraw
S the call for the previous question.
Mr. PERRY, Of South Carolina, stated that It ha'
boon agreed committee rvayiOus Question
4 should not be moved in the convention
Mr. McCOOh If the gentleman from Delaware
L CIR. Whitley will agree to renew the previou
question before yielding the floor. 1 will withdraw
]. the call, but not otherwise.
Mr.. WHITLEY. Twill dose although against m,
own desire
Il Mr. LAWRENCE rose to point Of order. H
Z, desired to know if the reports had yet been &C
5, cepted