Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-06-23
Reports from the Committee on Credentials

In the Baltimore Democratic Convention,
on Thursday, the Committee on Credentials
made the following report:
MAJORITY REPoRT-Mr Crum, of Mis-
souri,, the Chairman of the Committee on
Credentials, announced that they were read y
to report, and presented report from the
majority Of that Committee
This report, which is a long document, was
then read. 1t opens by reference to the
adjournment ut Charleston and the meeting
at Baltimore, and reviews the lahors imposed
on the committee by the disputes of claim
ants, detailing particulars on the part of seve-
raj of the States. 1t closes with resolu-
ton providing for the admission Of delegates
as follows:
Mr. Chatfee Of Massachusetts, in place Of
Mr.. liallet, on the ground that the former,
having gone rs a substitute TO Charleston,
had an absolute right to the seat.
Georga--Half Of each delegation.
Mississippi-Old delegation.
Louisiana-New delegation.
Arkunsas-lIal of each delegation.
Texas--Old delegation.
Delaware-Old delegation.
Alabama-New delegation.
No application was made for admittance
on the part of South Carolina or Florida.
| 1t is understood that this ma Iority report
was adopted in committee by Il vote Of SIX
teen to nine.
Mr.. Crum the Chairman Of the Commit
tee, after the reading of the report, took the
floor in favor Of its adoption. urging that it
only provided for settling the intricate ques-
=: IL -, ,,,.,r of
fairness and justice to all, and in accordance
with party usage.
MINORITY REPORT Mr. Stevens, Of Ore
gon, on the part Of the minority OF the COM
mittee on credentials, submitted Il report,
with resolutions annexed, in favor Of the
admission of all the old delegations from the
seeding States.
Mr.. Stevens then took the floor and read
Il long address on the part OF the minority,
setting forth that the success of the Demo
cratic party now depended upon the action
Of the Convention upon the reports submit
ted 1t was for the Convention to decide
whether they should continue the Democrat
ic party as national party, or whether they
would endorse the act of irregular and ille-
Ultimate bodies on personal grounds, III rails
ing the flag of rebellion against the regular
State organizations OF the Democratic party
The address proceeded to show that the only
delegates claiming seats from the seeding
States, under the legitimate action OF the
party organizations in those States, were
those who had held seats at Charleston. In
the case of the seeding States, the Charles
ton delegates had appealed to their consti-
tuencies, through the regular organized and
usual party means, and in every case, save
South Carolina, they were triuluphantly vim
dicatcd and endorsed in leaving the Conyen-
ton ut Charleston, and were re-commiSsion-
ed to the Convention here.
The report maintains tina. this Convention
has not the power to receive the resi- gnatlons
of the seeding delegates, even if they had
been submitted at Charleston, and that the
members who had retired from their seats
in the Convention, had the power to resume
them at their will. 1t sets forth that the old
delegations represented the entire Democracy
Of their several States, while those claiming
their seats, are here representing only, III
many cases, irresponsible mass meetings, at
tended by few ambitious disorganizcrs, and
in others, sparsely attended conventions,
brought together by the exertions of little
factions OF hungry onice-seckers.
The minority report is signed by the
members of the committee from Oregon, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia,
North Carolina, Tennessee. kentucky, and
California;: and Mr.. Stevens stated that the
member of the committee from New Hamp-
shire also approved Of the main features Of
the report.
Mr. Cuttings, of Maryland, made a report
in behalf of himself, us IL member of the com
mittcc on credentials, with Il resolution to
adopt portions Of each Of the majority and
minority reports.