Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1860-07-05
BALTIMORE CONVENTION.
Report of the Minority of the Committee
ON Credentials.


The reader will learn from the following
protest of the minority of the Committee
on Credentials, the cause of the secession
and split of the Baltimore Convention
There is no doubt but the Douglas men
acted very unjustly in excluding the regu-
lar and rightful delegates from Louisiana
and Alabama, but they were compelled to
take this course to enable them to nomi-
nate Douglas.
! To tie President Of tie Democratic Nation
al Conrsntios:
Reserving to the closing portion of this
report the cases of contested seats in the
Massachusetts, and Missouri delegations. we
come at once to the cases OF the delegates
who withdrew from the Charleston Con-
vention. This Convention, on the eve of
its adjournment at Charleston, and in the
great cause of the restoration of harmony
to our distracted party, respectfully re-
commended to the Democratic party OF the
several States to make provision for sup
plying all vacancies in the respective dele
cations to this Convention when it shall
reassemble." We call particular atten-
ton to the wording Of the resolution. Ger
tain delegates had Withdrawn. They had
placed on the Convention the reasons OF
their withdrawal.
They still, however, were the represen-
tatives Of the Democratic party of their
several States. Their withdrawal was not
resignation. 1t was not so considered
hy the Convention The vacancies refer
red TO had reference to the contingency of
vacancies at tie time Of re-assemli;ng, and
the resolution proposed to provide for sup
plying them. The Convention did not
presume to touch the question as to wheth
er the withdrawal Of the delegates consti-
tuted a resignation, nor had it any right to
interfere in the matter. n resignation
must be made to the appointing power, and
to be complete and final must be accepted
by the appointing power. 1t was well
known on the adjournment OF the Conven-
tion at Charleston that the Withdrawing
delegates desired the instruction of their
several constituents before deciding on
their future course.
Such was the spirit and purpose OF their
deliberations at Charleston. They con-
suited their respective constituencies. In
every case, except the case of South Caro-
lima, their constituencies directed or aC-
thorized them-thc vacancies being filled
as contemplated by the Convention-to re-
pair to Baltimore. and there. in earnest ef-
forts with their brethren Of the Convention,
to enleavor once more to unite their party
and promote harmony and peace in the
great cause of their country. The resolu-
ton of the Convention did not PREJUDICE
the question. since so strcnously raised,
that their withdrawal was a resignation,
but left the whole question to the said del
egates and their respective constituencies,
to tie end that every State OF this Union
might be represented in Baltimore.
The committee has passed a resolution
declaring by a vote of 16 to that the del
cgaton from Louisiana headed by Pierre
Soule, by vote Of II to IL that the dele
CATION from Alabama healed by Parsons.
and by vote of 13 to 10 that half each
delegation claiming seats from Georgia are
entitled to seats in the Convention. The
resolutions recommended by the under
signed to the Convention declare the right
OF the delegations elected to Charleston,
with vacancies supplied. as contemplted in
the resolution of the Convention to which
reference has been made and accredited TO
Baltimore, to said seats. The committee
which thus recommended the irregular del
egates from these three States have reject
ed the irregular delegates from Delaware,
and admitted the Charleston delegates.
1t has admitted irregular delegates from
Arkansas. and rejected portion of the
Charleston n delegates as modified by the
filing of vacancies. 1t has admitted the
(Charlcston) delegates from Mississippi
by vote of % to 2, and the Charleston
delegates from Texas by vote of 10 to 6
The fact.that delegations arc not contest
ed does not establish the right to seats ir
the Convention. There may be irregular
, delegates without contest, and there may
be a contest between two sets of irregular
delegates. The right of persons to seats
as delegates is to be determined by tn,
j. fact as to whether they were appointed by
the constituency which they claim to rep
4 resent, and appointed according to the
usages of said constituency. Wanting
: these essential prerequisites, they are no
!, entitled to seats, even ifthere be no contest
: ants; and having these their right to seat.
. is not impaired ar affected by contestants
The Committee, in deciding by vot,
of % to 2. that the Charleston delegate
from Mississippi are entitled to seats in tn
Baltimore Convention, have decided right
ly, just because they were duly accredited
I to Charleston, have never since resigned
p and have received instructions from tn
State of Mississippi, through Convention
called of the Democratic Executive Com
mittee of tho State, to return to Baltimore
!, The Charleston delegates, both from AL
:. ALBANIA and Georgia. stand precisely in tn
+ same position. They withdrew and neve
resigned. They returned to their respectiv
constituencies. The Executive Commit
tees in these States, as in the case of Mis-
sissippi. called Convention of the party
The Conventions met. The delegates, a
in the case of Mississippi, submitted thei
action to the Convention, and these Con
5 ventions approved their course. continue
# their powers, and accredited them to Bal
timore. Their rights stand on precisel