Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-05-09
Ihs Standard.
CHARLESTON CONVENTION.

r...,5 CHARLESTON, CONVENTION.
FIFTH DAY.
The President called the Convention to order at
10 o'clock. Prayer by Rev. Dr. L. S. Smyth.
The committee moved for by Mr.. Pugh, on We'd
sesday relative to the appointment and rules of the
National Democratic Committee, was announced =
One from. each State. Samuel largrave represented
North Carolina.
A number of resolutions were offered and referred
without reading.
THE PLATFORM.
W. w. Avery, of North. Carolina; as chairman Of
the Committee on a Platform, reported as follows:
Mr.. President and Gentlemen of the Conven-
toni am instructed by the Committee on Resolu-
tons to present to the Convention the Platform or
Resolutions which they have adopted. l am fur
Their instructed to say that entire unanmity did not
prevail as to several of the resolutions; to the
three resolutions making reference to slavery in the
Territories and the duty Of the General Government
to protect the rights Of persons and property, adopt
ed by the majority of the committee. The second
resolution, in reference to the Fugitive Slave Law
and the fourth resolution in regard to our foreign
born citizens, were unanimously adopted. The fifth
resolution, in relation to the acquisition OF CUBA,
was adopted without division. The last resolu-
ton of the series, in regard to the Pacific Railroad
was adopted by majority. Having made this state
ment, will now proceed to read the resolutions
Resol:ed, That the Platform adopted at Cincin-
natl be affirmed, with the following resolutions:
j. Resolued, That the Democracy of the United
States hold these cardinal principles on the subject
of slavery in the Territories; First That Congress
has no power to abolish slavery in the Territories
Second, That the Territorial Legislature has no
power to abolish slavery IN any Territory, nor to
prohibit the introduction Of slaves therein, nor any
power to exclude slavery therefrom, nor any power
to destroy or impair the right of property in slaves
by any legislation whatever.
g. Resolred, That the enactments Of State Legs
latures to defeat the faithful execution OF the Fugl
tive Slave Law are hostile in character, subver
of the Constitution and revolutionary in their effect
= 8. Resolred, That it is the duty of the Federal
Government to protect, when necessary the rights
of persons and property on the high seas, in the
Territories wherever else its constitutional au-
thority extends.
4. ResolreG, That the Democracy of the nation
recognize itas the imperative duty of this Govern
ment to protect the naturalized citizen in all his
rights, whether at home or in foreign lands, to the
same extent as its native-bcrn citizens.
s. RESOLVED, That the National Democracy ear
nestly recommend the acquisition of the Island of
Cuba at the earliest practicable period
Whereas That one of the greatest necessities of
the age, in political, commercial postal and mill
tween the Pacific and Atlantic coasts therefore, be
Resolred, That the National Democratic party do
hereby pledge themselves to use every means in
their power to secure the passage of some Bill for
the construction of Pacific Railroad, from the Mis-
sssippi River to the Pacific Ocean, at the earliest
practicable moment
The latter clause of the first resolution was re-
ccived with applause in the galleries.
Nix. AVERY. | desire, upon introducing this re-
port into the Convention, to address them briefly
upon the questions involved And if be in order
now, in addressing myself upon the main questions
involved in that report shall proceed, as briefly as
l can to present the views which have acted upon
the majority Of the committee in inducing them to
consent to the report which have now submitted.
There will be minority report, and as may de-
sire to address myself to the subject of that report
it will be agreeable to to have that report read
for information, that it will be in order for me to
make reference to it in the remarks shall submit
Mr.. Payne, of Ohio. With the permission of our
honorable Chairman, desire to preface the presen-
tation Of the minority report with few words of
explanation, that the Convention may understand
the issues between the majority and minority of the
Committee. The majority report is presented in
the name of seventeen States, including fifteen slave
holding States, with California and Oregon. The
minority report, including that of my friend from
Massachusetts, (Mr. Butler) represents fifteen non.
saveholdng States, which have an electoral vote of
l76 votes against 1877 electoral votes represented by
the vote Of the majority.
Mr.. johnson, Of Maryland. I wish to ask the
gentleman question for information. Will he in
form me how many Democratic electoral votes are
represented by the report Of the majority, and how
many by the report of the minority? (Applause
and laughter.)
Mr. Payne. should be very glad to answer the
question of my friend, though am afraid could
not include the State Of Maryland, which nv friend
represents. (Renewed applause and laughter.)
Mr.. johnson. will say to my friend from Ohio,
that under almost any conceivable circumstances,
Maryland will acknowledge her rights as Southern
State and will vote with the people of the South.
A Ep pss1. .,.. ,,-......,
the name OF the delegates representing all the re-
naming States on the committee, except Massachu-
sets, as follows:
!. Resotred, That we, the Democracy of the
Union, in Convention assembled, hereby declare our
alnrinance OF the resolutions unanimously adopted
and declared as Platform of Principles by the
Democratic Convention at Cincinnati, in the wear
1896, believing that Democratic principles are un
changeable in their nature, when applied to the
same subject matters; and we recommend as the
only further resolutions the following:
q hesotred, That all questions in regard to the
A'6"'" VI PoPeiCy III OtateS or Territories, arising
under the Constitution of the United States, are iu
dic'a in their character; and the Democratic party
is pledged to abide by and faithfully carry out such
determination Of these questions as has been or
may De made by the Supreme Court of the United
States
9. Resolred, That it is the duty of the United
States to afford ample and complete protection to all
Its citizens whether at home or abroad and whether
native or foreign born.
4. .Resolred, That one of the necessities Of the
age, in military, commercial, and postal point of
view, speedy communication between the Allan.
tic and Pacific States; and the Democratic marty
pledge such constitutional Government aid as will
insure the construction Of railroad to the Pacific
coast at the earliest practicable period.
o.. Resotued That the Democratic marty are in
hvor Of the acquisition of the Island of Cuba on
just to Spain. ''''' "'0
6. ResoIred, That the enactments of State Leo;s
iatures to defeat the faithful execution Of the Fno
tive Slave Law, hostile in character subversiy.
OF the Constitution and revolutionary in their effect
ms report was offered as an amendment to tn,
majority report -. " 'N'
Mr. Butler, Of Mass now present the fol1ow;n,
resolutions as an amendment to the Amendments os