Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-05-16
National Constitutional Union
Convention.

: I
ThesConventien met at 10 O'Clock. A. NJ.
and was called to order by the Chair. As
on Yesterday, the building was crowded, and
1.-the greatest enthusiasm prevailed A large
number of ladies filed the west gallery.
and viewed with intense interest the deiiber-
atoms of the Convention. Scattered around
| the ball was printed letter from General
Houston, dated Austin. Texas, March 25fh.
il which he declines to be the nominee of the
Charleston Convention. as also ticket head
ed Peoples Union Ticket. with the name of
Gen. Sam Houston inscribed upon il for the
Presidency, and that Of the Hon. Edward
Everett for the Vice Presidency
The Convention was opened with PRAYER
by the Rev DR.. NcCron. of This CITY. and
vas listened to with marked attention.
Mr.. John s. Littell, of Pennsylvania, rose
to q question OF privilege, He stated that
| some remarks which his colleague made yes
| terday were attributed to him. However
willIag he might be to take the credit pas
| sively Of the very excellent speech. 10 many
OF its particulars, made BY my very amable
| and estimabie colleague. am unwilling 10
be placed in the false position in which the
| reporter has placed me. While he gives me
the credit Of bis speech. he also gives me the
credit of the demonstration which was made
on the occasion of its deiivery--of the Kisses
which were general throughout the ConveB-
| ton. wish that the reporter may make the
| correction, and that be will not place me in
position so exceedingly painful to my feel
| iDgs.
REPORT OF TIE BUSINESS Committee.
| Mr.. Brooks, of New York, stated that the
Hon. Joseph L. Ingersoli, of Pennsylvania,
had been chosen Chairman of the Com
mittee on Business, and he was Informed was
now prepared to report:
Mr.. Ingersoli then rose and addressed the
Chair. as follows:
have great pleasure in communicating TO
! this large and most respectable assembly a
| report which will be very brief because the
| resolutions L have to present here are suf-
| hcientiy comprehensive to meet every pos
/ sible Ohject which We have in view. [Crics
of take the stand
Mr.. Ingersnll having assembled the plat
form, amid great applause, Proceeded as fol-
lows:
take great pleasure in communicating
the result Of the proceedings of the Commit
| tee that was appointed yesterday upon what
was called the business of the Convention.
| They met with entire cOrdiality; they pro-
ceeded with entire good feeling. and they
terminated their proceedings with great
unanimity. and | may say with patriotism.
| lApplausc.l | would not venture TO pre-
sent example at all TO great and
| highly respectable body like this the feeling
| and the courteous Experiment of the gentle
| men with whom 1 had the pleasure to sit as
Chairman last evening: but would say that
| a more entirely respectable set of men-in
manner. appearance, and in result never
| saw. (Applause-] You will fed, gentle
men, that all those who are in faTor of the
name Of this body, constitutional Union"
will not be disappointed in what your Com
mittee did last night. [Applause.]
THE PLATFORM.
WHEREAS. Experience has demonstrated
that platforms adopted by the partisan Con-
yeniions of the country have had the effect
to misIead and deceive the people, and at
the same time 10 widen the political divisions
Of the country. by the creation and encour-
agement of geographical and sectional par
ties. therefore,
R,soiUed. Thatit is both the part of patriot
ism and of duty to recognise no political
principles, other than
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE COUNTRY,
TIVE UNION OF THE STATES AND
THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAWS:
| loud and prolonged cheering1
and that, as the representatives of the Con-
stitutionsl Union men of the country in Ma
tiOnal Convention assembled, we here pledge
ourselves to maintain. protect and defend,
separately and unitedly, those great princi-
Piles of public liberty and national safety.
against all enemies, at home and abroad, be-
Iicving that thereby peace may once more be
restored to the country, the just rights of the
people, and Of the States re-establIshed. and
the Government again placed in that cOndi-
tion of justice, fraternity and equality. which.
under the example and constitution of our
fathers, has solemnly bound every citizen of
the United States to maintain "a more per-
feet union. establish justice, insure domestic
tranquility, provide for the common defense
| promote the general welfare. and secure the
/ blessings of liberty to ourselves and our pos
terity." prolonged cheering.l
have, Mr.. President. said Mr.. IngersOll
n still further report TO make, which will be
received, / am sure, with great kindness by
this convention, and perhaps, is of equal i'm
pOrtance with a view tn carry into effect the
great objects and motives that are there sug-
gested with the motives aud objects them
selves. 1t was with regard TO the mode in
which the business was TO be conducted. II
was very briefly announced, and il was re-
ceived and adopted with the same cOrdiality
aud the same unanimity which the important
measure which l have just read to you was
passed. 1t stands thIs:
Resolved That each State shall be entitled
to the same number of votes in this conven-
ton as its electoral vote, and that each dele
cation shall for itself determine in which way
its votes may lie cast.
ResoiUei, That in balloting for President
and Vice-President, ballots shall be taken
until a candidate nominated shall receive a
majority of all the votes cast; that the can
didate for President shall be ballotted for and
selected, aud then the candidate for Vice
President.
A delegate from Tennessee desired to know
if it was understood by that resolution that
the majority of the convention should con-
troll the vote of the minority!
Mr.. Brooks. of New York said that as
there appeared TO be some diversity of senti-
ment ON the question of the last resolution. he
moved that the vote be taken on the Platform
add the resolution.
The vote was put By lhe President and de-
clared unanimously adopted, amid much en-
thusiasm and applause.
Several delegates thought that the resolu-
ton was liable to be 80 construed as to allow
abe majority Of delegation to control the
minority, and declaring their opposition TO
such q course
Mr.. y. G.. PendletOn, from Ohio, could not
imagine how this resolution could admit of
double Interpretation. The only question
was, how aud in what manner the delega-
tiOns SHOULD vote: whether the States should
decide for themselves, or the Convention de-
eide for them
Mr.. WARREN. from Massachusetts,. protested
against the adoption of the resolution. II
his State had instructed him 10 cast bis bal
10, for any one lie would do 80, but he came
here untramelled, and il would not be right
TO Jet majority of the delegation rule the
minority. lie was opposed TO this resolution;
first, from principle, aud secondly, for adopt
ing policy which would be unjust TO the
minority, and be viewed as party trick.
Mr. Pearre, from Maryland, .taled that he
had, a member Of the Committee, reported
this resolution last evening to the Commit
tee. and the gentleman from Massachusetts
was mistaken If be supposed IL was party
trick.
Mr.. Warren reported that he had no such
intentions; he opposed il from principle.
Mr. Pvsrre said that then t1e only ques- |
tinn ~. .,r,n ~ .rnaIinnru The Con, Militia