Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-09-07
The Belleverest State Comven.
tiOn.
Iowa Cry. Sen. l. 1860.

The Belleverett State Cenven.
ton.
Iowa CRY, Sep. l, 1860.
We have had Bell and Everett Oonven-
ton here. It convened in the ate moon of
Friday, the s1st August and was composed
Of about fifty delegates, forty of whom were
from Muscatine and Davenport, about five
from johnson county, and the balance from
other places in the State. They were very
oiss old men, and the result of their deliber-
atoms has quieted our fears for the safety of
our country. Be assured the nation is no
longer in any danger.
The Convention assembled in Market Hall.
in this city, the delegates all looking very
grave and solemn, feeling, no doubt, the tre-
menduous responsibility resting upon them
and after exchanging grips giving pass-,oords
and signs, they organized temporarily by the
appointment OF Gen. Morris, of johnson,
President, and then afterwards permanently
BY the election of Eb. Cook, of Davenport,
who duly acknowledged the compliment:
After duly considering their brilliant Aopes
for success in Iowa, they resolved to nomi-
nate an Electoral ticket, and did nominate
for Electors at large Col. W. q. Henderson
and Judge Nc. Henry District electors, 1st
district, O. W. Boyers, I'd district, J. J.
Lindley, Assistants, 1st district, J. O. Slavery
I'd district, Capt. Wallace.
They then resolved
That all other political parties were cor.
rupt, and they were pure.
That other parties were section al, and
they were national.
That other parties were iliberal and fan.
atioal, but they were generous and oonsery.
alive.
That other parties were growing sp,all,
while they were becoming great.
That other parties were disunionists. that
they were the very salt of the earth, and
would save this glorious Union
Now this is all very good. 1t is refreshing
in dry place to hear such patriotic senti.
| WenlS announced.
They forgot, however, to say anything
about the Pope, or the Catholics or .,oreiqn.
ers, or Sam. 1t may be thoy wanted TO,
time, or reserved the consideration of these
important subjects for more coavenien,
season, when they met with lanterns.
1t was resolved inexpedient to put in
nomination State ticket. The Convention
then adjourned till evening, when speeches
would be made.
Evening came, and with it the speakers
and very clever.sizsd audience. 1t was
indeed, a Union meeting - Republicans
Democrats of all stripes, and Bell-Everet,
men. The best of feeling was manifest.
The first speaker was Dr.. J. F. Henry, o.
Burlington, Iowa, native Kentuckian,-s
very genteel old man. He was good or
Scripture, severe on Republicans and Brock.
inridgers, and kind to the Little Giant.
lie defined in his speech "what is law" il
a way that made the young disciples O
Blackstone laugh at the muddy definition
found in the commentaries of that Anticipated
old gentleman. He elaborated the Oonstitu
ton Of the United States to prove that by i
man could hold man as property! lie alst
showed up the folly OF Dan. Webster ant
Henry Clay, for supposing that New Mexico
Kansas, &C., had no power to annul tn,
laws of nature and natures God
The next speaker was a Mr.. Worthington
of Keokuk, also native of Kentucky. Thi
young gentleman will be fine orator wher
he shall have learned not to fly higher thai
he can light with safety. lie, too, was hare
on the Republicans and Breckiuridgers, bu
was very amiable to Douglas. lie said Their,
was no difference between the Union party
and Douglas or, if any, it was very slight
that Douglas held that Congress had n,
power to legislate on Slavery and he hell
they had the power but it was inexpeden
to exercise it.
j The last speaker was Judge Nc. Henry
also native OF Kentucky. The Judge is {
oool-headed old gentleman, talks very well
and is evidently very we'll satisfied with
himself. think the Judge has some private
griefs, that, "like the worm in the bud, ''have
done some mischief. He feels be is not duly
appreciated.
His speech was an effort to prove Lincoln
to be man Of little mental power and les.
intelligence. He took the Cooper Institute
speech as the evidence of it. He read good
part Of this speech, interpreting it will,
criticisms until he emptied the room of hear.
ers, who agreed in one thing, at least, that
the learned Judge knew how to dispense an
assembly-that in this he was equal to 'the
riot act.''
And thus ended this grand convocation.
hope it was satisfactory to the gentlemen
concerned n it. To outsiders it Was a farce
harmless, to besure, but ridiculous farce.
If they had been an assembly of children
''put to play men," it would not have excl
ted our surprise, but to see those nice old
folk, men of mature years, assembled thus
in grave counsel making vigorous effort to
deceive themselves, il not to deceive others,
is, to say the least, funny spectacle. 1t has
| been said that with the talents of an angel
a man may be fool" If any confederation
OF the sentiment was needed, we have it in
the movements OF this Bell-Everett party.
Yours, &C., /.
Nor VERY PLEASANT COUNTRY TO LIVE
ma correspondent Of the Mt. Vernon
Nesos, writing from Tarrant, Texas, under