The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1860-07-13

tervene IN favor OF Slavery lp the Territories
The Convention regarded both propositions as
erroneous 10 priuciple, and adhered 10 the old
doctrine OF The party that it belonged 10 the
people 10 regulate their domestic affairs 10 their
own way, subject only 10 the Constitution Of the
United States. True, there was, 10 some ex-
teni, difference OF opinion as TO the time when
the Tighi 10 iesIslate on ne subject Of slavery
commenced Bat the Convention, by an ST.
most unanimous vote, disposed Of this subject,
by resolution declaring It the duty of all good
citizens to abide by the decisions of the Supreme
Court upon this question.
The right to hold slave property m the Ter
rltories, even against an enactment OF the Ter
rltorial Legislature, Involving as it does, case
al law, or IN equity, as weii as the constitutions
a!ity Of the supposed law, is committed by the
Constitution directly to the judiciary. Snould
the decision OF that tribunal Je in favor of the
right tN hold the slave, all the powers of the
Federal government are pledged to enforce the
Judgment. This Is substantially the doctrine of
the platform, unanimously adopted at Reading,
in March, 1860.
The second and only remaining reason given
by themselves, TO justify their secession, was
The action OF the Convention on the contested
seats. Here it will be we'll to observe
that had not the dyst secession taken place, no
such reason as the second would ever have ex-
lsted. II then the judgment of the country
should be that the adoption Of the Cincinnati
platform was no good cause of complaint
the entire responsibility for the present state OF
affairs rests with the Srcedrrs. Had they re-
NAMED in the Convention at Charieaton, there
would have been no contested seats at BatI-
more.
We have already seen that majority, or l52
delegates, constituted Quorum, aud that the
Convention was TO ludge OF the qualifications OF
its own members. From such decision there
could be 10 appeal. In our State, the Lower
House OF The Legislature, consists Of 100 men-
bers, 81 being quorum; the Senate consists OF
80 members, II being quorum. Suppose ten
seats in the House and five 10 the Senate are
contested. They are, however, aetlled-rven
efroneously II YOU please. Some law receives
26 votes in The Lower House with % against il,
and votes "a the Senate with against it, be-
ing signed by the Governor, even though ) OF
the votes in the Senate and 10 OF the 90 10
the House were members whose seats were con-
'es'ed, IT becomes as binding upOn all the citi-
zens OF the Commonwealth as though it had re-
ceived one hundred votes 10 ihs House aad SO
( IN the Senate, and no seat in either branch bad
eve: been contested. AS well might the crimi-
nal on his way TO the gaiows, or to the prison
call upon the people to assemble in town meet
Ing ioT his rescue, because the laws which tried
and condemned him, were not regularly passed
according 10 his notions Of Justice, a9 for these
gentlemen 10 say that these nominations were
not regular.
But there is no Just ground for complaint
IN Massachusetts Mr.. Halett was elected
delegate, Mr.. Chafre was elected alternate
Mr.. IL. could not go to Charleston. II. notice
Mr.. Cdad1e at his inability to attend and as
learn he tNr. H. removed with his family
from the District. The seat was contested al
! Charleston ana decided unanimously in ia?oi
f, nt hlr. Cbalee. Al Baltimore Mr.. II. appear
/ ed and claimed his seat. He was rejected. Ia
; Arkansas neither Convention was regular nor
j IN accordance with the usages OF the party
Both were admtted-the seCeders ,pith power
! 10 cast two vctes-thp new delegates 10 cast one
ne Missouri case was similar to that from
Massachusetts. Ia louisiana two Conventions
were called. The one a Convention of the
/ Peopla--tbe other the old Convention whose
J time had expired and who had no more power
/ to send delegates than any other similar number
/ OF individuals accidentally called together.
( The Eew delegates were admitted the cid
! ones were liable to the objection already stated
and also 10 the same objections hereafter gwen
! IN the Alabama case. The old Delegat es from
/ Georgia we're liable 10 the same objection. Yet
the Convention refused to admit the new dele
/ gates and actually admitted The old Delegates,
/ because a part Of the Delegates to the Georgia
/ Convention tNr +h. 4 J.
/ chosen, at first met in Convention with those
who had ssceded at Charleston. II was 5ecaas4
portion of these had seeded or boled, tha,
! lhelr representatives were rejected
! IN the State OF Alabama, the Delegation ad-
! InittrG to seats, were chosen by a Stale Con-
venlon called together by the people, "lor the
/ purpose OF appointing Delegates to the Nation
/ al Democratic Convention at Baltimore, to
/ nominate candidates who may be able 10 save
! The Government from ;he hands of those who
will not regard our constitutional rights, and
be the means Of securing the Perpstulfy Of the
| Constitution and tie Union"
The Seceders from this State, were rejected.
They were elected 10 the Richmond Conven-
/ tIon--a body hostile 10 the Democratic nartv
! and proposing to nominate their own candidates.
The meetings by which the delegates to the
State Convention which elected the Seceders
were chosen and the speeches made at those
meetings, were almost entirely OF character
hostile to the Democratic party. One oftheir
orators (and Delegatel said of the Baltimore
convention, that "the man who would Iepre-
sent Alabama in that Convention should be
branded with the brand ol Cain. Though not
murderer Of his kin, he would be murderer of
principle and Of the constitutional rights of his
section, that he would be more than the assas-
SIN who bot takes the life of a fellow man.
Others declared ''that to entertain the prop
ositIon to send delegates to Baltimore, would be-
At once IN step with co,,,,zI, -,