The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1860-05-08
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SOUTHERN DE1IOcE cEATHC CON-
vENTEH8.
A[oSiAY. April so, 1850.

MoNIAY, April 30, lSGo.
4 large coucoursc of delegates and citizens
assembled at ST. Andrews Hall, this evening
At s o'clock Hon. H. j. Smith, Of Alabama,
called tic meeting to order.
Mr.. Yanccv. of Alabama, remarked that this
was grave and important crisis, not only III
the history Of the South put oil thewhcle coan-
try; and it should be ilaugnratcd with that
dignity and with that moderation which ought
to attend so great movement. Lie suggested,
therefore, that those who; were not delegates or
altcrnates to the National Democratic Conven-
ton should retire from the HaII until the Con-
ton conld organize.
The meeting thcrcupon gave three cheers
for Mr. Yanccy, and generally retired from the
Hall, with the exception ot the delegates pre-
scEt
Mr.. Yanccy moved that Senator Dayard, Of
Delaware, be called to thf CHAIR as temporary
President
Mr.. Dayard excused hi inself on the ground
of physical inability.
Mr.. Yanccy then moved that Col. John >
Preston, of South Caroliua, be elected temporal.
~ President.
The motion was agrc"gl to, ana Co: Preston
nrocected TO call the CONVENTION t0 order.
On motion, Gov. LuI I'bock, OF Texas, was
elected temporary Sccrctfry'
The President pro tenn. then addressed the
Convention us follows:
GENTLEMEN The call fon have gwen me 10
preside over your deliberations in the Temporal
~ organization, was so uHcypcctcd that can
hardly find words to express to You the
sensations have in taking the Chalrto preside
over this meeting. | certainly should ho'
accept the position YOU have assigned me
were it not for the faqt that, III GoiAg so:
occuny a mere sinccure that it is only for the
| rulGmcnt of the formS necessary to effect :;
ncrnouent organization of the meetng-a
meeting Of patriots, engaged, IN my judgment
in the grayest mission tii:st has been presented
to our people since the existence oi tins ltepub
lie. (Applausc.)
We come here TONIGHT. gentlemen, not as
soctiouasts-uot rs nartlizalis-but We come
here as the representative OF the Constitution
lovers Of this Republic. We own here, and
know no latitudc--uo longitude. We kno"
10 East, no North, no Wfst; we only know TIC
ilnpcrllcd institutions Of bur country under 1t:
constituted form. (Appl husc.
Gentlemen, it is :. stlangc Spectacle, this
We came here to Charlc+ +ton believing, and Il:
think, truly believing, FLAT the Democratic
party OF the Union ha1b { one avocat'"n here
that its sole hlc-riying el ment was the prolcc
tiou Of our constitutional rights. and the re
I,dress ofour grievances urd dIertIc Constitution
,rot if Won take away tlraE from it, it has nc
oth>r Lc;no no other puIpose, 10 other attri
brto-:rbat it. has no other name than tina
which ca,ce of this sae.$,d purpose. That il
the purpose Tor winch wei came here; that tht
nurn,se in my conceptioE for which the De
lnocratic party came h,E Ee.
The Black republican cohorts stand alone
upor the avowed purpd se Of destroying th'
equality of the States, an| \ the rights o: equa
Safes. The DemocralicI party-and that i
proved bv our being tr,rcE o-night-exst aon
for the purpose of prcscd dsing our rights ant
redressing cur wrongs.
They have failed in i at purpose; they hav
failed in the mission or (which depended en-
tire!y the integrity OF hV party, and, as som
of us believe, will dcpc'dS the existence OF thi
Republic.
Such then rsntlemen.1 is the reason Of on
mcctinr here TONIGHT ks said, it is gray
purpose, it is a very solcapn purpose; feel
7rcs.inr uron nv heart Ind upon my brain