Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1860-05-12

PRESIDENT or THE CONVENTION Charleston
Convention elected an able presiding officer Hon.
Caleb Cushing Of Massachusetts. He delivered the
following on taking the chair after the cheering had
subsidized:
Gentlemen of the Convention respectfully ten
der ~ you my most earnest expression Of profound
gratitude for the honor which you have this day
done me. in appointing me to preside over your de-
IberaiiOnS. II is, however, responsible duty i'm
posed much more than a high honor conferred. In
the dlsCharging 81 that duty in the direction 0 bus
ness and Of debate, and on the preservation Of
der it shall be my constant endeavOr faithfully and
mpArually to- oiiiciate here as your minister. and
not hunblv to- reflect YOUR will In great deliber.
alive assembly like this, IL is not the presiding Off
Ger in whom the strength resides II is not his
strength, but vours-y0ur intelligence-yOur sense
of Order-yOur instinct Of selErespect. rely, gen.
tlcmen, confidently upon you. not upon myself for
the prompt and parliamentary dispatch Of the BUSH
ness Of this Convention. Gentlemen, you have come
here from the green hills Of the Eastern States
from the rich states of the imperial center-irom
the Sunghted plains If the SOuth-from the fertile
States If the mighty basin Of the MiSSiSsppi-frOm
the golden shores Of the distant Oregon and Caor.
MA. Loud cheers. You have come hthcr in the
exercise 0t the highest functions 81 free people, to
participate, to aid in the election Of the future rulers
Of the Republic.
You do this as the representatives Of the Demo.
cratic paFtv-Uf thar great party ~ the Union whose
proud IN SSion it is to maintain the public liberties,
to reconcile popular freedom with constitutional
order 10 maintain the sacred reserved rights of the
sovereign States. Loud and long continued ap.
plauSe. To stand. in a word, the perpetual scnii.
me- Is of the Outp0stS 0f the Constitution. Cries Of
Thata the talk " aud loud and uhusiastic cheer.
ing Ours is the motto inscribed on that scroll in
the hands Of the monumental statute Of the great
statesman Of South Carolina, Truth. Justice and
the Constitution. Loud cheers Opposed Ia us
are those who labor to overthrow the Constitution,
under the false and nsidinns pretcnse If support.
ing it 4; those who are aiming To produce in this
country permanent sectional cnnsJriracv--a trni.
tor"us sectional conspiracy Of one half Of the States
of the Union against the other half; those who.
imprlled BY the stupid and half insane Spt of fac.
ton and fanntIciSm. would hurry our land on to
revolution and to civil war. These, the banded
enemies OF the Constitution. it is the part the high
and noble part Of the Democracy 0f the Union IL
W thStand, to strike down. and to conquer. Az,
that is our part and We i'll do it in the name If our
dear country with the help "f God We will d. il.
Loud aud enthusiastic cheers. Az, We will d. IT.
irr gentlemen, we-Mlll -dislrust- nurSclreS-we
will not despair Of the genius Of our country
will continue To rep"Se with und"ubiing faith IN the
good providence Of God. Loud applause.
MrCnshinG- again loudly cheered upon the
conclusion 0f his address.