The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-05-16
The National Union Convention.

GE- The Union" or "Constitu-
tional' Convention, composed of Old
Line Wings, Americans and +" Consery-
atlves, met at Baltimore on the 9th inst.
10 nominate candidates for President and
Vice President of the United States.
Most of the States Of the Union were
represented, and some enthusiasm man
ifested JONI ]. CRTrrESDEN, and 9th
er distinguished gentlemen, were present,
and acted with the convention. Hon.
WASHINGTON HUNT, of New York, pre-
sided, and Vice President from each of
the nineteen states represented, chosen.
The committee on resolutions reported
the following as the only platform deem
ed advisable, which was adopted by ae-
clamation
Resoired, That both patriotism and duty re-
inre that they should recognize no policy or
principles but those resting on the broad foun-
dalton OF the constitution of the country the
union of the States, and the enforcement of the
laws; and that as representatives of the Consti
tutional Union Party OF the country, they
pledge themselves to maintain, protect, and de
irnd these principles, thus aifording security at
home and abroad, and secure the blessings OF
liberty 10 themselves and posterity.
There was considerable OF a strife
between the friends OF HousroN and BELL,
but the convention was harmonious
throughout. The first ballot resulted as
follows Houston, 81 Bell, 685 Ey-
erett, 25; Mclean, e. Graham, O.
Sharkey, 6; Crittenden, Is; Goggin, 3;
Bolts, 81 Reeves, g On the second
ballot, Hon JoHN BELL, of Tennessee,
was nominated for President, and his
nomination made unanimous amid great
cheering. Hon. EDWARD EVERETT was
then unanimously and cordially nomina-
ted for Vice President, by reclamation.
Both oflhese gentlemen are old Wings,
both prominent and patriotic statesmen,
aud the ticket must be acceptable to
those who style themselves conserya-
lives" Should the South triumph in
the Baltimore Democratic convention,
undoub teddy the " Union" Ticket will
receive much Of the Democratic strength
Of the North, but whether it will be ena-
bled 10 carry State in either sec ton Of
the country, is extremely doubtful.
This Union movement is organized Oh
the basis of opposition TO slavery agita-
zion, but il seems TO US that experience
has taught these gentlemen very little if
they really suppose they can succeed in
giving Il quietus to that question. When
the noble old Wing party was split into
fragments, and utterly annihilated By the
force OF ahti-slayery sympathy, EVERETT,
WINTHROP, HUNT. and numbers of 9TH
ers, of similar position and talents, re-
fused disdainfully TO go with the popular
current; but, magnifying their own i'm
poriance, stood aloof, asserting and be
lieying that the people would return TO
them--that the current would set back
again into the old channel. Wise as
they we're, they failed TO comprehend the
logic Of events--they failed to realize
that the strife was one of principles-that
the forces opposed possessed natural
antagonism, and that the conflict must
therefore be as enduring as those forces.
They failed to credit the popular judg-
ment with its instructive perception of
the Importance Of events, and therefore,
looking at the anti-slaverv excitement Of
81. and the disruption of the Wing par
ts. more in the light of temporary
frenzy Of the people than as legitimate,
necessary, and uncomfortable step in the
progress of humanitarian principles, they
STOOD in their tracks and watched for the
return Of the hosts that had left them
But they have thus far watched IN vain,
and we think must hereafter, also, be
doomed to disappointment. Since 1920
hen this Shre strife first began to as