The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-05-11
Nithmonn 4ispattt,
NATIONAL UNION CONSTITUTIONAL
CONVENTION.
DKNlNa. ........M MAY n, tsG0

ton met In Baltimore, Wednesday morning
Its session WAS held in the First Presby terian
Church, the galleries being filled with specta.
tors.
A few minutes before - O'Clock Hon John
\. Crittenden took his seat on the floor OF the
Con \ en- tiou and was received with applause
from the galleries, and the ladies, who occu-
pied the west gallery, waved their h2ndker-
chefs, thus esIncins their qualification at see
ing one who has for so many years occupied a
prominent position III the political affairs OF
the country.
At ten minutes past II o'clock Hon. John j.
Crlttenden took the chair, temporarily, which
was followed by applause. Rev. Jas. u. Nc
Cabe then offered prayer.
Mr.. CrIttenden then rose and said had been
made his duty, as chairman OF the Executive
Committee. To call the Conyentfon 10 order, ard
would do IL with as much brevity rs he could
In obedience to the arrangement, he nominated
Hon Washington Hunt of New York, as tenn
porary chairman which was adopted.
Hon. Thomas Swami, OF Md, nominated
VIM. +. Switzer, OF Missouri, as temporary
secretary.
Mr.. Hunt was conducted to the chair by
Hon. Is. ID. Noxen and r. +. Stevens. Mr..
Hunt spoke TO the Convention, and reverted
10 the time when the fathers OF the country
assembled TO perpet etuate the Union and free
dom OF the nation. He hoped the proceedings
Of he Convention would initiate their exam
pie, aud retain that which had made MS
great people. They were assembled, he trust
ed in the spirit TO show that they were one
people, bound together by common hope
They were prompted by no partiZan purposes.
They should know no platform but the coun-
try; no party but the Union. 1t had long been
apparent that there is no party in the country,
except 1t be the Constitutional Union party,
to save the country from the dangers 10 Whlch
il is xposed. The Democratic party had run
aground on the squatter sovereignty, anc
there was no probability that it would hang
again together by the cohesive power which
bound il SO long. He spoke OF the introduction
.l,nrn tnat
remains several degrees below zero, and where
no STAKEHOLDER would go. They seem TO for-
get the honor, the interests anu the welfare OF
the cou atry. The mission OF this Convention
is one Of peace. Solemn and important con-
eiderations depended upon the deliberations
and action of the body. He believed they had
the power 10 unfurl a banner which would
bring to its support the patriotism of the
country, and that all would feel that they be-
long to one people. That they would so for
ward, regardless OF man. and trusting that the
oyerruling Providence OF God would crown
their efforts
Gen. Leslie Coombs. Of Kentucky, moved
that committee of one from each Stale be
appointed to present the names OF permanent
officers of the Convention. which was adopted
The following committee was then appointed.
each delegation selecting their member OF the
Alabama, N. W. Shelly Arkansas, c. C.
Danley; Connecticut, Hon. John A. Rock
we'll; Delaware, VIM. Temple Georgia. J. s.
Fannin; Indiana, John j. Hayden; Illinois.
Gen. John Nilsson; kentucky, john w. Fin
nell Maine. G. b. Jackson; Massachusetts,
L. V Bell; Minnesota, L. J. Barrett; Mary
land, Hon. Thomas Swami; Mississippi, John
X Yerger; Missouri Sol Smith New York,
Il. ID. Noxen; New Jersey, j. w. Allen North
Carolina, Hon. n Boyden: Ohio, Allen Trim
Bile; Pennsylvania, Col. Jos. Paxton; Tennes-
see, A. J. Uonelson; Vermont, John Wheeler !;
Virginia, VIM. l.. Goggin.
California, Florida Iowa, Louisiana. Mich
igan, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island,
- 4, md .iu UyAra
not represented on the call.
The Cnair announced that he had received
| n telegraphic dispatch from Grafton, Va.
stating that fifteen delegates, from five States,
were detained at that point by an accident on
| the railroad, but would arrive tomorrow.
The Convention then adjourned until 4
O'Clock, when it re-assembied, and the perma-
| ntnt organization was reported, with Ex-Gov.
| Washington Hunt of New York. as President,
| and among the Vice presidents, A. II. ii.
| Stuart of Virginia, w. Is. Gillian of N g.,
| and T.. A. Henry of Tenn. The President
| maze an eloquent address on assuming the
chair. He SAID he trusted not 10 be troubled
| with the construction of a platform. He would
not waste strength III endeayorin. To establish
| Il general platform. They had not come here
| 10 discuss territorial and other Ques tions-
| they could not settle them II they would. lie
| preferred TO leave them where ,he Constitu-
ton left them-let every State be III posses sion II
! of its own right and independence. He trusted
| q spirit of generous furbearaEce ana toieratlon
| would become the order of the day. There
| were signs that such will be the end OF the dis
cord and disunion prevailing ever since the
| repeal of the Missouri compromise. lie hoped
| the time wenid come when the people would
| not abuse other sections OF the country, bu
| would deliberate ON the good and welfare o
| the whole country, North, South, East aDI
| West He invoked "A spirit of union and har
| mony over their deliberations, ana relied Oh
! the members of the Convention to sustain hin
! i'll the discharge of his duties.
Charles e.. Lathrop, of Pa, moved that th
| Convention proceed to ballot for /; candidate
| for President OF the United States.
Edward Shippen offered as an amend'neii
| that EACH State proceed to nominate Il Candi
| date for President aud Vice President of tn
| United States, and that after The third balio
the lowest candidate on each succeeding bal
|. | lot be dropped until nomination be made b.
| a majority of the whole body.
Mr. Lathrop accepted the amendment.
Mr. Randolph, OF New Jersey, nOminate
| Hon Lewis Condit, of New Jersey, AS a
| honorary vice pres ident. He said he had rep
| resented his State i'll Congress for tWenty-1iy
years, and was Union man lie was electe
| by acclamation
Thomas A. Heayis, Of Mo-, said he wante
| time to cons ult upon the subject with the the
,isiesa tons He was the firm friend of Mi
| lard Fiilmo pre-, but for the good OF the cause h
= could lay down Mr. Fillmorei ard if he coul
Law him down, he conld lay down any man
, | He thought that the delegations should con
suit upon the best man aud he thought, als'
that certain principles should be laid dow
for the guidance of the party. Inc part
/ | would exist, he hoped, for all time, and noti
| ing should be hastily done. He asked that IN
| resolution be not passed at this time, for cor
sultation was necessary 10 discover what ma
= | would prove the patriotic, Union man. II
therefore moved to lay the resolution on II
: | table.
ar. Littell hoped the resolution woul
| pass There was not a man IN the Conver
tion who was acquainted WIN man oett'
. | fitted for the position. All knew Hon. Jon
| Bell. OF Tennessee, who had served Els coui
! | try for nearly generation. II he was n'
| known now he never would be.
Mr.. Goggin, of Virginia, moved that Hol
| J. J. .Crittenden be invited TO take seat .
4 | the platform, which prevailed, but MT. y. IA
s | left the Convention.
Mr.. N. q. PendletOn, of Ohio, favored II
q | proposition Of the gentleman from Missouri
} and moved an amendment TO the resoiau uo
| to the effect that one member OF each deleg;
| tion be appointed a central committee, who's
duty it shall DO to consult and bring the r.
suit before the Convention.
:, Mr.. Grayson, Of Pennsylvania, said
. would speak his individual opinion. i
/. thought he came to the Convention for mo-
impor tant business than to nominate cal
+ didate for President. Let the party succot
I now or a quarter OF century hence, out
wanted that success founded upon principle
ana not upon man. In these turhulous p
y litical times ne would trust nc man, WhStey'
Is mixht be his ahtecedents, unless he stood up
: Z definite platform; He spoke o. me hepp
party Of the South. The only question b
q tween these parties was whether or not Coz
!, gress has the right 10 legisiate slavery in (
!. mean TO Introduce that subject, except 70 kes
! ii out Of the question altogether, but he wan
= ed some action Of principles upon winch
stand by the Constitution and the Union
Gen. Leslie Ooombs, Of Ky, had given col
alteration to the question under discnssio
So great was his regard for platforms tnat
! had prepared three. One for the harmOnt0l
q Democracy--the resolutions Of virginia q