Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-05-11
National Constitutional Union Convention.

liminary proceedings of this Convention, on
the first day of its session.
Twenty-Five States were represented at
the preliminary meetings, and delegations
from FIVE other States arrived on Wednes-
day afternoon The personnel of the Con-
vention must bespeak for its decisions
the most favorable consideration of the
country The conservative element is re-
presented by its strongest and most honored
opponents, and the roll of delegates contains
names that have always merlted and will
continue to attract the confidence and ven
Grafton Of the bipartisan sentiment of the
people
At the afternoon session on Wednesday,
the committee on permanent organization,
through Hon. A. j. Donelson, of Tenn, pre-
sented the following nominations:
President-Ion. Washington Hunt, of
New York.
Vice President-Hon. S. X. Harson, Me-;
Marshall P. Wilder, Mass; K X. NJ. Ormsly,
Vt; Austin Baldwin, Conn. Frederick A..
Talmadge, n. Y; Peter J. Clark, n. j.;
Joseph Il. Ingersoll, Pa; Dennis Claude,
Md; Alexander II. II. Stuart, Va; w. B..
Gillian n. c.. James Calhoun, Ga; J. A.
Dew, Ala; Richard w. Thompson, Ind;
David A. Sayre, Ky; Edward F. McGhee,
Miss; X. g. Underwood, Ark; Gustavus A.
Henry, Tenn; J. Scott Harrison, Ohio, and
Joseph p. Comegys, Delaware.
Secretaries-C. Sidney Long, Nd; J. E.
Payton, n j.; Ezra Clark, Conn; ---
Snow, Ill.,; L. SaltonstalI, Mass; John w.
Syme, n c.; Samuel Davis, Ky; John P.
Early, Ind: Adolphus Musser, Mo-. Dickin-
son Bell, Miss; John f. Calender, Tenn,
and Edward Shipper, Pa.
Mr. Hunt, On taking the chair make an
eloquent speech.
Charles c. Lathrop, of Pa, moved that
the convention proceed to ballot for candl-
date fer President Of the United States.
Edward Shipper offered as an amendment
that each State proceed TO nominate candl-
date for President and Vice President OF the
United States, and that after the third ballot
the lowest candidate on each succeeding bal
lot be dropped, until nomination be made
by majority Of the whole body.
Mr.. Lathrop accepted the amendment.
Mr.. Randolph, of New Jersey, nominated
Hon. Lewis Condit, of New Jersey, as an
honorary vice-president. He said he had re-
presented his State in Congress for twenty
five years, and was a Union man. lie was
elected by reclamation.
Thomas A. Heavis, of Me-, said he want
ed time to consult upon the subject, with the
other delegations. He was the firm friend
of Willard Fillmore, but for the good Of the
cause he could lay down Mr.. Fillmore; and
if he could lay him down, he could lay down
any man. lie thought that the delegations
should consult upon the best man; and he
thought, also, thar certain principles should
be laid down for the guidance Of the party.
The party would exist, he hoped, for all
time, and nothing should be hastily done
He asked that the resolution be not passed
at this time, for consultation was necessary
to discover what man would prove the pa
triotic, Union man. He, therefore, moved
to lay the resolution on the table.
Mr.. Lit;ell hoped the resolution would
pass. There was not man in the conven
ton who was acquainted with man better
fitted for the position. All knew Hon. John
Bell, of Tennessee who had served his coun-
try for nearly generation. If he was not
known now, he never would be.
Mr.. Goggin, of Virginia. moved that Hon.
j. }. Crttendcn be invited to take il seat on
the platform, which prevailed, but Mr.. e..
had left the convention.
Mr. n. G. Pendeton, of Ohio, favored the
proposition of the gentleman from Missouri,
and moved an amendment to the resolution,
to the effect that one member Of each dele
CATION be appointed a central committee,
whose duty it should be to consult and bring
the result before the convention.
Mr.. Grayson, of Pennsylvania, said he
would speak his individual opinion. He
thought he came to the convention for a more
important business than to nominate a can
didate for President Let the party succeed
now or IL quarter of Il century hence, but he
wanted that success founded upon principles
and not upon man. In these turbulous po-
!itical times he would trust no man, what
ever might be his antecedents, unless he
stood upon definite platform. He spoke Of
the republican party OF the North and the
democratic party of the South. The only
question between these parties was whether
or not Congress has the right to legislnte sla-
very in or out of the Territories. Kisses.
He did not mean to introduce that subject
except to keep it out of the question altogeth-
er, but he wanted some action Of principles,
upon which to stand by the constitution and
the Union.
Gen. Leslie Coombs, of Ky, had given
consideration to the question under discus
sion SO great was his regard tor platforms
that he had prepared three. One for the har-
monious democracy-the resolutions of Eir-
ginia, 1898 and 1899; the one to force sla-
very in and the other to force slavery out.
For the irrepressible conflict party he would
suggest the Blue Laws of Connecticut, which
torbds the kissing of wife on Sundays and
the burning of witches. The third, ''thc
constitution as it is" and that would be
platform enough for Union party to stand
upon. The Congress to pass the laws, the
Judiciary to pass upon them, and the execu-
tive to carry them out.
Mr.. Harris did not wish to press the
idea of platform. but he would oppose
nomination at this time, because several
States were not represented.
Mr.. Grayson withdrew his suggestion for
definite platform.
Mr.. Bresle, of Pa, moved as an amend
ment that the convention proceed to nomi-
nate candidates for President and Tice-Pre-
sldent of the United States.
Col. Watson, of Miss, suggested that the
resolution was out of time. They should
make haste slowly. The delegates should
become better acquainted with each other,
and when that was done, there would be no
difficulty. He suggested that the conven-
ton proceed at IL o'clock ON Thursday to
nominotn a candidate for President and af-