, 1860-05-10
BY TELEGRAPH,
Tho Con9crrhttTe-Constft I'm.
lon- Saving Know Nothing WING
National Convention

D.
The old First Presbyterian Church building, Re.
Gently bought by the Government for 4 Court
House, has been finely fitted up for the accom-
rodation Of the Convention. full.length por-
trait Of Washington has been placed behind the
Presidents chair. mud the interior Of the build
ing is draped with flags.
There is considerable specu1ation an In tha
course to be pursued. 4 meeting was called for
tonight Of the friends Of Mr. Bolts, but for
some reason it did not take place.
The old church is the same in which Martin
Van Buren, was nominated for the Presidency.
Relegates are heEe from tvcnty-six States.
Every State and Territory except Oregon nre
expected to be represented. Among the arri-
sals are Aessrs. Leslie Coombs, Bell, parsou
Brownlo", Goggin, and other distinguished
politicians.
Several delegations hare their head-ouarters
at Darnum's Hotel.
The New York delegation voted unanimously
t'on and the enforcement of the laws. An
informal ballot Of the delegation rs IN expires.
aon Of their preferences for President resulted
as follows: Gen. Sam. Houston, %; Judge
Bell 2.
BALTIMORE, May sth.-Tbc Convention bids
fair to be full one. Messrs. Houston md Bell
are the leading candidates, between whom there
IL likely to be warm contest. Tennessee par
ticularly reslsts Mr. Houston. 4 majority Of
the New York delegation are for him. Mr. Nc
Lean does not manifest much strength, He
would be stronger, and perhaps nominated, but
for the belief that he would be rejected at Chi
out candidate. Messrs. Everett, Fuller and
Hunt are most named for the Vice -Presiden-
CT. There is general disposition to get along
without platform. The New York delegation
hold caucus tonight to fill vacancies and COLI
suit.
BALTIMORE, May sth.-The city presents IN
Ge s eds s deerss ess in
are thronged. There ia great rush for tickets
Of admission. Delegates from every State, ex-
cept Oregon and South Carolina, hare reported
themselves. The Hall presents "gay" ap-
pearance. The galleries ere festooned with
red, white and blue. The bent gallery is ap-
proprinted to the ladies.
By noon the galleries were densely packed,
and much enthusiasm was mRuifested as the
delegations appeared and occupied the seats a.
lotted to them. Various distinguished men we're
warmly applauded from the galleries.
At noon the Convention was called to order
by John J. Crittenden, whose appearance was
greeted With loud and prolonged cheering.-
Mr. Crittenden moved that Hon. Washington
Hunt, Of New York, take the chair, which was
unanimously approved.
Mr. Hunt, on taking the chair, delivered
powerful address, designating the slave ques-
tion which has split the Democratic party, as
miserable abstraction He believed that their
Convention has powerto rally around the pat
riotism Of the country,
On motion Of Leslie Combs, Committee On
Permanent Organization was appointed. and
also On credentials,
The Convention ro-assembled at o'clock,
when the Committee on Permanent Organiza.
ton reported the following list Of officers:
4RressdenE- WASHINGTON HCsT.
Vice. Presidests-0ne each from nineteen
chusetts, Fred. a. Tallmadgc Of New York,
Peter ]. CLARK Of New Jersey. Jos. R. Insersoli
Of Pennsylvania, Alex. H. Il. Stuart Of T1r.
ginia. r. ". Thompson Of Indiana, andJ. Scott
Harrison Of Ohio.
Also eleven Secretaries. The announcement
Of the names we're received with applause and
the nominations were confirmed with acclama.
ton.
Ar. Hunt returned thanks in pertinent nd
dress.
Charles Lathrop Of Pennsylvania moved to
proceed to ballot for candidate for President,
Edward Shipper Of Pennsylvania offered Il
substitute that each State nominate candidate
for President, and the Convention proceed to
ballot, and drop each candidate having the
smallest number Of votes on each ballot TIL q
result is reached.
5fr. Randolph Of New Jersey moved tbat
Hon. Lewis Condict Of New Jersey be made an
honorary Vice President. Carried By acclama,
tion.
Mr. Harris Of Missouri said he desired an on.
portunity to confer with the delegations of the
various States and find out wlo was the best
nun to put forward. lie wanted time for inter
course, and therefore thought the proposition te
proceed to ballot premature. We should m
point committee to prepare certain dectara
ton Of principles to serve as basis upon which
great and permanent party could be estab
llshed. There we're immense responsibilitie.
resting upon us, and NE should act with delib
Grafton and care.
John S. Little Of Pennsylvania advocated
the passage Of Mr.. Shippers resolution.
Mr. Goggin Of Va: moved that Hon. J. ]
Crittenden be invited to take sent on the plat
form. Carried with applause.
n. 6. Pendietou Of Ohio was satisfied tha
they would oct more tremendously if time wa!
allowed the delegates to consult together, III
moved an amendment that d committee Of or
| from each State be appointed to whom eacl
| delegation indicate its preferences 50 as I,
secure unity Of action.
Frederick W Grayson, Of Peunsylrani
| thought when he came here they had NOR
important work than the Presidency; they hat
to organize great national party, and when
triumphed, he wanted it to do SO upon princi
| pies. He could not agree to take any man, nj
matter what his antecedents, who did not stan.
fairly on the platform Of recognized principles
The interpretation and meaning Of the Consti
tuition were invofEed in the contest betwee1
| the two PARTIES. They differed Us to wheth
in regard to slavery in the territories. [Hfsses.
He was not going into this subject. Laugh
ter.1 What he meant was that this Union par
ty should ignore that disturbing issue; there
fore before they nominated they should plan
themselves on platform Of constitutional prin
ciples. (Applause.]
| Mr. CooEabs was so thoroughly inpresse,
with the importance Of platform, that he ha,
prepared three, for the Democratic. Republican
and Constitutional Union parties. For the har
1nonious Democracy, he would present til
resolutions Of 1795 and 1880 with Two reso1u
tions on slayeey, one to keep it out Of the ter
ritories and one to force slavery into them, t.
questions asked afterwards. ed. For th
irFepressible conflict pbilanthropis,s he pro
posed the blue laws Of Connecticut witt
tive notifications with regard to kissing wiye
On Sunday, and burning witches. it being un
derstood that oil the pretty wires might b
kissed, and ali the old witches burned. fGreo
1aughter.] For the Constitutional Union part
he proposed the Constitution az it is, and til
Union now and forever. lGreat applause.1
1lr, Bresler Of Pa. moved IN amendment Il
the amendment, that the individual delegates a
the different delegations be allowed hand il
the nomiration. II u majority of the delega
tlon controls the presentation Of names, the hi
nority would not be heard.
Mr.. Watson Of Mississippi advocated roin
into q nomination TO- morrow at 10 A. n.
Mir. Swan Of Missouri seconded the riews Q
the last speaker. If the question Of platform
| was opened there was much to be said. H
wanted no other platform in Missouri but th
| Constitution aud tue laws.
The Chair announced that the delecatio,
| frrfu Tn~ Ar,3t o{ r.I-
the door The delegates entered and were re
ceiyed with three cheers.
Gen. Combs begged leave t. introduce th
Chairman Of the Texas delegation to the ma
on his face and head. he had sworn twely
years ago not 10 have his beard or his hair Gu
till Henry Clay was elected President. {Laugh
Mr. swItzler Of Missouri said bis State wapte
no platform, but would be satisfied with
proper candidate.
NJ. C. Il. Hopkins Of Georgia would sugces
| platform in one word, one on which thre
millions Of people could stand, and that was
Houston, Of Texas, the Hero Of San Jacinto
lApplause.1 He was the man for the crisis, an
one whose lifc furnished platform.
Erastus Brooks Of New York did not pro
| pose to discuss the merits of candidates or
platform. lie thought the illusions made thi
afternoon premature and unfortunate. Speakin
for the seventy delegatesfrom New York, be dt
sired TO say be wanted no platform but the Coz
| sutution, interpreted By the constituted NJ
action that neither the extremists Of the Mort
or the South would be permitted to adniniste
the government It is wise to learn b5 exps
rienee to be lust and tolerant toward
each other. Experience showed that part
platforms we're intended to drive the people /
wear one face at tho North and another 1T th
South. The true platform was the Constitr
tion as interpreted bE its dudiclal authoritie