The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1860-01-14


Democratic state COnxention--Rioh
Proceedings.
We make the following extracts from the
indianapolis Journal showing how the
Douglas delegates went and did it:
HOW THEY GOT INTO THE HALL.
In order to carry out the rule of the Gen.
trail Committee to admit only delegates and
reporters, some rather novel expedients had
TO De adopted to insure the purity of the at
tendance. A httls box, like degraded
pulpit, was erected on the pavement in
front of the theatre door, and in it was sta
toned a doorkeeper, and alongside of him
was one of Marshal Robinson's deputies,
and on the other side two or three other
Cerberuses. Once past these, the lucky
holder of ticket was met by sort of hog
chute, running up the middle of the wide
staircase, making passage just wide enough
for one or two men to get up without rub
bing holes in their breeches, at the head of
which were two or three more of the Dem
ocratic STEAMERS deputed to catch any adul-
teration of Democratic purity that might
manage to elude tie guardians at the door.
From that point entrance was easy enough.
ADMINISTRATION PROGRAMME.
1t undoubtedly was the policy of the
Administration men to contest as many
counties as possible, in order to exclude that
number from voting in the organization,
and as long as the cases were undecided for
the exclusion would damage Douglas alone.
If by this means they could stile enough
Douglas votes to carry the organization they
would then have the power to add to their
strength all the votes of the contested coun-
ties, and possess the absolute control of the
e
contest for the organization. 1t was at once
an evidence and security of strength. The
Douglas men had selected John c. Walker,
of Laporte, as their candidate for permanent
President, and Robert Lowry, of Elkhsrt,
for temporary President. The Administra-
ton men had taken up Judge Perkins, of
this city, with a view to seducing a few
loose Douglas voters by the Judges former
adherence to the Douglas side. They did
not contemplate nominating any temporary
President, but determined to 30 at once into
a permanent organization.
PRELIMINARY PROCEEDINGS.
Mr.. Chapman said he called the Convention
to order at the solicitation of the Central
Committee and at the solicitation of friends,
and made a few remarks on the necessity of
order and fairness in the proceedings. At
ter the meeting came to order, he said tenn
pOrary secretaries ought to be appointed
and he hoped the meeting would appoint
them.
Mr.. Senator Wallace, from Montgomery,
rose excitedly, and denounced such pro-
ceeding as the appointment of secretaries
before the President was elected as unpre-
cedented, aud indicating some unfair opera
ton. Up to this time the house had been
very quiet. But now came a hustle and
murmur, as of many Democratic brooches
sliding on many seats, and many Democrat
ic voices uttering indistinct Z" d-ns Of
great feTvor.
Mr. Chapman explained that he did not
desire nor ask to appoint these secretaries,
and he really thought they ought to be ap-
pointed, for without them the Convention
could not call vote, even for temporary
chairman. This explanation rather discon-
certed Mr.. Wallace, who, however, grace
fully admitted his mistake.
Mr. Gordon Tanner nominated Mr. J. j.
Bingham, of the Sentinel, formerly an ar
dent anti-slavery man, more recently de-
cided Lecompton nan, but now decided
Douglas man; for Secretary.
John L. Robinson nomitaned Mr.. Nelson
of Fort Waynsy~for another, and both were
appointed Mr.. Nelson subsequently de-
ciined; and Mr.. McCrea, of this city, was
90hinated
A STORM.
John G. Walker now nominated Robert
Lowry, of Elkhart, for temporary chairman.
This step carried the Convention at once into
the middle OF storm. Cries Of " no, " nc"
yes vote" g order" and all the null
tifarous yellings of Democratic body in a
state of excitement shook the building.
There was a volcano of pent up wrath, and
fear in that instant and furious fuss. A half
dozen men were up shouting, moving and
speaking al once. Harrington, of Jefferson,
got on a seat and turned to the crowd,
speaking and gesticulating Vehemently, but
he could not be heard on the platform at all.
Finally order was partially restored, and
John L. Robinson moved to go into the
election of a permanent President. Mr..
Wallace opposed this as unfair, as there were
contested seats ye: to be decided on, and a
permanent organization would hurry on
business SO fast that it might all be done be-
fore the contested counties got any chance
to participate. John S. Williams, of Lafay-
cite, supported the motion. Mr.. Harrington,
of Jefferson. opposed it. He said that " there
were contested cases in the Convention, and
they out to be decided before regular bust
ness was undertaken. These contests were
all on one side; all brought by Administra-
ton men against Douglas men, and they
were instituted to stihe the voice of the
people of the contested counties in the Con-
yention till it would be too late. They were
shans. furious applause by the Douglas
men, They were fraudulent, as everybody
knew. Tremendous yelling on all Sides
He objected to such frauds being allowed tc
shape the action of the Convention
Governor Willard, who was sitting with
the Marion Delegation about the centre o.
the "pit," here arose and began speaking
Before be had uttered five words Wallace
rose to question of order, and Gordon Tan
ner got up and, in excited tones, declared
that g Willard was no delegate" " Yes be
is" No he amt" q How do you know
You don't know what you're talking
about y and a perfect hurricane of contradic