The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-05-01
DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVEA1IoN.

DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION.
The National Convention of the Democratic
party assembled in Charleston Monday the 23d
of april. Every District in the Union was repre-
! sented. Hon. Francis Flournoy, of Ark, was
chosen President pro TEN. A committee per-
manent organization was then appointed; also, a
committee on credentials. On the former, North
Carolina was represented by VIM. A. Moore, and
on the latter by Il. Il. Bridges
On TUESDAY the committee on organization,
reported for President, Hon. CALEB CUSHING, OF
Massachusetts,, with one vice President and Secre-
tary from each State Hon. Bedford Brown was
the vice. President from n. c., and L. W. Hum
phrey, the Secretary.
The President, on taking the Chair, addressed
the Convention as follows:
GENTLEMEN OF THE CoNvENTIoN: | respect
fully tender to you the expressions of
profound gratitude for the honor which you have
this day done ule in appointing me to preside over
your deliberations. 1t Is. however, a responsible
duty imposed, much more than Il high honor
terred. In the discharge OF that duty--in the
direction of business aud of debate-in the pre-
servaton of ORDER it shall be my constant endeav-
or, faithfully and impartially to offciate here us
will. In great deiiberative assembly like this, it
is not the presiding officer in whom the strength
resides. 1t is not his strength but yours-your
intelligence, your sense OF order, your instincts
OF self-respect. L rely, gentlemen, confidently
upon you, not upon myself for the prompt and
parliamentary despatch Of the business of this
Convention.
Gentlemen, you have come here from the green
hills of the Eastern States. from the rich States of
the imperial centre, from the sun-lighted plains of
the South from the fertile Suites of the mighty
basin of the Mississippi, from the golden shores Of
the distant Oregon and California. You have come
together in the exercise Of the highest functions
of free people, to participate, to aid in the selec
ton Of the future rulers of the Republic. You do
this as the representatives Of the Democratic party
Of that great party of the Union whose proud
mission it has been-whose proud mission it is-to
maintain the public liberties; to reconcile popular
freedom with constituted order; to maintain the
sacred reserved lights OF the sovereign States to
stand, in a word, the perpetual sentinel upon the
outposts OF the Constitution. Ours, gentlemen is
the motto inscribed upon that scroll in the hands
OF the monumental statue of the great statesman of
South Carulina-"1ruth, Justice and the Consti-
tuition" Opposed to those who labor to
overthrow the Constitution, under the false and
insdious pretence Of supporting it; those who are
aiding to produce in this country permanent
sectional conspiracy-a permanent, traitorous
sectional conspiracy of half of the States Of the
Union against the other half-those who, impeed
by stupid aud half insane spirit Of faction and
fanaticlsn, would hurry our land to revolution
and civil war. Those, gentlemen, those the band
ed enemies of the Constitution, it is the part. it is
the high and noble part of the Democratic party ct
the Union to withstand, to strike down aud con-
q1er. Ay, that Is our part, aud we will do it, In
the name of our dear country, with the help OF
God, we will do it. Ay, We will do it; for gentle
men, We will not distrust ourseves-we will not
despair of the genius OF country--we will con-
tinue to repose with undoubtins faith in the good
Providence of Almighty God.
After considerable discussion, the rules of FORM
er Conventions were adopted, and the following
gentlemen were appointed Committee to draft
resolutions:
Amos NJ Roberts, Maine; W Burns. New
Hampshire; Z NJ Brown. Vermont; Beuj + Butler,
Massachusetts; S Bradley, Rhode Island; q
Hazard, Connecticut; Edwin Croswell. New York;
BENZ Williamson, New Jersey; B Wright,
Pennsylvania; JAS B"yard, Delaware; Brady S
johnson, Maryland, James Barbour Virginia; "
w Avery, North Carolina; john Preston. South
Carolina Junius Winef Georgia; j L Owens,
Florida; John Erw.u, Alabama; Il A Hunter,
louisiana K BarAs,iale, Mississippi; + S Stock;
dale, Texas; n n Barrow, Arkansas; -, Maine;
Sam Milllgan Tennessee; K Williams, Ken
lucky; Ii b Payne, Ohio; Pan G Dunning, In
diana; Orlando Fielding; Illinois; G V N La
throp, Michigan; A s Palmer. Wisconsin; NJ
Samuel, Iowa. JAS NJ Cavahaugh Minnesota; Aus
tin L Smith California; Isaac Stevens Oregon.
The Convention resolved to make the platform
before nominating the candidates
On WEDNESDAY a good deal of discussion in
regard to the length of time members should be
allowed to speak, &C., took place. A resolution
was adopted restricting speakers to Is minutes on
all subjects except on the platform.
The report of the committee on credentials, ad-
hitting the New York delegation headed by Dean
Richmond and the Illinois delegation headed by
w. A Richardson, was received and adopted.
This decision excluded Mayor Wood and his dele
CATION The death of Hon John S Robinson,
one of the delegates from the State of Vermont,
was announced, and the Convention adjourned till
Thursday morning. Gov. Robinson died suddenly
at the Mills House, Of apoplexy.
THE PLATFORM.
The Charleston Mercury says that the Committee on
the Platform at their session, Thursday evening,
agreed upon the following reports
MAJORITY REPORT.
Resolred That the platform adopted at Cincinnati be
approved, with the following resolutions:
ResolUed That the National Democracy of the United
tk-