Gazette and sentinel., 1860-05-19
Democratic State Central Commit

~ ~ - - AAAN 'NAhA+
ratio party, a Convention was called in
his State for the purpose of sending
Delegates to the National Democratic
Convention To assemble at Charleston
;Or the purpose of nominating Candi-
dates IUr President and Vice President
Jl the United States, After every part
Il the State had been ~canvasscd, the
Delegates elected to the State Conven-
ton assembled at Baton Rouge, OH the
9TH of March last, and elected Dele
gates TO tie National Convention. The
Convention IT Charleston having re-
gEcstgd vacancies to be filled, thereby
uaauthorized,v assuming that tn" Dele
gates who Withdrew vacated their seats:
wcc conceive the Delegates elected 10 the
Baton Rouge Slate Convention rs the
constituency of the Delegation elected
to Charleston, and regard them as the
only constituency to whom th"y are
amenaUle.
And as an expected emergency has
arisen which, in our opinion, renders ne
cessary tie re-assemblage of the Dele
gates 70 the State Convention; we,
therefore, recommend that body to re-
convene and take such action as may be
deemed necessary.
If vacancies had occurred in the del
egation, by death or resignation, within
afew days after they were elected, the
right of the State Convention to reas-
semble and fill them could not be cues
toned. We consider their right to IT,
assemble and act under existing ciccum-
stances equally clear: and that the Con-
V~ention has the right 10 Y as Of
ten as may be necessary until the fuRc-
tons for which the delegates were elect
ed are accomplished, to wit the naming
Of candidates Of the party for the Pre-
sident and Vice President. The Demo
cratic Central Committee was created
for the purpose Of acting as the Exccu-
tive Organ Of the party, and has, in our
opinion, the rights in regard to this
Convention usually exercised by the
Chief Executive Of the State in recon
vening the State Legislature on extra
ordinary emergencies. 1t has been sug-
gested by some that a new Convention
should be called. We DO not feel au-
thorized to 10 50 for the following rca-
Sons
/. 1t is unnecessary and unwarrantcd, be-
cause there has been already a full expression
Of the opinion Of the people of the State upon
the Presidential question, in the election of
delegates to the State Convention, and ia de-
claring the principles which should govern
them.
2. The delegates which were elected 10 the
Charleston Convention, are accountable to the
State Convention, and to no other COnven-
ton, for the manner in which they diScharg-
ed their duties. 1t is for that Convention
alone 10 determine whether vacancies exist
in the delegation elected by them, and, If so,
how to be filed. IL is alike due TO the dele
CATION to the Charleston Convention, as well
AS TO the delegates to the State Convention,
that the matter should be referred to them.
3. &c the Democratic Stale Ccatral CON-
mittee had the power under the circumstan.
ceS to call a new Convention, to which they
by no means assent, the very act Of calling
that Convention tc I'LL vacancies, supposed to
be occasioned by hc withdrawal Of a portion
OF the delegation, would imply a disapproIsl
and censure OF the course pursued by the del.
egatlon. II we were inclined to pass upon
their conduct, we consider we have no such
Jurisdiction, but that it belongs exclusively to
the Convention that elected them.
4th. But even if all these difficulties were
overcome, still there is not sufficient, time with.
IN which to call a new Convention in which
the whole State could be represented.
BE AZ therefore Resolred, By the Democratic
STATE Ct"tral Committee, That the delegates
elected 10 the Democratic State Convention,
which assembled at Baton Rouge on the 9th
OF March last, be requested to reassemble at
The same place on Monday, the 4th Of June
next, to receive the report of their delegates
70 the late Charleston Convention, and to take
snch acton as they may :dcem necessary and
proper. WM. w. KING.
~ President pro tem.
+. d. KEArr, Secretary.