The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-08-01

riously constituted. That OF 1874 would
have consisted only OF delegates from Ala
bsma, Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri, New
Hampshire, South Curolina and Virginia
that Of l84S OF delegates from Georgia, In
diane, Louisians, Msine, Michigan, Missis-
sppi, New York and Pennsy ylvania, in addi-
tion; that Of 1859 OF delegates from Alaba-
ma, Arkanaas, Illinois, Indiana. lows, Maine,
Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hamp.
shire, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Virgins
and Wisconsin,; while that Of 1856 would
have excluded the States of Tennessee and
Kentucky, which voted for Mr. Buchanan,
but included MSine, New Hampshire, Rhode
Island, Connecticut, New York, Maryland,
Ohio, Michigan, Iowa and Wisconsin, which
voted against him.
1t will scarcely be argued that delegates
ought 10 be admitted into National Con-
veDtion and there denied the right Of voting
in accordance with their own CONVICTIONS
The objection amounts to nothing, therefore,
unless to the disfranchsement, from time to
time, of such Of the States as for any rea
son peculiOr, local or temporary, vote against
our Presidential nominees. How would
such rule operate four years hence
The boast Of the Democracy in its na-
tional character snd sympsthies; therefore,
although our Democratic brethren of Mas
sachusetts have not achieved q victory in
any Presidential election since 1920, we do
not despise them, but gladly admit them, on
terms OF equality, to our National Conveu-
tions.
The truth is, that the seceders at Charles.
ton were actuated by other motives than a
sincere regard for the welfare OF the Demo.
or tic party, or attachment to Democratic
usages and principles. They were deter.
mined to rule the party, or else to ruin it,
No political organization can exist upon
such terms; becsuse he would be less than
a msn:who could submit to them. We have
sufficiently guarded the rights of mlnorities
heretofore by requiring each Of our nominees
to receive two.thrds Of all the electoral
votes given in National Conventions; but
whenever we acknowledge that one Fl tn Of
the delegates may (As at Charleston) demand
an addition to our platform, and, upon the
refusal OF such demand, may righttuliy Sc
cede, we render it impossible tor our party
to exist any longer. Let no man deceive
himself in this regard, because here is the
whole controversy at Charleston reduced to
plain, definite, and unavoidable issue.
WHAT OCCURRED AT CHARLESTON AFTER THE
SECESSION.
Finding itself thus suddenly deprived O.
the counsel and assistance of the Democratic
party in eight States, the Convention abun.
doned all attt m PTS to modify or enlarge the
Cincinnati platform, and proceeded to the
nomination of candidates.
*But, 10 o.: der that no reasonable objection
should be alleged to the validity Of its nom.
nations, the Convention altered the rule OF
all former Conventions, and required not
merely two thirds Of the electoral votes
given, but two.thirds Of all the electora
votes.
Fifty seven ballots ensued, and in the
course OF those ballots, repeatedly, major
i,y of the entire Convention indicated Ste
phen A. Douglas as their choice for the
presidential office.
The enemies of that distinguished stttes'
man have asserted many times that hi
friends were disposed to force him upon the
National Convention. The falsity of thi;
will appear from the fact that his friends
could have nominated him at Char lesion
after the secession, in accordance with tht
ancient rule demanding two.thirds of tn
votes given whereas they altered tn at Tul
Immediately, and required two.thirds Of al
the electoral votes, or nearly four ffths o
the votes which remained.
ADJOURNMENT TO BALTIMORE.
At last, unable to discharge satisfactorily
the trust confded to it by the democratic
party of the United States, in consequence
of the secession to which we have referred
the Convention adjourned from the 81 q
Nav to the 18Th of June, and from the cit
of Charleston to the city of Baltimore, cal
ing upon the democracy of the sevcrll State
whose delegates had retired, to fill the vi
cancies caused by such retirement. Th
resolution was proposed by MIR. Russell
chairman of the Virginia delegation, ar
unanimously adopted, in these words -
Resolved, That when this Convention adiourns
day, il aciourn to Ioassemble at BALTIMORE, Md,
Monday, the 18th day of june and that it be respe
fully recommended to the Democratic party OF t
several States TO mako provision for supplying
vacancies in their respective delegations 10 this Go
yention when it shall reassemble.
Itis impossible to msconstrue this ,resol,
d tioa. There was no vacancy whatsoever
the Convention, except such as had bee
caused by the secession OF certain delegates
and unless the States Of Alabama, Louis
ana, Mississippi, Florida, TexAs, Sou
Carolina, Georgia and Arkansas were Their
by invited TO elect new delegates, the Stat
J of Virgini-, and all other States which re
mained in the Convention ut Charlesto
} deliberately sluItified themselves Tn
the seats Of the seceders were understood
be vacant at Charleston appears also fro
, the decision of General Gushing, sustaint
on appeal, that the minority of the Geors
delegation could not vote 10 the Conventlc
alter the majority had seeded. That Il
seceders intended to resign ell claims
} membership 10 evident from their speech
, and protests at the time oil secession.
language could have been employed to e!
uress more pioioly the determination of tho
, delegates to retire from tAe Convention
once aud forever.
CONVENTION OF TIE sECEDERs AT CRARLE
> TON
H4ving thus separated themselves FRI
the democtstic party at Charleston, the 6
ceders forthwith organized a party OF th'
own, assembling in regular convention
st. Andrews Hall on the s0;h OF Apr
y electng permanent officers, adopting ruI
Il and oppoin,ing Committee upon Organ
q zation and a Committee upon Resolution
= The latter committee reported on the "a
= NAV. certain resolutions (the second m
h Al Baltimore, on motion of Governor Wickli
of louisiana, tue r lowing TcsolutioR was adop
y Unanimously in lieu Of that proposed BY Mr.. San
Resolved, That IL is in accordance with the true
ternretatinn of the Cincinnati platform that, dur
tha existence of Territorial governments, the mo
:, IRE OF restriction, whatever Il may be, imposed
the Federal Constitution ON the powers Of Terri
rul Legislature the subject Of domestic relao
# AZ the sam sas been shall hereafter be finally
termined by NE Supreme Court Of the United Sts
should hs respected by ell good citizens, and Sntor