Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-06-28
THURsDAY, JUNE e, 1860.
The Recent PrOceedings at BaitimOre.


that body.
The delegations of eight Southern States, having
withdrawn from the Convention at Charleston, for
fear of being committed to policy believed to be
unjust to the rights and interests of the South an
adjournment of that body to re-assemble at Balti-
more, was sought for on the part Of such Of the
Southern States as remained, with the hope that
those who had Withdrawn might be induced to
return to the Convention, and harmony thereby
besecure upon terms satisfactory to the various In
terests Of the party. To this end earnest and un-
eeaslng efforts were made on the part of our friends
and especially the States Of Virginia North Carroll
ma, Kentucky and Tennessee, and with seeming
prospects Of success up to the reassembIng Of the
Convention at Baltimore. The delegates who had
felt it incumbent upon them to withdraw from the
Convention at Charleston, having returned home
and submitted their action to their constituents had
been approved in their course; but, from the evil
dent necessity for harmonious action Of the Dem
Ocratic party, they we're induced to return, with
the intention Of resuming their seats and of making
additional efforts to effect the desired result
Upon the re-assembling of the convention at Bal
timOre there seemed to be but one purpose on the
part Of the farminded and moderate portion of the
delegates, which was to ascertain and adopt Just
that line Of action which, consistent with principle
and honor, would best subserve the harmony and
success Of the great Democratic brotherhood of the
nation; whilst on the other hand the single and isO-
lated purpose Of the adherents of Mr. DOUGLAS was,
regardless Of all other considerations, to force the
nomination Of their leader, whether such a nomina-
ton woGld keep together the party or not, and
whether the means necessary TO accomplish their
end should be foul or fair.
Those who will take the pains to read the regular
reports of the public proceedings cannot fail to be
struck with the patience fairness and moderation
displayed by the conservative portion of the con-
VentiOn who were finally forced to a separation.
They will be equally impressed with the rude, in
sulting, unjust and yrannical department of those
who, taking possession of Democratic Convention
by trick and fraud, denationazed it in order that
in rufhan-ke manner they might force their rufan
leader upon the party. But however favorable the
published proceedings may appear in this respect,
they convey but faint idea of the long, earnest,
anxious, arduous efforts that were made outside Of
the Convention hall, by national delegates in pri-
vate conference, to adjust the differences and pre-
serve the unity of the party.
It was in vain. They were neither respected for
their consideration nor thanked for their courtesy.
The factonists had come there to nominate DOUGLAS
they had their own mode Of nominating him and
that mode they intended to carry out and Virginia,
Kentucky and Tennessee could do as they pleased.
Eight Southern States being absent from The conven
ton, waiting such action as would admit them
70 the floor, they ruled supreme and in order to
make sure Of the nomination Of their leader, and at
had most pers1stently opposed him, they resolved
upon the expedient adopted Of DISTINGUISHING large
portion Of the Democratic constituency Of the coun-
try by refusing their regularly elected delegates ad
mission to the convention, and admitting in their
stead bogus delegates Matched up for the OCCASION
and who would play any part assigned them to
secure the nomination Of Mr.. DOUGLAS. This state
ment is fully sustained by the undsputed facts
forth by Mr. STEVENS Of Oregon, in his minority re-
port from the committee on credentials, published
in this paper on Sunday last.
Thus the convention, which assembled as a Ma
tionzl Convention, ceased to be such. Ihad insulted
and trampled under foot the rights Of southern
States by refusing admission to their delegates and
usurpng the power Of debating delegates for them
1t had shown a readiness to disregard every usage
Of the party whenever necessary to accomplish the
narrow and single purpose for which they had come
there. The straight forward and honest practices
in which consist all the merit of a National COnven-
ton, had been disrsgarded, and by means of an
worthy trick called the unit rule, imposed upon
the convention through the want Of proper refec-
tion on the part Of many delegates, the minority
were made to outvote and rule the majority.
Under such embarrassing circumstances there
was but one alternative left Extreme cases call for
extreme remedies. In great emergencies representa-
tive men must rise equal to the occasion Objections
bic as was the alternative of an open rupture, to
subject the party to the domination Of such state
of affairs would have been worse. the nomination
and election Of STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS under such cir
cumstances, would have been lasting defeat, show
ing such Generalization of the party as would
have placed its resuscitation beyond hope.
But fortunately for the country, and fortunately
for the world, the Democratic party has purified
and nationalized itself 1t has sloughed off those
corruptng elements which have for some time past
distracted it, and which have invited the attacks
and criticisms of its enemies With one manly eff
fort has broken the letters which were intended
to degrade it to the subserviency Of single indi-
Vidual and with one step it has placed its iron heel
upon the neck Of It's hitherto unconquered rebel
STEPHEN A. DOuGLAs lies PROSTATE in the dust, and
though it may subject the Democratic party to tenn
porary loss for havngput him there it will but grow
the more rapidly in the future from the purifying
process through which il will have TO pass If the
world should derive no other benefit, the admon-
tory lesson which it will ever teach to those who
aIlured by an unholy ambition, would sacrifice prin-
,iple and the demands Of patriotism, will be Of in
ealculable value.
But he who reckons upon the defeat Of the De- |
nocratic party at this time mistakes the genius Of
BUR institutions The national and orthodox ele-
nent Of the Democratic party have had the manli-
a.lE 70 do right at all hazards. If there is virtue
md intelligence among the people, which we have |
never doubted. they will look sdmiringly to this |
conduct and fortify Us with their support Tie |
national element Of party, unwilling to be forced
o A choice between the extremes Of parties have /
presented the country with ticket the statesman
hip and integrity Of which cannot be questioned. |
10 honest man Of any party will deny the emf
,ent fitness of these gentlemen for the high places
% which they have been nominated. No sincere
over Of his country, however much he may differ
With them upon questions of policy, will doubt for
moment that the nationality Of the country would
,e preserved in their hands. Let it be the raying
Joint Of every good man who desires TO save the
Union from its present iulinent danger The name
# BRECKENRIDGE and LANE furnish the best
Constitutional ticket the best States Rights ticket
md the best Union ticket now before the country.
We suggest that it is hardly treating Mr. BELL
With their usual courtesy for so many of his OppO
iton friends to be spending their time and talents
n electioneering for Mr.. DOUGLAS. A good Demo-
rat informs that he was pressed on all sides by
ONE BEI1. men to 90 for Mr.. DOUGLAS. He says he
aw their trick and gave them the cold shoulder
or. said he, when they got me to go for Mr. DoUG-
As they Thought would be half way for Mr. BELL,
nd then. as was so near to them, would take the
tber step But let them hold for / am for BRICK
rRDGE and LANE against any and all sorts Of the
Opposition elements"
The Great Easttrn sailed for New York, on the
9Th inst, according to the news by the Europe.
s-.,fIss-,-,oo che Hath Of = ] 1