Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-04-25

Hon. Caleb Cushing was then introduced TO
the Convention, and made most ELOQUENT
and patriotic speech. His allusion to CAL
houn, and his motto of Truth, Justice and
the Constitution" called forth prolonged
cheering. II was the destiny of the Demo-
cratic party, he said, to stand upon this and
strike down and conquer the fanaticism ar
rayed against 1t in one section of the Union.
The following is Mr. Cushings's address on
taking the Chair. After the cheering had
subsidized, he said: a. .-'0I
Gentlemen offhe Conventional respectfully
tender to you my most earnest expression Of
profound gratitude for the honor YOU have
this day done me in appointing me to preside
over your deliberations. IL is, however n
| responsible duty imposed, much more than a
high honor conferred. In the discharging of
that duty in the direction of business and of
debate, and in the preservation of order, it
shall be my.constant endeavor faithfully and
impartially TO ofiiciate rs your minister. In
a great deliberative assembly like this, it is
not the presiding officer in whom the strength
| resides; it is not his strength, but yours
your intelligence, your sense of honor. your
sense of order, your instinct of self-respect
| | rely, gentlemen, confidently upon you, not
| upon myself for the prompt and parliament
| tary dispatch of the business of this Conven-
| tion. t.........
Gentlemen, you have come here from the
great hills of the Eastern States, from the
rich States of the imperial center, from the
sun-lighted plains OF the South, from the
fertile States of the mighty basin of the Mis-
sissippi, from the golden shores of the distant
| Oregon and California. Loud cheers.1 You
have come hthet in the exercise of the
| highest function of free people, to partici-
| pate and aid in the election of the future
| rulers of the Republic. You do this as the
| representatives of the Democratic party. of
| that nj hos
mission it is to maintain the public liberties;
| to reconcile popular freedom with constitu-
| tional order; to maintain the sacred reserved
| rights of the Southern States Loud and
long. continued applause.l To stand in
word, the perpetual sentinels on the outposts
of the Constitution
[Cries of that's the talk" and loud and
enthusiastic cheering.1
Ours, gentlemen, is the motto inscribed on
that scroll in the hands of the monumental
| statue of the great statesman of South Caro-
lima: Truth, Justice and the Constitution"
| Opposed to us are those who labor to over
throw the Constitution, under the false and
insduous pretense of supporting it, those
who are aiming to produce in this country a
| permanent sectional conspiracy, traitorous
sectional conspiracy, of one-half of the States
| of the Union against the other half those
| who, impelled by the stupid and half-insane
| spirit of faction and fanaticism, would hurry
our land on to revolution and civil war.
These banded enemies of the Constitution
| it is the part, the high and noble part of the
| Democracy of the Union TO Withstand, to
strike down and conquer; aye, that is our
| part, and we will do it in the name of our
dear country, and with the help of God we
| will do 1t. Loud and enthusiastic cheers
| Aye, we will do il, for gentlemen, we will
not distrust ourselves; we will not despair of
| the genius of our country, and will continue
to repose in the undoubted faith, in the good
| providence of Almighty God. loud cheers
| Mr.. Gushing was again loudly cheered upon
the conclusion of his address,
About half an hour was then spent in
| settling the Vice-Presidents and arranging
for the Secretaries, and also preparing for a
| formal and energetic enforcement of par
liamentary rules in the future proceedings of
| the Convention.
A warm debate then sprang up on the rule
reported by the Committee on Organization,
in which Messrs. Richardson, McCook,
Cessna, of Penn, Barry, of Miss, Josiah Ram
| dali, and many others took part. Several of
the Southern delegates opposed the rule.
Mr.. Randall also opposed it, declaring that
certain refractory members in the delegation
proposed to violate and misrepresent their
constituents in voting for Douglas whose
nomination, in his opinion, would lead to
certain defeat. be then went into review
OF the action of the preceding Democratic
Convention on this subject.
| Mr.. Richardson rose to reply, and asked
| Mr. Randall who made him an expounder of
Democratic principles and precedence. How
| long had the gentleman been in the DEM
| ocratic ranks?
This caused cries of "order," and great ex-
citement ensued. Several persons rose to
| points oforder.
The Chairman decided that Mr.. Richardson
was entitled to the floor, and then changed
his decision, denying his right.
| Mr.. Richardson, standing on chair in the
| center ofthe hall with his sleeves rolled up,
| and determined to be heard, was finally
| allowed to 60 on, and again attacked Mr.
| Randall, as having recently come into the
| fold, alluding to his political antecedents as
| emitting his opinions on Democracy to but
little consideration. He did not desire, after
a life's service in the cause, to be reproved by
the recruits of yesterday. A warm debate
ensued
At twelve o'clock the Convention was
called to order again.
| Mr.. jackson rose to a question of privilege
| relative to his State delegation.
A motion to adjourn till four o'clock was
| lost.
| The question was then called on the motion
| to strike out the rule relative to the right of
| members of each delegation to vote as they
| think proper, unless instructed by the con-
vention that appointed them.
During the call of the roll, the greatest ex-
element existed. The Tennessee and Vir-
ginia delegations protested against the an
| nouncement of the Chairman, giving the
votes as unit against the adoption Of the
| rule.
Ten of the twelve Tennessee delegates were
opposed to the manner in which the vote of
that State had been recorded
| The vote was finally announced as follows:
| Ayes, l0l; nays, 1888. So the rule was adopted,
and majority of a delegation can not compel
| the minority to vote with them as a unit, un-
less instructed by the Convention that ap-
pointed them.
The resolution offered yesterday, for the
appointment of a committee on resolutions
and platforms, was then called up and an
amendment offered that no balloting be al
lowed for President and Vice President till
the committee have made their report.
The vote was then taken ON the resolution
| for the appointment of the committee which
was adopted.
The committee was then appointed.
The vote on the rule against unit voting,
is regarded as a test vote.
The vote to lay it on the table was as fol-
lows; Massachusetts,, g. Pennsylvania, Ia
Delaware, ~; Indiana, 31S Virginia, l5
North Carolina, 4 South Carolina 8; Geor-
| gia 10; Florida, 3; Alabama, 8; Louisiana, g.
MicciScinOi' z. A A rLa NJ