St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1860-05-03
Charleston Convention.

we are compelled TO issue our pa
per without being able to announce
the result of proceedings at Charles
ton. The platform is found to be a
very difficult thing to construct, and
after it is constructed it will also be
found difficult to make a man stand
upon it. The Platform committee
made majority and minority report.
The majority reported, THAT the Gin
cinnati platform be affirmed with the
following additional resolutions That
the National Democracy Of the United
States hold their cardinal principles
on the subject of slavery in the Terri
tories. LIST. Congress has no power
to abolish slavery in the Territories.
Cd The Territorial Legislature has no
power to abolish slavery nor prohibit
its introduction therein, nor any pow
er to destroy by any Legislation what
ever. Sd. 1t is the duty of the Fed
cral Government to protect, when nee
essary, the rights of persons or prop
crty on high seas, in Territories, or
wherever its constitutional jurisdiction
extends"
This platform was regarded as
fatal blow at Douglas. The minority
reported the Cincinnati platform, with
a general approval of the decisions of
the Supreme Court, and an obligation
to return fugitive slaves.
Ben Butler, of Lowell, Mass, re-
ported the Cincinnati platform, pure
and simple, saying that he could not
support either the majority or minori.
ty reports-that Democratic princi.
pies were the same from year to year,
fixed and immutable. He cautioned
the Convention that the clause rcla-
ting to the protection of slaves on the
high seas would be regarded as an at
tempt to reopen the slave trade.
Ben Samucls, of Iowa, also pre-.
scented Il platform, eschewing Congress
sional Intervention, and declaring thai
whether Congress or Territorial Leg
islature have the power to intervene
depends upon the decision Of the Su,
prcme Court Of the United States,
which decision he pledged the Demo-
cratic party to sustain and abide by.
His speech was powerful appeal,
free from all bitterness, and was list.
eDed to with the most marked atten.
ton and interest by the Southern
members.
Many speeches were made and reso-
lutions offered. Some of tho speeches
were Of the most virulent character
Mr.. Burroughs of Arkansas said the
south had upheld the Democratic par
ty from the beginning Of the govern.
ment to the present time. The South
has extended the boundaries of the
country, and has furnished the means
at all times for paying the debts of the
country.
He did not care whether the Black
Republicans whipt them or they whipt
the Black Republicans. AS to Doug
las, he would not support him even if
he was nominated lie considered
him as great an enemy to the South as
Seward was.
The whole question was finally re
committed, and at our last adviccs tho
committee had not agreed upon re
port.
A majority of the Convention ca,
adopt the platform, but two-third
vote is required to make the nomina
ton. 1t is hardly worth while to pre-
dict the result, and yet we may sa,
the indications are, that the wa
thus commenced will have the effec
to nominate q Southern man, or t.
nominate Northern man on an ultr;
Southern platform, or to split the Con
vention in two, leaving the delegate
from the North to raise the standar,
of Douglas, and those from the Sout
to put up the name of Hunter or d.
Wis. We will not undertake to pr
dict which one of the three propo.