Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1860-05-10

yorable circumstance, it would be folly to deny
we are too painfully Impressed with that fact to attempt
to deceive either ourselves others In reference to it.
But after ALL the harm done is less in reality than in ap
pearance, as few words of explanation will show, and
the difficulties which stood in the way of the party at
Charleston had their origin less in any rreconcleabe
differences of opinion than in the effort OF the friends OF
particular candidate to force him on the Convention
at all hazards and to the last extremity This stood in
the way of the PLATFORM and indeed of everything else
The Convention the fullest and in many respects the
abIest political body which ever assembled in the Uni
ted States convened in Institute Hall on Monday of last
week. and sat for ten days. without personal coils
ion-without bitterness without unkndness and adjourn
ed in the best humour to meet again in Baltimore. We
are not aware of fight alteration having occur
red in the city of Charleston during the whole time of
the session of the Convention in fact the city was unu
suay quiet 1t was not therefore, the want of person
al courtesy or the rupture of friendly relations between
delegates which prevented definite and satisfactory action
neither was it any real difficulty in regard to the platform
not any at least, which, under other circumstances
might not have been and would not have been easily re-
concied and which may not yet be- 1t was the zeal for
mantle determination of the friends of that man to
make everything subservient to his promotion, which
rendered aborve every effort of the conciliaory
and gave chance for the ,hot-headed and am
bilious to obtain little doubtful notoriety by
farng up too soon and appointing themselves leaders of
some new Observation-Disclosures of some Convention
not contemplated by their constituency when appointing
them The delegates to Charleston were accredited to
particular body, and other and when they
ed to be members of that body, they fncs otcO
they were no longer delegates. This the view
4oI,o b1, Tho iop
There was from the first majority of the delegates
on the floor in favor of the platform reported by Mr.
Avery on behalf of the majority of the committee
solutions the fact being, that although the important
votes of New York, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois,
were cast against that platform large minority of the
delegates from all these States were in favor of it, but
were not counted owing to the unit rule adopted by their
States by which the maority the whole vote without
division. Nay with this rule the following perfectly
satisfactory compromise agreed to- and coud easily
have been passed this week if it could only have got be-
fore the House under the rules 1t would have been
ported unanimously by New York and by very large
number of delegates from other Northern States 1t is
the compromise movement made by the Southern States
which did not secede the initiative for such movement
having been first taken at the request of the
vatve members of Northern delegations The resolution
is as follows
ResoEUed That the citizens of the United States have
equal right settle with their property the Territories of
the United States and that under the decisions of the SUI
Of the the
neither the rights of property be destroyed
or impaired by congressional territorial legislation
This its equivalent easily be added to the Gin
cinnat platform by the adjourned Convention to meet
at Baltimore in June. 1t will produce harmony, and
we do most sincerely trust that the true impeachment to
action will by that time have been removed by the pa
triotism and good seLse of Judge Doug as and his
friends 1t now evident that for the present tme at
least, Mr.. Douglas nomination is impossible; by fac
tous at the expense of the party he may become
and will become impossible for all time. We appeal to
that wing of the Democratic party who adhered so per
tinaciousy to Judge Douglas and whose devotion to-
their friend feel bound to respect, to reflect carefully
upon this matter and avoid such course as must prove
ruinous to that friend if not to the party
On the face Of it, the proceedings of the Convention
appear recorded it would seem that Judge Douglas had
at one time obtained ority-that is, vote equiv
alent to the ority of all the electoral colleges This
is only apparent, however Judge Douglas really
had over hundred and twenty to one hundred and
twenty-five electoral votes the floor the large mi
norities in New York. Ohio, Indiana and other States
being deducted it is doubtful whether he had that
number. There is, therefore, reason for stubborn
course in pushing Mr. Douglas to the bitter end and
we do hope that he will not be so pushed. That his
time may will admit that his friends think
it has come, or, at any rate ought to have come
think likely but they must feel by this time that has
not yet arrived. Why then, go on the rule or ruin
principe9 They will not do it.
According to resolution of the Convention the
States and districts left unrepresented by the secession
of their delegates, invited to send Others and no
doubt will. The Baltimore Convention will be as full
as the Charleston. It will understand the position of
things better, and will have better success All will
come right, in opinion, for have idea of Civ
ing up the shp-no disposition to despair OF the Re
public
By the way, the proviso mentioned in connection with
the action of North Carolina in remaining in the Con-
Vention, was, that it should require for nom-
nation vote equivalent to two thirds of all the electo
raj colleges-not simply of all those remaining. This
rule rendered impossible the nomination of any man
fusng to give constitutional Interpretation to the Gin
cinnati platform.
OF incidents connected with the Convention we have
but little time now to speak, and less disposition,
having been particularly prepared fors doing night
travel we may remark however, that the utmost orde
prevailed-that Hon. Caleb Gushing presided with grea
dignity and ability-that the Charleston Hotel, whic
took the first steps towards extortonae prices mus
have lost money as did many other speculative parties
We think the delegates exceeded the outsiders from dis
lance The Hall of the Institute was ample for the &C
commodation of all parties.
Finally tired and will conclude for the present
leaving other matters for more convenient season.
OF course good many speeches were made, mostly i
debate and not in the way of set efforts. Perhaps tn
most studied speeches were delivered by Mr.. Yancey