Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-05-05
Scctional ism---Agi citation of the Slavery
Qucstion---A "NigRer" in Demo-
critic Convention.


FRIDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
The first business of the Convention Friday
morning, was the report of the Committee on
the Platform. Mr. Avery of Tennessee, for
majority of the Committee reported series of
resolutions, of which the first, second and fourth
are as follows-
Resolved, That the platform adopted Mt Cincinnati
be re-aiirmed, with the following additional resolu-
tons:-
Resolved, That the national democracy of tic Uni
ted States hold these cardinal principles or the sub
ect Of slavery in the territories Frst that Congress
has power to abolish slavery in the territories
Second that the territorial legislatures have power
to abolish slavery in the territories, nor to prohibit
the introduction of slaves therein any power to
destroy impair the right of property in slaves by
any legislation whatever.
Resolved That it is the duty of the federal govern
ment to protect, when necessary the rights Of per-
property the high seas, in the territories, or
wherever else its constitutional jurisdiction enters.
The third resolution denounces the enact
ments of State legislatures known as personal
liberty bills" the fifth favors protection of nat
uralized citizens, and the sixth the annexation
of Cuba sat the earliest practicable moment"
Mr. Payne of Ohio, reported for minority
of the committee. The first resolution re-af-
firms the Cincinnati Platform. The second we
give entire, as it relates to the subject which is
the bone OF contention; it is as follows:
Resolved That all questions in regard to the rights
of property, whether in states territories, Judi
cial in their character and the democratic party is
pledged to abide by and faithfully carry out all deter
limitations on such questions ms have been or may be
made by the supreme court of the United States.
The third is for protection Of naturalized cit
liens; the fourth for railroad to the Pacific
coast; and the fifth for "the acquisition of Gu
ba on such terms as shall be honorable to our
selves and just to Spain"
Mr. Butler of Massachusetts, for himself re-
ported single resolution re-affirming the Gin
cnnati Platform.
All the reports having been presented, Mr.
Avery addressed the convention in behalf of
the majority, claiming that he represented the
seventeen democratic states of the Union (all
the slave states and California and Oregon y
He alluded to the fact that Mexico and Cuba
would inevitably, with Central America, form a
part of the American Union, and with the pop
ular sovereignty doctrine, as proclaimed in the
minority report, no STAKEHOLDER would dare to
enter any of this new territory with his slaves.
1t was said that northern men did not like to
be thrown into association with Shareholders,
and he appealed to gentlemen to correct that
error, and prove to the South that the demo-
cratic party of the North entertain no such SEN
timents. There is distrust among the masses
= of southern people of their northern allies
y We sympathize with you when you are called
"doughfaces" at the North, and we ask you to
y give us evidence that our sympathy is well
i placed.
a Mr. Payne then addressed the convention in
behalf Of the minority report He did not de-
sire any personal victory, but those he repre-
scented believed that in the harmonious settle.
ment of these difficulties alone depends the ex.
stence of the democratic party and the pros.
perity and perpetuity of the Union. The de
mocracy of the North have stood by the South
in good faith. There never had been but one
construction put upon the slavery question
S clauses of the Cincinnati platform, and he chal
n lenged any man to show that it had ever beer
q differently construed even on the floors of Con
-, gress. Mr. Payne read the opinions of Secre
" tary Toucey and Vice President Breckinridgt
= against any measure to egslate slavery into thu
n territories, and that the people of each terrific
70 nv shall settle the matter for themselves and bt
admitted into the Union with or without slavery
!, as they may determine; and he said he coult
n show that every distinguished democrat sine,
'r 1850 has planted himself on the squatter SOW
IT ereignty platform of non-intervention by Con
gress. He quoted also from Hunter, Toombs
: Mason, and other southern democratic states
lie men, maintaining the same ground of non-in
Of PREVENTION, and concluded by saying ;-"V
Is cannot recede from this doctrine ,cithom person
al dishonor, and so help as God we nerer ,cil
: abandon this principle. II the majority repo'
IN is adopted, you cannot erpect one northern cleo
is toral uOte, or one sympathizing member Of Con
st gress from the free states"
lie Several sharp passages occurred between NJ
Butler and Mr. Johnson of Maryland, whic
provoked much merriment. Just previous t
Ii the morning adjournment Mr. Cochrane of Ne,
III York, offered resolution to cover all the prop
IN ositions before the Convention, and in the al
I'd tcrnoon Mr. Bayard of Delaware, presented ar
ne. other series, when the discussion was resumed
is Barksdale of Mississippi, made violent South
p ern speech, and was followed by Gov King {
as Missouri on the other side. He is thus report
Elf ed =
,e. Ex-Gov. King of Missouri addressed tn
ut convention in favor of harmony and concilii
. ton. Delegates came here, he said, instructe
:, to do the best that could be done for the demo
ny cratic party. The majority report has the stin
of death in it. He should vote for the minor
ty report as a substitute. All the people wal
is the Cincinnati platform without any tail to
A. He spoke of the black republicans as men WI
at are about as sharp as men usually get and sal
of they would ridicule their majority platform
IT,. Janus-faced and contradictory. So far as Mi
souri, is concerned. the democracy can carry
Oh even clogged with this deadly sting, as they a
he Gays 90 Il blind for the democratic non,ine,
ne but he could plainly see that his border neig
70 bors would be destroyed by its venom. II
-, northern democracy, he said have been strickt
30 down because they stand by the South; az
H. Al. IL. a. a.
they cannot promise their electoral vote to IL