Weekly national intelligencer., 1860-05-12
MEETING OF THE coNyENTIoN.

The Convention assembled in the Old Presbyterian
Church. the corner of Fayette and North Streets
which had been specially fitted up for the occasion and
decorated with the National hag festooned around the
walls and galleries The building is now owned by the
United States Government the site having been purchased
with the view of erecting Federal court house upon it,
Its granted to the Committee of Arrangements by
the Secretary of the Interior Before eleven O'Clock all
the available space the church. other than that set apart
for the accommodation of the members of the Convention
and the ladies, occupied by outsiders There no
mpatence manifested however, the best order prevailing
AT hafpast eleven o'clock the different delegations COM
menced to enter They received by the Committee
of Arrangements and assigned to their respective seats
and small pacard with the name of the delegation print
ed it, nailed to the end of the front seat of the rows
which they occupied. When the Hon. VIM L. GoGGIN
ANDREW j. DoNELsoN, JOSEPH PAXTON, and THOMAS
SWAMI entered they each received with demonstra
tions of applause few minutes before twelve o'clock
the Hon. JNo. j. CRITTENDEN entered As he walked
the aisle the walls echoed and the galleries fairly shook
with the most tumuuous applause which lasted for some
minutes He walked the head of the aisle to the row of
seats occupied by the Kentucky delegation when each of
that body shook him heartily by the hand In minutes
he ascended the PLATFORM which the occasion of an
other demonstration of applause one round of deaenng
cheers following another.
When partial quiet was restored the Rev Dr. JAMES
D. McCABE of ST. Stephens Protestant Episcopal Church.
OF Baltimore, offered up prayer.
AT the close of the prayer Mr. CRITTENDEN said It has
been made duty to perform the honored task of calling
mnary remarks necessary. In accordance with ar
rangements previously made, 1 nominate the Hon.
WASHINGTON HUNT, of New York, as temporary Chair
This nomination received with cheers and Mr.
Hunt unanimously selected
Hon. THOMAS SWAMI nominated William F. Switzer,
oil Missouri, as temporary Secretary. Carried.
ADDRESS OF MR. HUNT.
Mr. HUNT conducted to the stand when he smoke as
follows:
Gentlemen find myself most unexpectedly called upon
to preside the preliminary proceedings of Conyen
tiOn lt is call which do not feel at liberty refuse
yet regret that other has been proposed
The proud and anmatng spectacle presented here this
revives cherished recoectons and kindles feel
ngs and sentiments of patriotic hope. & s,-s i. Il.
II carries the mind back those days of blessed mem
ory when the fathers of the country assembled in council
to form perfect union and establish the foundations
broad and deep, of political system which should pre-
serve forever American liberty unon and independence
lApplause ~ @s.tt .ss.s
The spirit which animated them will inspire us on this
occasion. trust that it will be object and aim to
strengthen the institutions which we received from their
hands, and to strengthen that feeling of union and fter
nifty which constitutes us people, and without which
union would be impossible Applause. dasss1ti IS
We have together this occasion from all parts
of our widely extended country-rom the North and
South from the East and from the West-to deliberate
and take counsel together for the good of
whole country. We have a mission of peace to
strengthen the chains of and revive the spirit
national affection IN the land and to proclaim that
and ever intend to be bound together by ties
[APPlause
We are brought together by no partisan Influences for
IN times like these the interests of party and the schemes
of personal ambition become utterly insignificant and
worthless lApplause. They too feeting and too
contemplate, trust to impede the action of free people
In preserving their rights and freedom. Applause Let
us know no party but country and platform but the
Union. [Appause. fs .t
1t has long been apparent and of late become too pain
fully evident that we have party in this country at the
present moment, unless it be the friends of the Unon
who are already here capable of furnishing remedy for
the dstempers under which the country is suffering
Applause.
The once proud and invincble Democracy, which has
welded the powers of Government for many years. has
been rent in twain by the fell spirit of sectional dscor
and has aground upon the shoals and breakers
lar sovereignty and the mysteries of Territorial govern
ment lApplanse fear it s beysnd the power of any
surgical or medical skill 4tsl. .sii5t. =. - 81
think there sorcery witchcrat left by which the
political caudron be made again to produce that har
mony OF cohesion which in the ranks Of the
Democratic party Applause We have another party,
which proposes mainly to deal with this subject of
popular sovereignty and the management of the Terrific
es and the question presented to the great and
pertinent issue of the day whether slavery shall be
tended INTO regions where the winter temperature many
degrees below zero, and in which, viii venture to say
slave could be induced to emgrate and Settle
And while called upon to discuss this miserable
abstraction, and enter into the Presidential election upon
it. nothing is stated, nothing proposed, nagprd ~ tEe-
great functions and duties of the General Q6venent which
concerns the people and the United STATED at large While