The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-07-20
MEETING OF THE DEM0CRATlC
CITY CONVENTION. .

Last evening called meeting of the Democratic
City Convention assembled in Rechabite Hall, Johr
s. Wright, Esq, President in the Chair
The roll was called, and quorum answered
Several vacancies in difereat wards were theI
filled permanently by the delegations
Mr.. Maddox moved that the reading Of the pro
ceedings of the last meeting be dispensed with
carried. .er -s.. eaa-
Martin Hedian, of the 9th ward moved that th
Convention adjourn, and it was lost by yeas ls
nays Al.
The President said that he called meeting o
the Convention, the call stated, for the purpose
of recinding the action of the Convention of tn,
18th inst, or to adopt new resolutions
A gentleman called for the order of the day, be
ing the resolutions offered by Mr.. King of the 5tt
ward, at the last meeting.
Mr.. Spencer said that this was a meeting called
tor an express purpose, and that purpose
all other business. He said that at the last meeting
preamble and resolution had been adopted, call
ing upon the Democrats of this city to meet in ware
meetings, for the purpose of selecting delegates
City Convention for the purpose of sending dele
gates to State Convention, which is to meet ir
this city the 9th of August. He therefore moved
that the preamble and resolution be rescinded. The
resolution was read, when Mr.. Spencer called the
previous question, and the resolution rescindeC
BY vote of 3S yeas to 27 nays
There was considerable applause from the Doug
las men, when Mr.. Spe ncer gained the floor, and said
that he rose for the purpose ofpresen ting series
resolutions. He claimed as his brthright the right
to entertain and express publicly his views on all
questions, and this same right he conceded to all
others. He then read the following preamble and
resolutions:
Whereas, majority of this Convention in conformi
y to party usages, did, at its regular monthly meeting
on the first Thursday of June ut by resolutions raty
and confirm the nominations of Stephen A Douglas
Hersche " johnson for President Vice President
made by the National Democratic party of the Union
minority of this Convention did Immediately secede
therefrom, and subsequently attempted to organize
themselves into separate and independent City Con-
vention.
And Whereas, At the called meeting Of this Conven-
tion held the 18th of the present month"; the said Sc
ceders Unexpectedly returned this Convention and
finding that thirty uotes constituted najority of the
members then present because OF the attendance of
other members who had notice of the intention tie
seceders to return to this Conventonor the purpose
resembling the resolutions Of ratification aforesaid-and
to call primary meetings to promote their schemes of
ths Deinocratlc sad seceders did
then pass resolutions resembling, by uoe Of hiytDo
in the affirmative the said ratification of Douglas and
Johnson-which had been made by vote of fftysepen
in the affirmative. And then, with view to foresta
and prevent all further action by majority of this Con-
vention the said seceders did lay on the table
the motion to reconsider said the
said ratification.
And Whereas, The said seceders did also then pass
resolution calling primary meetings in the several wards
purpose of sending eleven delegates to State Conven
tion called for the purpose OF repudating the regular
nominations of the National Democratic party; there
1st. Be Resoced, That the resolutions resembling the
ratification of Douglas and johnson aforesaid, were
passed by minority Of this Convention-who had al
ready seeded thereom and only returned practice
surprise on the majority Of this body
I'd That majority Of the delegates in this Conven-
on will support Douglas and Johnson as the regular
nominees of the National Democratic party.
3d. That the integrity of the Democratic party in Bal
9a1r ha
Convention is not disorganzed by secession of
the minority of its delegates and if every delegate to
future party Conventions in this city, shall pledge him
SELF as man of honor, to abide by and support the
nominees Of the Convention of which he is member:
and unless these safeguards to party organization
strictly abserved now and hereafter, hope of
uniting party torn and scattered by the recent
cessions frem its National Convention. t.
When Mr.. Spencer reached the names of Douglas
and johnson in the first whereas, the Douglas wing
commenced to applaud, when the Breckenridge
order restored, when Mr.. Spencer claimed
patient hearing, but when he reached the names
again the same scene occurred. ..r
Order was again restored and the resolutions
were read, and at their close, Mr.. F. Bowers, of
the 18th ward, rose and said that he was no sece-
der and any person who said he was a seceder was
no gentleman. (Great confuson.) Hewould stand
by what he said too. He wanted to hear the reso-
lutions read again.
They were read second time, during which he
was interrupted and there cries for order. He
continued and when he finished said that he always
considered the nominations of Douglas and John
son the only national nominations David
Banks sprung to his feet and capping his hands he
said that Breckenridge and Lane were the national
nominees.
A scene of the utmost confusion prevailed. -
There was yelling and stamping of feet. There
was heavy lobby and the Breckenridge. mer
ov idently She rney Joined in the
applause, and the hammer of the President called
in vain for order. Quiet was partially restored
and Mr. Snannnr pa1lad the nravious
Mr.. King, of the fifth ward, endeavorei to gain
the floor, but the President decided him out of or
der. There was call for the yeas and nays, and
the Secretary proceeded with the call. Frequently
there were two responses for the same individual,
and when the matter was examined, it was found
that the party called was not present, and that
friends were voting for him.
The resolutions were pronounced carried by the
President, by vote of 36 yeas to 81 nays. This
was the moment for "confuson worse confounded"
Dozens o. the members of the Convention spraug
to their feet, and there were cries of ssyeas and
nays" 'you lie, its the other way" ''call the
roll; "move we adjourn" Finally, Mr.. Griffith, of
the goth ward, was recognized by the chair, and
he moved to adjourn. The President put the
question. There good response of ''yeas"
and stentorian response of "nays," but the Pre-
sident decided that the Convention stood adjourned
until the next regular monthly meeting The
outsiders had pressed up to the seats of the men,
bers-the aisle was thronged. The members of
the Breckinridge wing were calling for the "yeas
and nays" and the President was looking for his
hat, for the purpose of vacating the chair and as
soon as he found it, left the rostrum. There were
cries of "Damn you, go back and take the yeas
and nays" but Mr.. Wright proceeded slowly
down the aisle, and eventually succeeded in getting
out of the room. The Douglas men were follow
ing suit, when one of the Breckenridge men,
standing on bench, played Cromwell and with
emphatic gesture exclaimed, "Out, git, you id
thieves" This was responded to by a Douglas
man with "thats custom house talk"
At this point Mr.. Slater, of the I'd ward, moved
that Mr.. O'Brien, of the 7th ward take the chair
and putting the motion pronounced it carried
although it was difficult to tell what the motion
was.
Mr.. O'Brien is small in stature, but possessed of
an extraordinary pair of lungs. He ascended the
platform, and seizing the gavel, commenced vigo-
rous assault on iat-iron for the purpose of gain
ing order But it was no go. One OF the Douglas
men, turning round, observed Mr.. OBrien, and
pointing at him with one finger, exclaimed,
"Whats that rooster doing there ?" At this point.
wordy alteration took place between Thomas
Goodrich and another delegate, in which they
passed mutual compliments, calling each other
thieves. All the time Mr.. O'Brien calling for
order, and at times the tones OF his voice bordered
on the pathetic, but the stirred-up Democracy
turned deaf ear to his calls. A Douglas man
asked who paid for the hall, when voice replied,
"Judge Mason"
Just here the lights in the rear of the room were
extinguished, and the Breckenridge wing protested
against it, but while they protesting, tall,
lank, lean Cassus-looking individual walked up to
the central chandelier and deliberately turned off
the gas. There were only two burners left lighted
In the room, and they were Immediately over the
rostrum An enthusiastic Breckinridge boy made
a paper torch and attempted to light the burners
OF the central chandelier, but reaching the spot
it was snatched from his hand and trampled out.
The greatest confusion prevailed at this point The
Breckinridge men were budding up near the two
lights, while the Dougasites were bowling and
hooting in the rear of the room.
Martin Hedian, (Douglasite,) moved to adjourn,
but the motion was hissed down. j. A. l.. Nc
Cure gained the floor and moved that the men,
bers of the Convention favorable to Breckenridge
and Lane adjourn to meet in No. Franklin Build
ing, North street. Immediately. Mr.. O'Brien en-
tertained the motion and pronounced it carried
The crowd slowly left the room, the DougIasltes in
the lead, and when they reached the pavement they
stnnnnd in -Ann;uA .hA RrAnkinridra winn with
taunts and hooting. large crowd had been at
tracted to the street in front of the hall by the
noise and confusion.
cheer was offered up for him, which was responded
to by cheers for Breckenridge. The two wings
took different sides of the street, and they pro-
ceeded along, the choicest epithets the language
can afford were applied to each other. This COM
tinued until the Breckinridge men reached No. :
North street, when they left the street for the
room. The Douglasites continued ON their way
home hooting and cheering.
Franklin Hall was soon lighted up and in short
time the Breckinridge men located themselves in
the best manner around the room, prepared for
business. The meeting was called to order by Mr..
William j. O'Brien, of the 7th ward who said that
the ILL advised step taken alittle while ago by men,
bers ofthe City Democratic Convention had induced
them to take this step. 1t would have been much
better for them if they had accepted the comprO-
mise measures offered to them. We will now
organize as separate, distinct and divided body