Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-05-15

mination, paid visit last night to thu
Massachusetts delegation. and nobler set of
men l have not met with lately. We also
compared views on the exciting topics of the
day, and found that their views were ny
views, and that my views were their views
/ could not find one point of difference be
tween us. All we wanted was the Union az
it is. and the Constitution aud the laws. ]
therefore came to the conclusion that We
shonld remain for a little time to consult to-
ge,her and all will be well.
tell you, sir, that there is an uprising OF
the people. North, South, East and West, and
We are delegated here to perform no ordin
airy duty. Let US do nothing with undue
haste. and our action here will be such as can
not fail to perpetuate infinitely those institu-
tons, which, by fanaticism, have been so re
peatedly endangered. Let the subject of a
platform be referred to committee. Voice
"We want no platform."] Well, let the ques-
ton be referred, and let the committee con-
slider the subject, and report that we want
no platform, if such is the will of the Con-
vention. | want such committee to come
together and consult, and become better ac-
quainted with each other. In the meantime,
he hoped that his proposition to postpone
the ballotting for President and Vice Pres
ident until noon Tomorrow, would DE
adopted.
Mr. Switzler, of Missouri, was about to
speak, when the Chair announced that the
delegation from Texas were at the door OF
the building and desired admittance.
This announcement was received with
deafening applause, aud the delegation pro-
ceeded To the Secretaries desk and presented
their credentials. The Chairman of the dele
CATION, A. B. Norton, wore beard reaching
nearly to his waist, which attracted great at
tention-whereupon,
General Leslie Combs rose and thought it
proper to account to the convention for the
extraordinary hairy appearance OF the gen
tieman from Texas. Some fifteen years ago
he had made vow that he never would cut
his beard until Henry Clay was elected Pres
ident of the United States, and it will be
perceived be has most religiously kept his
VOW. Vociferous applause.l
Mr. Switzler, of Missouri, then proceeded.
He said that be spoke as the representative
of State which had been overridden for the
the last twenty-five years by political dema-
agogues. The question now was platform or
no platform. and he would say in this con-
nccIiOn that the Missouri delegation stood
two for and twelve against adopting any
platform. The people of Missouri wanted 10
better platform than the Constitution and the
UnIon,and with such a one 1t would be an easy
matter to override the political plunderers
Washington. He was not opposed to discuss
ing matters relating to the public welfare,
but this question of platform was disgraced
before the country. The people considered
them mere huumbgs, designed only to catch
voters. AS, for instance, what was the Gin
cinnati platform? IA voice, nothing.1 Il
was, in his opinion, like a piece OF gutta per-
cha. A voice, india rubber.l 1t was capa
bic of being cut and put together again. In
conclusion. he would remark that he hoped
the convention would not peril the success OF
the present movement by adopting any plat
form, but take the Constitution aud the Uni,n
and with that go before the country. [Ap-
plause.1
The Hon. Thos. Swami, who, on taking the
floor, was greeted with great applause, said:
| arise, Mr.. President, for the purpose of sc
onding the motion of the gentleman who has
just spoken. [Applause.] The State OF
Marylan is here to-day, sir, prepared to
make a nomination. She has welcomed, sir,
the delegations from the different States OF
this great Union, and she believes that the
time is near at hand when this convention
will be able to agree upon such platform
that shall give confidence to this whole coun-
try. [Appause.l Mr.. President, gentlemen
have talked about platforms. We have a
great deal to say upon the subject of plat
forms If that question is opened up, but, sir,
for myself (without meaning to represent
the sentiment of those with whom am aSso-
ciated bere,) | say, sir. that when the dlstn-
gushed men who inaugurated this conven-
ton appeared upon that platform to-day,
[applause,1 that was platform enough for the
State of Maryland. Immense applause.1
Show us the man, and we will tell you his
platform. We want men who stand upon
the Constitution and the execution of the
laws. [Appiause.l We want no other plat
form here [applausel SO far as the little State
of Maryland is concerned. [Applause.l
Mr.. President we are here at most i'm
portant period of our political history. 1t
cannot be denied, sir, that for months past a
feeling of distrust and growing restlessness
as to our political future has taken strong
hold upon the minds of the people of this
country. The question is asked, How long
is this state of things to continue? Is this
alorinus Union really in dauEer ?" We are
here III period of calm to take our reckon
ing, aud ascertain how far the old ship of
state has drifted from its true cOurse-to es-
innate the dangers through which we have
passed. and by which we are now surround
ed and TO calculate the chances that lie be-
fore us in the future. Ii we wish to give
confidence to the people of this country, l
say, representing. as | believe, the voice OF
the State of Maryland, that we should repu-
date all platforms but the Constitution.
TApplause.l Now, sir, from the distinguish
ed names that have been presented TO the
consideration of the State of Maryland, We
are prepared, in spirit OF compromise, to
make judicious selection. We are here for
repudiatng all uitraism, both North and
SOntb.
There are,good men. constitutional men,
and national men in the North as well as the
South, and we are not to be intimidated in
the choice which we shall make by that cry
which is raised by the Democratic party
whenever a gentleman is presented who may
be supposed TO affiliate with Northern senti-
ments. We desire to stand upon conserva-
tive platform, and we say, when you repudi-
ate the Supreme Court OF the United States,
and its decision, we-a are at sea, and we might
as we'll return and go home to our cOnstitu-
en;s. [Applause.l With this view | feel
bound to say that the State of Maryland Is
not prepared TO go into nomination at the
present IN oment. She asks for time. She
will be willing tomorrow morning, after she
has had un interchange with her brethren,
North and Sontb, and L am satisfied, sir,
from the limitations that have been given
here to-day, that we shall be able TO present
a man without platiorm-a man that we
can trust upon his antecedents, and upon the
position which he occupies before the coun-
try. One VINO possesses that spirit which has
been departed from by those who are now in
power, and which will give confidence to our
country, both North aud South, East and
Vest. lApplause.]
Mr.. Hopkins. of Georgia, desired to say q
few words on this question of plato rms, and
he would, in SO doing, detain the Conyen-
ton but few minutes. He would suggest
platform in a very few words. He repre-
scented the first district of Georgia, and be
was instructed, by such men as Judge Lord,
and by consultation with the most intelligent
4 Al. l.
mand platform. After sounding public
opinion in Georgia, be had consulted with
citizens of North Carolina, and they had per-
fectly conceded with him; not only that we
should have platform, but we agreed in all
its planks- They thought that there would
be no difficulty in giving the South plat
form-a platform that three millions of