The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-05-04
The Charleston Convention.

We condense the proceedings Of the past
week at Charleston, into the following. We
give it as it appeared each day:
WEDNESDAY.-The Democrats make slow
progress at Charleston. They only settled
the contested seats Yesterday. counting out
Fernando Wood and his crew, and tie Hi
nois Douglas men in SO far the Douglas
party are in the ascendent on every essential
point, and his nomination seems more threat
ening than ever. His opponents are divided
and apparently disheartened. We look for
platform to-day-that of Cincinnati with
the bred Scott decision annexed the Doug
las men shouting the loudest ayes-and to-
morrow FOR the nomination. probably Doug
las possibly Guthrie. If New York moves
in solid column for Douglas ard South Caro-
lima Yields as is reported, his triumph is III
evitable, and the great rebel becomes the
great victor.
THrRsDAY.-The Democracy are at dead
lock at Charleston upon the question Of the
platform. The committee have been in la
Dor tor Is hours, but are about equally Givi-
ded between the views of Mr.. Douglas and
his friends and those Of his opponents, be-
tween squa,ter sovereignty and $ ave code,
between North ard South. Sectionalism is
indeed rampant at Charleston. Thursday
was therefore spent by the convention in
suggestions TO this committee, but with 20
results in either body MIR. Douglas insists
on both the nomination and the PLATFORM
The former seemed more and more within
his grasp, but the South cannot Weld him
BOTH and half OF its delegates at least will
bolt rather tE.an submit to both sovereignty
or even lis blind representative, the Cincin-
natl platform and lis champion. The fur
Their proceedings will be awaited with great
interest. The convention and the party have
got to the "cri>is,' and there is no telling
how it will end.
FKlpAY-lhe Democrats don't seem to
succeed very well in "stopping the slavery
agitation. even when they have the matter
all to themselves. Their national convention
is thrcatene,! with dissolution bv difference
on TINS question. The platform question
WAS brought out OF committee Yesterday. un-
settled. but with the recommendation of res
olutions b! the majority, that if passed
would destroy the party in every free state.
whoever the candidate. The convention is
likely TO reject them, but nothing is propo-
sed yet as Il compromise between them and
thc Douglas platform, that are better for him
or the party IN The North. The end of the
con,en,ion is 40, plain to see. but the party
is being rapidly use! up by this conc, of
sections and doctrines. Douglas and hi,
friends seem to have brought the party into
the alternative o! defeat in every tree state.
or the adoption OF both him and his plat
form. AID this the convention Cannot and
viii net do. The South asks either the plat
form or the caHdidac.and one must be Weld
I'd or its delegates will bolt. 1t certainly
looks as ii Democracy had gone up"
SATURDAY. - The Democratic National
Convention ended its first week on Saturday
night with 10 result obtained. The platform
question occuritd al! SATURDAY in al arr,
and riotou, discussion. the Douglas parry
were b. aten bv one majority on test vote.
and the >nhjec; was sent back 10 the commit,
tee. who reported Anew bat Substantially as
before. io-Cny We are promised some de-
decisive voting. on!y STAYED off on SATURDAY
nigh, hl the tIhbu>t,rns o. the South who
felt they were III the minority on their ties,
OF tie majority report or slave code rc>olu-
tons. Beaten 70 DAY they soon agreed ard
determined 10 s,ctde to the number If abou,
ont-thlId of the whole convention. 10 nom
mate Douglas on his Own platform would
then be an easy matter for those who remain
but dt>poi!cd OF half o., two-third> Of the
southern states. his election would be an in
possibility II beaten on the platform and
the Soath remains III for the bu!iotirgS. Mr.
Douglas nomination would seem To- hr very
doubtful. j! not IMPOSSIBLE except after re
pea! OF the requirement OF Il two-thir,!> vote.
l!c only altern;ti,, to a split in the co,.ycl.-
ton Is the abandonment of all platforms and
lhe nomination OF >"mehu,!, besides nour-
las. !i>, Guthrie or lIora,o SEYMOUR IF Ncu
York. No other compromise seems ro>>ib!,
ana The temper Of both >i,!,> At last accounts
gave 80 promise Of even >,ch an ore 4, his
| he South cannot AID vi! not tuhc douglas
aud his PLATFORM and he cannot accept the
nomination of theirs. He has gone 100 :ar
tor that.
MoNp,l.-Ihe "c!;>:>" WAS reached =;
Charleston to-day and VIA. w.S predicted
several days bc.or, cane to pass in The dis
rrp,ior OF the convention. Tie Douglas par
~ carried by >. majorit, thor minuri,, riat
io'm, s'r'ppe1 even Of its proposed pledge 10
abide 10y Ike '!eci>;,n Of the supreme cour,
as to the rights q! slavery i'll TIE territories
adding nothing o.: The slavery question to
the Cincinnati platform. and then CONNER ccI
The breakup.
The .Alabama delegation led of. and WIS
followed by one state after another u,:i, A.
bout two-thirdS Of the South h.. >cc,,,,I
and the rest were hc>itAtrg. An adjourn
ment irtcrrur'td III" stampede. but the indi-
cations were last night tina, the South would
be very nearly united III the bo;. and unless
the northern delegates yielded and gave them
either the candidate or the platform that
they would set up Il distinct or a,.iza.ion ana
ticket.
The bolt is more serious thar the DOUGLAS
men anticipated. and beyond their power to
overcome by an appeal to tn. people Of the
South. No compromise seems possible that
can save Douglas, and if his friends do Nc,
offer him up to-day. but persist in nomina-
ing him. he and they are likely to cone out
,f the November election the third party in
he fight.
The latest dispatches state that the south
Pm convention would nominate Daniel $.
Dickinson Of New York fer President, ard
'lck Oft Doug lass proposed left bower" $
With Alexander II. Stephens of Georgia for
zee President, and that the northern CON
'cntlon would nominate Douglas on the first
'allot to-day, but find it difficult to procure
prominent southener for the second place
With him.
The Platform Adopted. s