The register. (Monroe, La.) 185?-1861, 1860-06-14

they lacked Id numbers they made up in ardor
and intensity. There is no denying that they
were downright earnest, though it was whisper
ed that there were Breckenridge men in Dou-
the disguise was very complete. Ex-Governor
Wickliffe and Major Heron, suspected Of
Breckenridgeism; were very emphatic and de-
monstrative in their Douglas manifestations.
About 10 O'Clock, the Ranger, e small coast
boat, freighted with the Douglas party Of New
Orleans, arrived, and contributed somewhat TO
enliven the very hot and dusty village, where
few straggers from the country had been en-
gagged for SOME hours in q vain search for cool
spots.
On their arrival, tie Douglas column was
made up, and promptly at the hour the dele
gates marched mournfllly through the streets,
TO composite edifce in the rear of the town,
called by some ballroom by others a theater,
and by others Public Hall, and which is, in
fact, as happy a combination Of the reduire-
ments for all these various uses, as that ingcni-
GUS piece Of furniture which the poet describes
asa
"-chest Of drawers by day and bed by night"
There was stage, with scenery and wings
dress circle, ornamented with scarlet, and
! several ancient flags, which seemed as if they
had been used in ali the mimic battles that had
been fought on the said stage for many years
past, from which hornescc refsrens several Of the
silvery stare. intended to represent sovereign
ties Of this Union, had mysteriously disappear
ed, being seized, no doubt, with the prevalent
spirit Of boiling. This sidereal secession
proved a great embarrassment to some Of the
orators in their illusions to our glorious ma
tiOnal standard, and the eloquent General.
Michael Ryan, Of Rapdes. came near tumbliDg
as precipitately as Icarus did when he ap-
preached too near the sun and melted the wax
Of bis wings, as his (Gen. Ryan's) eyes glanc-
ing impressively "at the glorious banner en-
blazoned with thirty three stars" discovered
that there were but eleven or fourteen, not
even enough to elect Douglas.
General Ryan looked somewhat complain
ingly towards DR.. Cottman, who was too busy
with the stars Of the dramatic persona, to help
the Rapides orator out of his rhetorical imbrog-
lilo. As soon as the delegates and spectators,
embracing crowd of over two hundred were
seated, DR.. COttman rang up the curtain and the
performance commenced. Everything worked
to charm. The Convention was organized in
the most busness-like and expeditions manner.
The Old-Liners ought to take few lessons
from the Douglas managers in this business.
ally most bungIingy organized, and the officers
are always chosen with special reference to
their unfitness for the duties imposed upon
them. We never saw an Old-Line Democratic
Convention in this State which was ever pre-
sided over in an efficient manner. This lisa griev-
ance which weighs heavily upon reporters, and
is the source Of much Of the confusion and Of
the controversies and misunderstanding in the
party. The New-Liners managed better. The
+ocf nvASn ts,, 10
lhod Of Mr.. Soule and DR.. Cottman here stood
them in good part.
The Doctor proposed General Munday. of
East Feliciana for President, and the following
other officers:
For Vice-President: Doctor T. A. Tate, of
Assumption; Doctor Duperu. of st. Martin !;
Doctor Sanders, Of St. Mary Doctor Burlington,
Of East Baton Rouge; Doctor Dclony Of East
Feliciana; Doctor Maurice Cameron, Of Living
ston; Doctor Robin, Of Pointe Coupee Doctor
W. H. Gale, Of Ouachita Isaac 81 Morse, G.
Crane, W. G. Muller, Of Orleans; A, Robinson,
Plaquemi1es; &. Bienvenu, St. Bernard G..
Zimmerman, Jefferson z. Herbert, St. James {;
E. J. Mccall, Assertion; A. Sigur, Iberville i;
R. A. Wickliffe, West Feliciana N. D. Cole
man, Madison Michael Ryan, Rapides.
For Secretaries: A. L. Gusman, East Baton
Rouge E. Newell, Pointe Coupee l., Laborde,
Madison Il. Towns, West Felciana; N. Soule,
Dalferes and Brooks, Of New Orleans ]. A.
Braud, of West Feliciana.
The large representation Of the faculty in
this list gave rise to much speculation. 1t was
thought the services of so many doctors was
greatly needed to reduce the rupture Of the De-
mocracy, purge it OF its many corruptions and
eradicate the deep seated malady which has so
long affected it,
General Munday returned thanks in a good
off.hand speech, full of patriotism and Union
love.
Then Mr.. Soule was requested by DR.. Colt
man to explain the objects of the meeting.
This was done in speech Of admirable clear
ness and distinctness.
Mr.. Soule said in effect that the necessity Of
this Convention had been brought about by the
secession of the delegates of Louisiana, with
the delegations of several other States, from
the Charleston Convention, and their formation
into distinct and bogus Convention. The
National Democratic Convention had accepted
that sort of tacit resignation, and had request
ed the States whose delegates had seceeded to
supply the vacancies. The obvious duty Of the
Democracy was, therefore, to send new dele
gates or the old ones with new instructions.
But the State Executive Committee, not regard
ing this request, had declared their approval
of the conduct of the seceders, and had at
tempted the impossible task of galvanizing in
to life a dead Convention. That body had re-
Gently sat ut Baton Rouge, and had further APP
proved the conduct of the secedcrs, and virtu-
ally LETT the Democracy of Louisiana without
representation in the National Democracy.
Thus they had renowned and broken off all
connection with the Democracy of the Union
for which he and his friends in this Convention
were not prepared"
He trusted that the separation would be
merely temporary, that the seceders would dis
cover their error in time to repent and return
to the bosom of the party. He would not
ostracise but would indeed gladly welcome
them back and rejoice once more to see them
doing battle in the good cause of the Union
and of the National Democracy. A sponta-
neous call from New Orleans, for the conyoca-
ton of this Convention had met with prompt
response from the country, and they had sent
delegates who were now met to consider the
momentous issues now before the country, the
IF, tor nj