Daily national Democrat., 1861-06-15
The Right of Secession--DiscussiOn in
the Breckenridge State Convention.

ing with the Secessionists on the war ques-
ton, but opposed to them as to the question
of the right of State Secession. The follow
ing debate ensued:
Mr.. Bolts of Sacramento said he understood
the gentleman from Yuba, Mr. Lindley to
say that the Cincinnati platform declared that
the doctrine enunciated in the Kentucky res
olutions of 1898 was the main foundation OF
the creed of the Democratic party, and i'll his
opinion no reasonable man could doubt that
that resolution maintained the right of seces-
| sion.
Mr.. Lindley-As at present construed
| Mr.. Bolts said the gentleman had also de-
clared that what was the main foundation Of
the Democratic party was repugnant to the
| Democracy of the county of Yuba.
Mr.. Lindley said he had meant to convey
| the impression that from the construction
given to the resolutions of 1898, within the
last year, by distinguished members of the
Democratic party, including Judge Bolts
they carried with them the right of secession
He did not abrogate one OF or little of his
original notions of the resolutions, but be-
cause new and extraordinary events had led
to what appeared to him to be a new and eX-
traordnary construction of the resolutions,
he objected to the first of the majority re3o-
lutious.
Mr. Bolts said he understood that if the
gentleman had understood the creed of the
party he never would have been a Democrat
II would like to ask the gentleman whether
when he professed his devotion and allegi-
ance to the Democratic platform, and was
elected to the high and honorable position of
Chairman Of the State Central Committee
whether he made that profession with a men
tai reservation that he did not subscribe to
the main feature of the platform? ? The reso-
lutions passed by the Legislature of Ken
lucky at the suggestion of Jefferson, in l19S
either meant to declare the right of secession
or they did not. If they did not mean the
right of secession there could be no OF lection
to them, even on the part of Mr. Lindley and
those who thought as he did. If they did
mean the right of secession, to refuse to adopt
them was to repudiate the Cincinnati plat
form-was to declare that the honored men
of the party since the year 1914 had not
known What they were talking about
Mr.. Lindley asked if the portion Of the first
of the majority resolutions, if it should be
passed taken in connection with the platform
referred to, would not be declaratory Of the
right of secession?
Mr. Bolts said it was not for him to con-
strue the Cincinnati platform. 1t was the
gentleman who proposed to give it a con-
structon because he took exception to so
much as shadowed forth the right Of seces-
sion.
Mr. Lindley asked how Judge Bolts con-
strued it?
Mr. Bolts said he did not suppose that the
Convention wished to hear a speech of an
hour and a half from him on the right of Sc
cession. If they did he would give his views
for he was pretty sound on tc question of the
right of secession. lie was not going to add
to or subtract from the Cincinnati PLATFORM
Mr. IIeydenfcldt, of San Francisco, said he
had vet to hear the first speaker declare that
the Virginia or Kentucky resolutions implied
or declared the right Of secession. Those
resolutions related to the right of nullifica-
tion, and the right of redress on the pant of
the States for wrongs and usurpatons of the
Federal Government while they were States
of the Union He was in favor of the ma
iority resolutions. The Democratic party in,
tended to stand by the Virginia and Ken
lucky resolutions, and to let the nation un-
ders,and that when tire rights OF the State of
California were infringcd, the Democracy of
California intended to maintain the doctrine
that she was the Judge of the mode and meas
ure of redress. Applause. lie had always
been of opinion that men who were true
Democrats did not mind where their fellows
came from. If the gentleman from Iuba
understood Democratic principles, all he had
to do was to come squarely up to those prin-
cipes, and he would have no difficulty in
finding platform to suit him.
Mr.. Liadley said no Que could regret that
discussion more than he, but he intended to
treat the attacks that had been made upon
him with the greatest friendliness. The sus-
II; AZ tj,af hn1 hoau oynrncSol would
ther provoke him nor drive him from the
party, the only party that could save the
country. He wanted his friends to under
stand that he cordially indorsed the resolu-
tions of 1898 applause,] according to the
construction that the Democratic party as he
believed had given them, up to within the
last six months. Laughter, 1t was against
the tangled construction, the eXtraordi-
nary construction that had heen put upon the
people within the last year that he COM
planned.
Mr. Whitesides said he would say, Oh be-
half of the Democracy of Yuba, that what
ever emanated from the Convention as plat
form they would stand upon Applause
Mr.. Williams, of Ell Dorado, moved to re-
commit the whole subject to a new Commit
tee Of thirteen, to report platform to the
Convention on its assembling to morrow.
Mr.. Ewing, of Solano, objected to the mo-
ton, as he said he thought the resolutions of
the majority of the Committee could not be
improved.
Mr.. Williams asked that the vote might be
taken by counties.
The roll was called with the following re-
suit: Ayes 81, noes 2lO So the motion was
lost.
The question was put on the adoption of
the substitute offered by Mr. Hastings, of
Yuba, and it was lost.
The question REQUIRED on the adoption of
the resolutions of the Committee, and the
Secretary read the first resolution
Mr.. Lindley moved to amend it by adding
the following words: "Provided the resolu-
tions of 1898, referred to in this platform,
should not be construed as decaratory of the
right of secession"
The amendment was lost, and the original
resolution was adopted.
1t was only "a courteous difference of opin-
ion." Judge Lindley declared that no avow-
al by the party of the right of secession
should drive him from its ranks.
From the report Of Thursdays proceedings
we take the following:
Mr.. Liudley-After the proceedings of the
convention yesterday the delegation from
Yuba held a caucus, in which they canvassed
some propositions, and examined more care
fully the propositions that had passed the
convention. They have unanimously agreed
upon, and ask of this convention three things
"a supplemental resolution, and two slight
amendments to the resolutions that have al
ready passed. The supplemental resolution