The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-08-28
PROCEEDINGS OF THE DEMO-
CRATIC STATE CONVENTION.

SANoSSN d.
Mr.. Fl. W. PRATT of Dodge, moved the
appointment of Committee on Creden-
tials, to consist of one person from each
judicial District, which was carried, and
the President appointed the following
gentlemen:
Ffrst-L. E. Thompson.
SecOnd-John Bell.
Ihird-Charles III. Berry. ..-
FourM-Henry Cowles.
FIfh-H. w. Pratt.
Sirth-GeOrge Peasley. '...
AFTERNOON SESSION. -.
The Convention was called to order by
the President pro tenn. ... ..
CREDENTIALS.
The Committee on Credentials submit
ted verbal statement that all the Coun-
ties in the State excepting Benton, Brown,
Faribault and Morrison were represented.
On motion of Mr.. LADUE, the report
of the Committee on Credentials was ac-
cepted.
PERMANENT ORGANIZATION
Judge CHATFIELD, from the Committee
on Permanent Organization, submitted
the names of the following gentlemen, as
officers of the Convention
President-Hon. ELI T. WILDER, of Goodhue.
Vice-Pyesidents-Col B. f. PRATT of
Nicollet, Hon. LEVI w. Folsom, Of Chisago.
Secretaries-J. P. WILSON, Esq, and w. r.
EDWARDS, Esq.
The report of the Committee was ac-
copied and unanimously adopted Judge
CHATFIELD conducted the President elect
to the Chair. Upon assuming the duties
Of his office, the President made the fol-
lowing remarks:
GENTLEMEN: 1t is with mingled emotions of
pleasure and pride that l find myself the pre-
siding officer of this body, and the more that
it was not until subsequent to our adjournment
that the first intlmatiOn reached me of your
purpose. They are no idle words with which
l express to you my high appreciation of the
honor thus conferred. ... pei.
Under ordinary circumstances it is no light
compliment to be C lied to preside over the del
egated Democracy of the State of Minnesota. but
in these days of darkness, when corroding care
and anxiety have left their mark upon every
man; when our land is suffering the ravages of
the most deplOrable and desolating civil
war the world in all its history has ever
seen; when armed rebellion in one section is
seeking to overthrow the Constitution and
destroy the Union, and no inconsiderable por-
ton OF the other section is seeking by prn-
ciplcs and measures, now practically enforced,
equally subversive OF the one and destructive
of the other, to achieve the same end-when
/ constitutions and laws are trampled under foot
as worthless trash-when State Rights, personal
liberty and the freedom of speech and of the
press are all held at the will of one man. and
even Of irresponsible suborlinates-when the
last hope for our country, for her Constitution
and for the Union is centering in the good old
Democratic party-under these circumstances
any man within the State may well be proud 10
be made your President.
1t will not be in good taste; it will not be
expected of me, nor would | attempt it, to
urge, or to influence, or seek to influence,
your action in the declaration of principles, or
in the nominations you are about to make. But
l beg leave respectively to remind you of
the responsibility which rests upon US, the
representatives, and well nigh the sole repre-
sentatives of the true and loyal sentiments of
the State. Every consideration of intelligence
and of patriotism imperatively demand of all
that we meet and discharge the duties of the
occasion with calm, unimpassiOned and un-
selfish devotion to the wants and necessities of
our bleeding and distracted country-that we
ulccI tilc SIii tllS eNlSouCleS Oh Co Uay as lCll
AS Democrats, worthy the mantle of the old
Democracy. Selfish ends, personal ambitions.
scheming plans at all times to be deprecated
when coming in collision with public inter-
ests, now become base and degrading. 1 pray
you as you appreciate the mOmentOuS questions
and issues upon us, involving no less than our
national existence and our preservation from
| anarchy and ruin-ignoriDg self and personal
prejudices if such exist, we, in the spirit of our
fathers, perform the duties entrusted to US,
that we may contribute upon this occasion, as
upon Others, all within our power to transmit
to our children the priceless legacy OF an hon
Ored Constitution and a beloved and perfect
Union as they came to us from the sages OF the
past, whose cOnciliatOry and selfsacriticing
spirits ask you wOrthily to initiate. ..
Invoking your forbearaEce and your kind as
siStance in discharging the duties of the chair
Assistance which my want of experience in
delberative bodies tell me shall require, re-
new my thanks for this expression of your con-
fidence. ''''' d
''-~ PLATFORM RESOLUTIONS.
Mr.. LA DUE moved the appointment Of
committee of seven to draft resolutions,
but accepted an amendment of Mr.. JOHN
SON, of Rice, that one member of the
committee be appointed at large, and the
others from each, judicial district respect
lively.
The resolution was adopted, and the
President announced the committee as
follows: o .p.T .lfnedf'5 rsf.T
AtLUye-A. D, La Due. -..l.- r........
First-L. Smith.
- .Second- d. A. Robertson. vd 43a bad
| as. Third-E. A. Mcmahon. I--
Fourth-Edward o. Hamlin.
Fvffh-Alexander johnson. iiE g.s
| e Sirtb-GeOrge NJ. TOusley. rg
.ae Mr.. EDWARDS moved thet he have the
right to cast the whole vote Of Fillmore
county, being the only delegate present,
according to the instructions of the County
Conventions This, motion was, amended
so as to give delegates from other counties
the same privilege, when so instructed, and
was adopted. ,t4 l '''''''I4
Judge CHATFIECD said he supposed the
Convention would not proceed to the nomi-
nations until the platform was adopted,
and, in order to give the Committee time