Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1864-08-31
puBL1sHED DAILY By
EDGAR SNOWDEN, JR.
OFFICE-No. 1o4 King street, over
s.one,s, formerly French's) Book Store.
The Chicago Convention The Platform-spicy
Debate.

DEBATE.
The Convention was permanently organized
Yesterday, with Hon. Horatio Seymour, OF
New York, as President. On taking the
chair, Mr. Seymour briefly addressed the Con.
vention. He said: sThe Democratic party
will restore the Union because it longs for its
restoration. 1t will bring peace, because 1t
loves neace. It will bring liberty to cur land,
because it loves liberty. Ii will put down des-
notism, because it hates ignoble tyranny, which
now degrades the American people.
After aluding TO the last Republican Con
yention that had met at Chicago, and the re-
tusal Of the present administration at Wash
ngton to listen to terms of peace, ne contln-
ued:-vThey were impelled to spurn all meas
ures of compromise. Step by step they have
marched on to results from which at the out
set they would have shrunk with horror; and
even when war has desolated our land, has
laid its heavy burdens upon labor, and Wnen
bankruptcy and ruin overhahg us, they WILL
not have the Union restored except upon CON
di,ions unknown to our constitution. lhey
viii not let the shedding Of blood cease even
for little time to see If Christian charity or
the wisdom Of craftsmanship may not work
out method to save our country. Nay, more
than this, they will not listen to proposal tor
peace which does not offer that which this
Government has no right to ask. This ad-
miuistration cannot now save this Union II 1t
would Il has, by its proca nations, by It's
vindlctive legislation, and by displays OF hate
and passion, placed obstacles III IFS own path
Way which it cannot overcome. 1t has trans
terred its own freedom of action by unconstltu
tl.nalties
Ia. conclusion Mr.. Seymour said:-''We
we're unwilling to present an appearance OF lac
tiuus opposition, but when we shall have gain
ed power that official who shall violate cne
prneiple Of law, one single right of the hum
blest man in our land, shall be punished by the
full rigors of the law. il matters not whether
be sits ia the Presidential chair, or holds an
humble office under our Government.
The following resolutions, prepared by the
committee, appointed for that purpose, were
presented by Mr.. Guthrie, as the platform OF
principles Of the Democratic larty IN COM
Ing Presidential election:
Resolved, That in the future, as IN the
past, We will adhere with answering adenty
tothe Union and the Constitution, and insist
on maintaining our national unity as the only
solid foundation OF our strength, security, and
happiness as people, and as the framework
Of Goyernment equally conductive to the wei
isre and prosperity of all the States, both
Northern and Southern. ;.
Resolved, That this convention does ezpll-
city declare, as the sense of the American peo-
pie, that, after four years Of failure TO restore
the Union by the experiment. OF war, curing
Which, under the pretence OF military neces-
saty, or the war power, higher than the constl
slon, the Constitution itself has ), Deen OILS,
'esarded in every part, and public liberty ano