The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1864-09-09
THE CHICAGO CONVENTION.

D
THE CHICAGO CONVENTION.
| The Convention of the Southern
Democracy, at Chicago, last week,
was one of the most extensive mixes
this country has ever witnessed. As
sembled there were open, avowed Sc
cessionists from the Border States,
Peace men from the North west, wal
Democrats from the East, East and
West Separationists from the Ohio
River, and Draft Rcsisters from every
where, all expected to reconcile their
differences, and act together, in har-
mouy. The first bone of contention
was the platform. The two wings,
War and Peace, came in collision
here in full force. Aleck. Long, Val.
landigham and Harris wanted the
Platform unequivocally Peace. while
little Sammy Cox, and the Eastern
delegations wanted, unequivocally,
War. Finally the Committee re-
ported the following:
THE PLATFORM.
Resolved, That in the future, as in the
past, we will adhere with answering
fidelity to the Union under the Con.
stitution, as the only solid foundation
for our strength, security and happi-
ness as q people, as frame work to
government equally conducive to
the welfare and prosperity OF all the
States both Northern and Southern.
Resolved, That tins Convention
does explicitly declare as the sense
OF the American people, that, after
four years of failure TO restore the
Union by the experiment OF war,
during neutrality-suspicious. Of militia
~ necessity or war power higher
than the Constitution, the Constitu
ton itself has been disregardcd in ev-
cry point, and public liberty and pri-
vate right alike trodden down, and
the material prosperity of the coun-
try essentially impaired, justice, hui
manity, liberty and the public welfare
demand that an immediate effort be
made for the cessation Of hostilities,
with view to an ultimate convention
of all the States, or other pcaceable
means, to the end that, ut the earliest
possible moment, peace may be re-
stored, on the basis Of the Federal
Union of the States.
Resolved, That the direct intcrfcr
ence of the military authorities Ol
the United States in the recent cleo.
tions held in Kentucky, Maryland
Missouri and Delaware was a shame.
ful violation of the Constitution
The repetition of such acts on the
approaching election will be held as
revolutionary, and be resisted will
all the means and power under oui
control.
Resolved, That the aim and object
Of the Democratic party is to pre-
serve the Federal Union and the right
of the States unimpaired, and they
hereby declare that they consider til,
administrative usurpation OF extraor-
dinary and dangerous powers not
granted by the Constitution, tho
subvcrsion of the civil by military
arrest, imprisonment, trial and sen
tenee of American citizens in States
where the civil law exists in full force
the suppression of the freedom o
: speech and Of the press; the dehia
of the right of asylum; the open an(
avowed disregard of State rights; til,
i. employment of unusual test oaths
and the interference with and denia
. of the right of the people to bear arms
as calculated to prevent restoration
of the Union and perpetuation of
Government deriving its just powers
from the consent OF the governed
Resolved, That the shameful disre
gard ofthe Administration of its dut
in respect to our fellow citizens VIII
now, and long have been, prisoners o
4 war in suffering condition, deserve
/ the severest reprobation on the scor
alike ofpublic and common humanity
Resolved, That the sympathy OF tn
Democratic party is heartily an
" earnestly extended to the soldiers {
;. our army who are and have been e
y the field under the flag OF our countr
" and in the event Of our attaining pow
m er, will receive all care, protection
T. regard and kindness that the BRAY
= soldiers of the republic have so nobl.
earned.
Mr.. Long OF Ohio, offered rs a
;" amendment, to come in after the firs
l.. resolution, the first Kentucky resoll
ton of 179S, drafted by Thomas Jet
'e ferson. Mr.. Long submitted that nov
of all other times, this resolutio
10 affirming State rights ought to be rel
dopted and reafflrmed.
3 The resolution must he submitte
to the Committee on Resolutions.
y Mr.. S. S. Cox, of Ohio, moved Il
i. previous question. ...