Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-09-10
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.

NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION
CHICAGO, Monday August 30.
At twelve o'clock August Belmont, of New
York, Chairman of the National Democratic
Committee, called the Convention to order.
Dir. Belmont said:
GeatIeHat Of DE CoRgel,tion We have
met for the purpose of nominating a candi-
date for President of the United States. This
is a task of great difficulty at any time. To-
ward you are anxiOusly directed the ewes of
the American people. Four years of misrule
have well nigh succeeded in bringing the Re-
public TO the verge of ruin. The reelection
Of Mr.. Lincoln will be the result only of our
lack of unity and energy. His reelection
wOnld result in the continued disqualification
of our civil and religious liberties Wemust
select patriot distinguishes for his devotion
to the Union and the Constitution Wemust
lay at the altar of our country the sacrifice of
our interests and our prejudices. We come
not here as War Democrats or as Peace Dem
Ocrats, but as citizens of a common country
cO-labOring in a mutual cause. Moderation
and forbearance must control our delibera-
tiOns.
At the close of Mr. Belmont's remarks. he
nominated ex-GOv. Bigler, of Penn, for tenn
porary President, which motion was carried
unanimously
When the cheers which greeted Gov. Big
Ter had subsidized, he said:
Ge5temal Of tie Convention II am greatly
hOnOred in your election of me TO preside
over the preliminary deliberations of this
body. Nv acknowledgements for this high
compliment, and for the kind greeting lust
extended to me by this vast cOncourse of my
fellow citizens, will be best manifested by a
proper discharge of the duties of tie position
TO which you have called me. 1t Is not ex-
4 - - ..kee
stunning the mere temporary Presidency of
ne convention, that he should enter upon
any general discussion of the many topics
suggested by the unhappy condition of our
country. A brief allusi0n to the occasion
and purposes of our assemblage is all that
will be necessary.
No similar body ever assembled in Ameri
ga with weightier objects before them, or 10
which such a vast proportion of the Ameri-
can people looked with such profound solicit
Jude for measures to promote the welfare of
the country and advance their individual
happiness. The termination of Democratic
rule in this country was the end of peaceful
relations between the States and the people
The elevation of a sectional party to authOri-
" at Washington, the elimination Of long
INDUCED and acrimonious war of elimination
and recriminatiOn between extreme men at
the North and South was promptly followed
gFess of that war even the bulWaTks of civil
liberty have been imperiled, and the whole
fabric brought TO the very verge of destruc-
ton; and now, at the end of more than three
years of a war unparalleled in modern times
for its magnitude and for It's barbarOus desc
iatiOn; after more than two million of men
have been called into the field on our side
alone after the land has been literally
drenehed in frateTnal blood, and waIlings and
lamentations are heard in every corner of our
common country, hopes of the Union-Our
cherished object of aifectiOn-are in no wise
improved,
The men now in authority, through a feud
which they have long maintained with vio-
lent and unwise men at the South because of
a blind fanaticism about an institution in
some of the States, in relation to which they
have no duties to perform and no responsible
tiles to bear, are utterly incapable of adopt
ing the proper means to rescue our country,
our whole country, from its present lamenta-
bic condition. Then, gentlemen, it is appa-
rent that the first indispensable step to the
accomplishment of this great work is the ov-
erthrOw by the ballot-bOx of the present ad-
ministratiOn and the Inauguration of another
in its stead which will wisely and fearlessly,
but temporarily and justly WELD all the infiu-
ence and power Of the government to bring
about a speedy settlement of the national
troubles on the principles of the Constitution
and on terms honorable to all sections, North
and South, East and West, one which will
stand unfalteringly by civil and religious lib
erty; one which instead of relying on its pc
culiar dogmas and doctrines and the ravages
of the sword alone, will agree to refer our
national troubles TO the foundation of all po-
litieal authOrity--tO the people themselves
to the States under the provisions of the Con-
stitutiOn; one which will have no conditions
precedent to the restoration of the Union,
but which will diligently seek that result a;
the return of permanent peace amongst the
people.
Gentlesren, we have been commissioned by
the people TO come here and initiate steps Il
accomplish these great objects, TO select al
agent anu the agencies IN this good work.
That the last will be well performed hav,
unfIItering faith, and that the people ma.
sanction and God may bless these means &c
the desired end, is my sincere prayer.
The proceedings were then opened witt
prayer by Rev. K. ii. ClarksOn, of the Prot
estant Episcopal Church.
On motion Messrs +. o. Perrin, OF ke'
York; g. NJ. Tower, of New Jersey; an
doses N. Strong, of Wisconsin, were appoint
edtemporary secretaries.
The list of delegates was then called b,
States, and as each chairman presented tn
CicuSh1lals Vi MS uele SdtlOi, hS was "S1OOiA
ed by loud applause.
Mr. Tilden, of New York, moved that on
delegate be appointed by each delegation t
report resolutions for the consideration c
the Convention, and that all resolution
offered in the Convention be referred to sal
committee without debate Carried.
Mr.. Cox, of Ohio, moved that the commit
tee on organization be instructed to repOr
rules for the government of the Convention
and that in the meantime the rules of the la:
Convention be adopted. Carried.
Mr.. Powell, of Kentucky, stated that tn
contesting delegates from that State Ia
agreed and were harmonious in this COnyeI
tiOr He arose, therefore, to move that on
member of each delegation be appointe
on the committee on resolutions, the two I
have but one vote. Carried.
Mr.. McDougal, of California, moved thu