Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-08-30

tions of this body. My acknowledging
for the high compliment, and for the XII
: feeling Just extended to me by this v,
coneourse of my fellow citizens, will
best manifested by proper discharge
: the duties of the position to which "
have called me. It is not expected, n
would it be BETTING in one; assuming Il
: mere temporary Presidency of the Co
vention, that he should enter upon al
general discussion of the many topi
! suggested by te h unhappy condition
our country; brief allusion TO the occ
sion and purposes of our assemblage is a
that will be necessary.
r No similar body ever assembled
America with mightier objects before then
or 70 which such vast proportion of tn
Amtrican people looked with such pr
found solicitude, for measures to promo.
! the welfare of the country and advanc
their individual happiness. The termins
ton of Democratic rule in this countr
was the end of peaceful relations between
the States and the people. The elevation 9
a sectional party to authority at Washing
ton, the elimination of a long-indulge,
and acrimonious war of elimination an,
re-crimination between extreme men, q
the North and South, was promptly follow
ed by dissolution and civil war; and. il
the progress of that war, even the bull
warks of civil liberty have been imperilled
and the whole fabric brought to the very
verge of destruction; and now, after more
than three years of a war, unparalleled in
modern times for its magnitude and for its
barbarous desolations-after more than two
millions of men have been called to the
field on our side alone-after the land has
been literally drenched in fraternal blood,
and wailings and lamentations are heard
in every corner of our country; the hopes
of Union, our cherished object, are in no
wise improved.
Those in nauthority, through feud, which
they have long maintained with violent
and unwise men at the south, because
of q blind fanaticism about an institu-
ton in some of the States in relation to
which they have no duties to perform
and no responsibilities to bear. One utter
ly incapable of adopting the proper means
to rescue our country, our whole country,
from its present lamentable condition.
Then, gentlemen, it is apparent that the
first indispensable to accomplish this great
work is the overthrow, by the ballot, Of the
present administration, and the inaugura-
ton of another in its stead, which Will
wisely and jealously, but temperately
and Justly, WELD all the influence and pow
er of the Government to bring about a
settlement of the national troubles on the
principles of the Constitution, and on
terms honorable and Just to all sections
North, South, East and West, on which it
will stand unfaltering by civil and re-
ligious liberty; which, instead of relying /
solely on its peculiar dogmas and doctrines, |
and the ravages of the sword, will refer /
the national troubles to the people, the /
foundation of political authority and to /.
the States under the forms of the Consti- !
tuition; one which will have no conditions
precedent to the restoration of the Union, F.
but which will diligently seek that re- |
suit as the return of permanent peace ,
amongst the people.
Gentlemen, we have been commissioned
by the people to come here and initiate
steps to accomplish these great objects; to
select an agent and the agencies in this
good work That the task will be we'll
performed have unfaltering faith, and
that the people may sanction and God may
bless these means to the desired end, is my
sincere prayer.
The proceedings were then opened by
prayer by the Rev. R. II. Clerkson, of the
Protestant Episcopal Church.
On motion, Messrs. E. o. Perrin, of New
York, G. NJ. Tower, of New jersey, and
NJ. Strong, of Wisconsin, were appointed
Temporary Secretaries.
The list of delegates was then called sby
States, and as each Chairman presented
the credentials of his delegations, he was
welcomed with loud applause. 4
Mr.. Tilden moved that one delegate be
appointed by each delegation to report res
oiutions Reconsideration ofthe Convention,
and that all resolutions offered in the Con-
vention be referred to said Committee
without debate. Carried.
Mr. Cox, of Ohio, moved that the Com
mittee on Organization be instructed to re-
port rules for the government of the con-
yention, and that meantime the rules of
last convention be adopted. Carried.
Mr.. Powell, of Kentucky, stated that the
contesting delegates from that state had
agreed, and were harmonious in this con-
vention. He arose, therefore, to move
that one member of each delegation be ap-
pointed on the Committee on Resolutions
the two to have but one vote. Carried.
Mr.. McDougal, of California, moved that
there be admitted to the Convention not
to exceed three gentlemen, known to be
members of the Democratic party from
the several Territories, Sad delegates to
be permitted to participate in debates, but
without the power to vote.
General Morgan, Of Ohio, moved to
amend, by extending the privileges of the
resolution to delegates from the Southern
States and District of Columbia.
Mr.. McDougal acceptedthe amendment.
Mr.. Tilden, of New York, opposed the
resolution, as it was manifest that no gen.
tlenan can be thus designated by Com
mittee, although he come here accredited
to us, and may or may not represent
a constituency; it might be otherwise in
regard to the Territories, and there were
gentlemen from them, accredited as we are.
But under allthe circumstances, the adop-
tion of such resolution would, in his
Judgment, be productive only of confusion
and disorder. (Cheers.)
On motion, the resolution was referred to
the Committee on Credentials.
A communication signed by ]. /. Rid
die, Chairman of the Louisiana delegation,
was received, setting forth that he and his
colleagues were properly accredited dele
gates from Louisiana; notwithstanding the
National Convention had refused them
tickets of admission. Referred.
Governor Wickife of kentucky, handed
up two letters, which were read one from
John W. Leathers, and the other from J.
B. buchanan, both delegates from Ky,
in which they explain their absence by say
ing that they are the victims of military
despotism, arrested without cause, ims
prisoned and denied resort to fhe legal
measures, guaranteed by the laws of the
State and the constitution to establish Their