The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-08-25
Pennsylvania Democratic State conyen,;on

~.
HARRISBURG, Penn, Aug. d
The Democratic State Convention met t1,;s
afternoon and temporarily organized. ,eIectinc
Robert +. johnson of Cambria, Pres, danf
After recess the committee on permanent or
ganization reported Richard Vaux of Pb;ladoi
phia, as permanent President of the Convex
ton, with Vice President from each Sena-
torial district and twenty-five Secretaries.
Mr.; vaux, on taking his seat, made spirited
A committee on resolutions, composed OF
one from each Senatorial district. was snno;nt-
ed, to whom all resolutions on NationaI and
State affairs were referred without debate.
Mr.. W. Ill. Peterllen offered a resolution that
the soldiers of 1851 and 1852 having enlisted
with little or no bounty, should receive leo
acres OF land, and urging upon the next Con
gress the justice of maintaining such appropri-
alton. Referred. Ntr-
The convention then proceeded to ballot for
candidate tor Auditor General. Col. W. H.
DAVIS OF the 164th Penn. regiment, received Sc
votes on the 3D. ballot and was declared unani-
mously nominated. ~ - = =.
A resolution was adopted, of which the fol-
lowing IS digest :-The preamble asserts the
betrayal OF their trust to the party in power
SINCE 1901. The resolutions affirm the fidelity
OF the Pennsylvania Democrats to the Union,
and declare the slaughter, debt and disgrace OF
the civil war in consequence of their counsels
being disregarded; that the Constitution ought
to be obeyed at all times and under all circuln-
stances, and in every part of the country the
oath to support it being universally binding,
and it is only by the rigid enforcement of its
provisions that we can hope for liberty and
peace. The palladium of all our Constitrl-
tional rights consists of trial by jury, habeas
corpus, free press, free speech, immunity from
punishment except from legal conviction by
impartial jury, and the right of white citizens
to vote at State elections according to State
laws.
The Convention concurs with President
johnson in the opinion that the State ordi-
nances OF secessionsare null, and the States
therefore are all as much in the Union as ever,
the people owing the same duties and being
clothed with the same rights as before. l
The resumption OF their position shall not
I be impeded by that portion which always OPP
posed the Union, which now declares it legal
ly dissolved, and is Indignantly laboring to
prevent its restoration. ..,.fs
{ The resolutions are strongly against negro
suffrage as a high crime against the Constitr-
ton, and deliberate and wicked attempt to
degrade the white race to the level Of the
black. Express willingness to support Presi-
dent johnson in restoring the States, giving
them representation in Congress, and saving
can only give full approval to the administra-
ton if he adheres to the constitution and laws
Furnishing kidnapping and robbery when COM
mitted by his own officers, and suffers no per-
son to be murdered by military commission.
John P. Linton of Clearfeld County was
unanimously nominated for Surveyor General.
Mr. Peterkin of Lyconing, offered his resolu-
ton that in the estimation of this Convention
the soldiers of 1861 and '62, who enlisted with
little or no bounty, are entitled to and should
receive an appropriation of 100 acres of land
or fair equivalent in money, and that such
appropriations be urged upon the next Con-
gress. The resolution was discussed and
finally passed, modified as follows:
Resotyed, That we are in favor of SO equal
izng bounties paid to soldiers in 1851 1872, that
they shall receive the same pay and bounty as
the soldiers Of 1868 and ,B4, and that Congress
should make an appropriation for this pur-
pose.
4 A State Committee was appointed and the
Convention adjourned sine die.