Columbia democrat and star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1867, 1866-08-22
The National Convention.

the States and Territories, called together to
counsel for the purpose of restoring the Union
/ to its former condition under the Constitu-
! ton, met at the Wigwam erected for the
purpose, ON Tuesday, the 18th inst. The
crowd was immense, notwithstanding the in
clemency of the weather. The Convention
was organized at half past II clock, by ap-
pointing Gen. John A. Dix, of New York,
temporary Chairman. Gen. Dix on taking
the chair, delivered an able and patriotic ad-
dress, which elected the applause of the vast
concourse After the conclusion of General
Dixs remarks, prayer was offered by Rev.
Mr.. Mcdonald. The'cal for the Convention
was then read, after which committee, con-
sisting of one delegate from each State and
Territory, was appointed by the Chair. The
Address to the people of the United States,
signed by the Democratic members of Con-
gress, and the circular issuedby Judge Blair,
and Hon. A. w. Randall, were read. Senator
Doolittle, was chosen permanent President of
the Convention The Massachusetts, and
South Carolina Delegates entered the Wig
wan arm in arm, headed by Gov. Orr, of
South Carolina and Gen. CoGSh of Massa-
chusetts, which elictited the most tumultu-
Gus applause. A declaration of principles
was read by Secretary Perrin, and an address
to the people of the United States was read
by Henry J. Raymond. On motion Of Hon.
Reverdy johnson, unofficial copy of the pro-
ceedings was ordered to be prepared and
printed, and committee appointed to wait
upon the President and present him with an
authentic copy. A National Union Execu-
tive Committee and Committee of finance
were also appointed. After thanking Mayor
McMichael, the Reporters and citizens, and
giving three times three hearty cheers for
the Union, the Convention ended with the
thanks of President Doohttle to the Con-
vention for their kindness and courtesy to
himself and finally introducing the Rev. Mr..
Elliot, who pronounced the parting benedic-
ton. Delegates from every section of the
Union gathered to this Convention. The
Hotels overhowed and the streets were full
with strangers. Wire pulling and discussing
policy was all done In secret and in the rooms
of the various Committees But the talk
and hum of the corridors were open, frank
and full of earnest and hearty good nature.
Each State had its headquarters or Commit
tee rooms. While the Convention would not
have perpetrated the outrage of excluding
the WooDs and VALLANDIGHAM, yet the
Democratic party was too much devoted to
the high patriotic object in view to permit
90 - fbo
least, the deliberations of the Convention.
The resolutions of 1859 are the great
truths reiterated by the Convention. The
Democratic party have the men and the plat
form to lead and control the entire move
ment, yet it was considered practicable and
proper, that the Convention be conducted by
the men who elected President Johnson
The views and feelings of the Democratic
party were specially represented and had a
cheerful and salutary effect in shaping the
proceedings of the Convention. The great
desire of all parties participating in the Con-
vention was, that it should do well its speci-
fed work, so that when the great Democrat
ic party has assembled in general Conven-
ton, and viii have hundreds of thousands
of numerical majority, that the acts and
deliberations of this Convention may receive
its hearty response and unanimous approval.
So far as we have been able to understand
itself to the defence of the rights of the
States guaranteed by the Constitution, and
to the ancient and modern, noble and con-
stitutional doctrines of the Democratic party
And we know that we speak the sentiment
of the Democratic party, when we say that
we checrfully pledge ourselves, our liberties,
our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honors
to vindicate the President in his efforts to re-
store the States to their legitimate authori-
ty and representation of their people. We
ask no offices at his hands and must not be
expected to surrender any principles. The
Democrats will give this support, in conso-
nance with the invariable instructions of the
leading johnson Republicans, and the ad-
vice of every Democratic champion and SEN
tiDel of liberty in our country, Democrats
we say, viii give this support in their own
way, through their own organs and organiza-
tions, in accordance with the principles and
usages Of the great Democratic party which
made the Union by the Constitution, and
made our country illustrious and our people
free, and who have a majority of hundreds
of thousands in the total vote of the country.
The principles and the name of the great
Democratic party are not to be abandoned,
but to stand as an unbroken army, strength
ened by the action of those calling themselves
johnson men, and arrayed against tests and
test oaths, other than those prescribed by
the Constitution, and against those mon
strous retrospective test oaths which were
never written In the Enrlish lann11ae,a hnfnrn-