, 1874-01-13

JuHtice of the United States, Its history M at,
actor ln this preliminary convention for the
disruption Of tho Union may hayo special ILL.,
| torest.
On tho 9th Of April, Caleb Gushing In tho
chair, tho Committee on Platform s,1bmlttal
four reports: 1. Affirming III substance tho
doctrine laid down ln Jof Dayis' sonato rosol,-
tions. a. A report, aigncd by all tho froo
States except Oregon, California, and hlassa-
| chusotts, that the question Of tho riRhts Of
property in slayea In tho Territories ,yas n
judicial question to DO determined by tho Courts,
aud plodging tho pnrty to abide tint decision,
whom made. 0. Bon Butler mado separate report,
roa1lr1ning tho Cincinnati platform Of 1866. !,
Dir. Dayardt Of Delaware, submitted separate
report. The noxt day tho reports were rocom-
| mitted and In tho Afternoon now platform was
reported. which again affirmed tho right to curry
alavo property into tho Territories aud tho duty
OF oil departments Of tho Government to pro-
toot It, A1r. Samuels Of Iowa, reported from
tho minority platform affirming tho Cincinna-
tt resolutions Of 1866, with tho addition TINT aB
tho powofs Of Congress and Of tho Territorial
Legislature ovor slavery woro disputed, tho
party would accopt as 1nal such decision as tho
Courts might nuke thereon. After stormy de-
bato this minority pl atform was substituted for
that Of tho majority by q vote Of yoas, l05, to
nays, Massachusetts. ponnsylyania Now
Jorsoy California, and Oregon dividing their
Voto. The Convention thon look u voto on each
resolution, adopting thom all except tho ono
promising to abide by the decision OF tho Courts,
Which WIS rejected,
Ihus tho battle was fought, and the conHpir-
ators woro boaton, notwithstanding they Ind
received thirty votes from their Northern allies.
As soon as tho vote was announced, tho Alabama
delegation announced their Withdrawal or aecos-
sion from the Convention; and, during that and
tho subsequent day, they woro followed by tho
delegations from MisBiaBippi, Louisiana, South
carolina, Florida, Texas, Arkansas,-nIr. Flour
noy alono remaining, and declaring his devotion
to tho Union two Of tho Delaware delegates, ana
Georgia IN part. The remaining 50C out Of the
COG original delegates then proceeded to bullot
for candidate for President. Each delegate
had one-haH voto, aud during tho fifty-sevon
vote; that is, tho vote Of two delegates, Ben
Butler aud Caleb Cuahiug.
On tho Sd Of May, onmotion Of delegate from
Virginia, tho Convention adjourned to meet in
Baltimore On the 18th of June. Tho sccoaing
dolegates met in Charleston, adopted the jeff
Davis platform, and adjourned to meet in Rich
mond In Juno; tho delegatoe, however, vent to
Baltimore, and took part in tho subsequent
Dreckinridge Convention.
The regular Convention met in Baltimore On
tho 18th Of juno, and was called to order By
Caleb cuahing. Mr.. Gushing stated tho order
in which things Ind boon left nt Charleston.
ruling that tue Convention there had adopted
tho minority platform as substitute for tho
majority, but had not adopted It in it's amended
form. This ruling created profound eensa-
ton. as it left tho question Of the plat-
form open for further action. tlerco con-
test then ensued on the admission Of tlnlogates
to fill tho vacancieB caused by tho secession
at Charleston. Finally, the majority voted to
rea6tnlt sueh Of tho socoders as wore present,
and to admit other delegates in place Of those
absent. grand fight waa made over the caso
Of Louisiana and tho Convention admitted tho
new delegates, Union men, beaded by piorro
soule. Tho second battle having resulted in
another defeat Of the socesHiopists, portion Of
the delegates from Virginia. North Carolina,
Maryland, Tennessee, Delaware, Missouri,
and Kentucky withdrew from tho Con-
vention; and, when this was done, Calob
Gushing, risiug In his place, formally TO-
signed the Presidency Of tho Convontion
and vacated the chair, which was takon by
Gov. Tod, Of Ohio; wlereupon Mr. Ban Butler
announced that part Of the Massachusetts dele
gation had determined to secedo, and he fol-
lowod Cushing out OF tho hall.
The soceders, including Butler, Joined by
those who lad seeded at Charleston, mot at tho
ball Of the Maryland Institute, and chose Caleb
Clubbing their President. Thoy unanimously
adopted tho Jer Davia platform rejected at
Charleston, and then unanimously nominated
John G. Dreclinridse for President. Caleb
Gushing WAS then made Chairman Of Commit
teo Of Five to prepare an address to the people
vindteating the principles OF the party, and Jus
tifsing their action in nominating BEeckinridgo.
Tho result ia known. From tho beginning 1t
Was not expected nor was it intondcd to elect
Brecknr1dgo 1t Was tho purpose to render tho
election Of d Republican certainty, aud to use
TINT election as protoxt for tho secession Of
tho Southern states. Hardly had the election
taken place before South Carolina 1ed ofs fol-
lowed by number Of other States. Before Alr.
Lincoln waa iaauguratod, Jofr Davis had
been declared President OF the Con nfederato
statas, and had talon his oath of Office. Tho
conspiracy had been successful in working tho
Southern mind up to tho point that the election
Of q Republican to tho Presidency WIS to be re-
aonted by dissolution OF the Union.
In tue entiro proceeding to defeat tho Democ-
raey Of tho North, md to bring about tho noces-
sion of the South and the establishment OF tho
Confederate States, the ablest and most con-
spicuous agents employed were Ualob Gushing
and Bon Butler To-day Ben Butler Ia at work