Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-08-19
1860.

a Year Pregnant With Interest to Demo.
crats Throuehout the Broad Land.
This was year pregnant with interest to
Democrats throughout the country, and in
the National Convention OF that year at
Charleston, South Carolina, ana at the ad-
iourned convention held at Baltimore. Ohio
Democrats figured conspicuously. The rupture
between Buchanan and Douglas had been car
ried Into politics outside of the State Of I'LL
nois, In which State the eIdttle Giant' was
ail-powerful. The policy of Douglas was not
received with favor in the South, and the
secessionists, under Yancey, who desired
dissolution Of the Union, eagerly caught at
hts views upon the doctrine Of popular SOW
erignty IN the Territories to influence the ex-
tremists OF their section.
iThs Democratic National Convention met
at Charleston. 8. O., on the 2Sd OF April, 1860,
and was composed OF delegates from all the
thirty-three States OF the Union. 1t num-
bered SoS delegates, and as the two-thirds rule
had not been Rbrogated, 1t required2O2 votes to
make nominations.
Ohios delegates were T. u Kennedy, Durbin
Ward, w. NJ. Stark. r. E. Runkle, George
Spence, z. II. Dickinson, Abner NJ. Jackson
Thomas MoNally, Wells A. Hutchins, Lot L.
Smith, Z. r. Bingham, Wayne Griswold, Geo.
b. Smythe, ]. A. Marchand, John Tiff. j. p.
Jeffries, J. g. stewart, r. II. Nugen, s. r. Hos
w. W. Cones, J. 8. Way, w. Eaton, Samuel
Lahm, S. d. Harris. ]. w. Gray. DavidsTod, d.
b Woods, T. s. Woods, ). G. Breshn, B. f.
Potts.
RADICAL DIFFERENCE ON SLAVERY.
Caleb Cushing, OF Massach usetts. presided.
From the first a radical difference of opinion
was exhibited among the delegates on the
question OF slavery in the Territories. 1t was
agreed that no ballot should be taken for
President until platform should be adopted.
The Committeeman on Resolutions from
Ohio was Henry B. Payne. OF Cuyahoga
County. This committee was appointed on
the second day OF the convention. On the
third day no progress was made, although
there was an angry debate between Northern
delegates and those from the cotton States
On the 27th the Platform Committee, falling
70 agree, reported an assortment OF platforms
Mr.. Avery, OF North Carolina. presented the
majority repoTt giving the views of the
South-that Congress had not power to
abolish slavery In the Territories: that the
Territorial Legislature had no power to
abolish slavery in the Territories nor to pro-
hibit the Introduction OF slaves therein, nor
any power 10 destroy or impair the
right Of property In slaves by any
legislation whatever; that any enact
mehts OF State Legislature to defeat the
faithful execution Of the Fugitive Slave law
are hostile in their character, subverslve of
the constitution and revolutionary in their
effects.
MINORITY REPoRF
The principal minority report, which was
presented by Mr.. Henry B. Payne, of Ohio
and signed by the members of the committee
from Maine, NV Hampshire, Vermont.
Rhode Island. Connecticut, New Jersey, Ohio.
Indiana, Illinois. Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa,
Minnesota, New York and Pennsylvania (all
the Free States except California, Oregon and
Massachusetts,, reafiirmed the Cincinnati
platform; declared that all rights Of property
are judicial In their character. and that the
Democracy pledge themselves to defer to the
decisions of the supreme Court on the sub
iect; ample protection to citizens, native or
naturalized, at homo or abroad; aid 10 "a Pa
einc Railroad;" the acquisition of Cuba, and
that all State resistance TO the Fugitive Slave
law is revolutionary and subversive of the
constitution.
Mr.. Payne stated that his report, although
. minority one, represented l72 Electoral
votes, while the majority report represented
only l27 Electoral votes.
Mr.. Avery spoke at length in favor of his
report Hon. II. B. Payne replied at length 10
him in an able, dignified and eloqpsntspeech,
in which he favored the Do1slAa vtSW q