The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-07-06


convention, and they wanted a vote. The
minority succeeded in postponing it to the
second following day, Monday.
On Monday, the S0th Of April, the con-
vension voted on the platform. First the
Butler substitute affirming the Cincinnati
platform with one added resolution-for
the protection of American citizens abroad
was rejected-19s to los.
Then a platform on which the free states
had agreed and which was represented by
Mr.. Samuels of Iowa was adopted-165 to
1SS.
This platform, which then became the
voice Of the convention, affirmed the plat
form of 1856 and declared further that the
Democratic party would abide by the de-
cisions of the supreme court on the ques-
tions of constitutional law in the matter of
territorial jurisdiction over the slave ques-
ton. There were other resolutions relat-
ing to other subjects; no other expression
or Interpretation of the party attitude on
the slave question.
When this platform had been adopted,
the Alabama delegation presented a writ
ten protest and withdrew in a body The
Mississippi, South Carolina, Florida and
Texas deleg1<AEns, part of the Arkansas
delegation affG two members of the Della
ware delegation also withdrew, and the
convention adjourned
On the following day most of the dele
gates from Georgia, three of the Arkansas
delegates and the Louisiana delegation
withdrew. There were left two delegates
from Delaware, one from Arkansas and
one from Georgia.
On that day, having determined to ap-
ply the customary two-thirds rule in tho
nomination of candidate, the convention
began balloting After 81 ballots, in
which Douglas received 1857 at the be-
ginning, 1927 subsequently and 1919 at
the end, on the Sd Of May tho convention
adjourned to meet again in Baltimore on
the 18th of June.
In adjourning it invited the states rep
resented by the seceders to send other dele
gates to take their places. This motion
was made by Mr.. Russell, the lender of the
Virginia delegation.
Meantime the seceders held a meeting
and adopted platform in accordance with
the southern idea of slavery in the terri
tories, after which they adjourned to meet
in Richmond on the second Monday in
June. The seceders met and adjourned
from time to time at Richmond, but final
" Endorsed candidates VINO had been nom
mated by boilers from the Baltimore con-
vention.
Before the Adjournment at Charleston
the remaining delegates from Arkansas
and Georgia had Withdrawn from the con
vention hall, and when the Baltimore con
Tention met eight states were not named
in the call of the roll-South Carolina,
Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana.
Mississippi, Arkansas and Texas. Dele
gates from those states presented them
selves with credentials, and Sanford E.
Church of New York offered q resolution
referring their credentials to the commit
tee on credentials, understanding, how
ever, that every person accepting a scat in
this convention is bound in honor and
good faith to abide by the action of this
convention and support its nomination -
On this he called for the previous question,
and it was on an appeal made by the Vir-
GINA delegation for the Withdrawal of this
call that Mr.. Russell said, IF We are to be
constrained to silence, I beg, gentlemen,
to consider the silence of Virginia as some
what ominous.' y
There were mingled cheers and Kisses,
but it was evident from this moment that
the convention was on the point of disco
luton, and the Developments of subse-
quent days wero not unexpected. The dele
gates from the southern states which had
not withdrawn at Charleston had staid IN
the convention only in the hope that some
compromise could be reached which would
reconcile the northern and southern wings
Of the Democracy and make it possible for
them to flap together. But that they could
flap over the portrait of Stephen A. Doug
las was Il manifest impossibility. and very
early it developed that the northern Demo
Gratis were as much intent on nominating
the. Illinois man as they had been at
Charleston. In fact, it was charged by
southern delegate with some bitterness
that the Democracy was being sacrificed to
one man.
Tho previous question was not ordered
on Mr.. Churcn's motion. The majority
showed a disposition to placate the dissat-
is1ed delegates On the following day, aft
or debate in which Samuel J. Randall of
Pennsylvania opposed the proposition of
Mr.. Church to make a condition precedent
to the admission of the delegates from the
states which had seeded at Charleston, the
previous question was ordered. On the
next day vote was taken on the reference
of the credentials, but before it was taken
the counsel of MIR Randall prevailed, and
the condition attached to it was withdrawn
by Mr. Church
No business was transacted until the 21st
of juno, when the committee on creden-
tials made its report on the contested
seats. There was q minority report almost
opposite to the majority re-
port, which was signed by the committee
men from Oregon, New Jersey, Pennsyl-
vania, Delaware, California, Virginia,
North Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky,
and other minority reports by the commit
teemen from New Hampshire and Mary
land.
Inc report OF the minority was rejected
$50 to 1O0%-and on the report of the
majority being adopted Mr.. Russell Of
Virginia announced that his delegation
would withdraw This was followed by the
withdrawal of Tennessee, North Carolina,
a part Of the Maryland delegation, Calif0r-
MIA, Delaware, q part of Kentucky and two
from Missouri. Mr. Gushing left
the chair, which was assumed by Governor
Todd of Ohio and later when vote was
being taken on the question of proceeding
to the nomination of candidates, a part Of
the Massachusetts delegation withdrew
this. the chairman OF the
delegation cast the full vote
OF that state for Douglas. On the second