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order: Resolved, That the citizens of the United States have an equal right to settle with their property in the Territories of the United States; and that, under the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States, which we recognize as the correct exposition of the Constitution of the United States, neither the rights of person nor property can be destroyed or inpaired by Congressional or Territorial legislation."

On a subsequent day (May 3d), Mr. Russell informed the Convention that this resolution had, "he believed, received the approbation of all the delegations from the Southern States which remained in the Convention, and also received the approbation of the delegation from New York. He was informed there was strength enough to pass it when in order."

Mr. Howard, however, in vain attempted to obtain a vote on his resolution. When he moved to take it up on the evening of the day it had been offered, he was met by cries of "Not in order," "Not in order." The manifest purpose was to postpone its consideration until the hour should arrive which had been fixed by a previous order of the Convention, in opposition to its first order on the same subject, for the balloting to commence for a Presidential candidate, when it would be too late. This the friends of Mr. Douglas accomplished, and no vote was ever taken upon it either at Charleston or Baltimore.

votes, 202 votes being necessary to a nomination.

Until 1824 nominations had been made by Congressional caucus. In these none participated except Senators and Democratic States, and Representatives from Democratic Congressional districts. The simple majority rule governed in these caucuses, because it was morally certain that, composed as they were, no candidate could be selected against the will of the Democratic States on whom his election depended. But when a change was made to National Conventions, it was at once perceived that if a mere majority could nominate, then the delegates from AntiDemocratic States might be mainly instrumental in nominating a candidate for whom they could not give a single electoral vote. Whilst it would have been harsh and inexpedient to exclude these States from the Convention altogether, it would have been unjust to confer on them a controlling power over the nomination. To compromise this difficulty, the two-thirds rule was adopted. Under its operation it would be almost impossible that a candidate could be selected, without the votes of a simple majority of delegates from the Democratic States. This was the argument of its friends.

It had now become manifest that it was impossible to make a nomination at Charleston. The friends of Mr. Douglas adhered to him and would vote for him and him alone, whilst his opponents, apprehending the effect of his principles should he be elected President, were equally determined to vote against his nomination.

Before the balloting commenced Mr. Howard succeeded, in the face of strong opposition, with the aid of the thirty-five votes from New York, in obtaining a vote of the Convention in re-affirmance of the In the hope that some compromise two-thirds rule. On his motion they re- might yet be effected, the Convention, on solved, by 141, to 112 votes, "that the Pre- the motion of Mr. Russell, of Virginia, sident of the Convention be and he is here- resolved to adjourn to meet at Baltimore on by directed not to declare any person Monday, the 18th June; and it was "renominated for the office of President or spectfully recommended to the Democratic Vice-President, unless he shall have re- party of the several States, to make proceived a number of votes equal to two-vision for supplying all vacancies in their thirds of the votes of all the electoral col- respective delegations to this Convention leges." It was well known at the time when it shall re-assemble." that this resolution rendered the regular nomination of Mr. Douglas impossible.

The balloting then commenced (Tuesday evening, May 1st), on the eighth day of the session. Necessary to a nomination, under the two-thirds rule, 202 votes. On the first ballot Mr. Douglas received 145 votes; Mr. Hunter, of Virginia, 42; Mr. Guthrie, of Kentucky, 354; Mr. Johnson, of Tennessee, 12; Mr. Dickinson, of New York, 7; Mr. Lane, of Oregon, 6; Mr. Toucey, of Connecticut, 2; Mr. Davis, of Mississippi, 14, and Mr. Pearce, of Maryland, 1 vote.

The voting continued until May 3d, during which there were fifty-four additional ballotings. Mr. Douglas never rose to more than 1524, and ended in 151

The Convention re-assembled at Baltimore on the 18th June, 1860, according te its adjournment, and Mr. Cushing, the President, took the chair.

Immediately after the reorganization of the Convention, Mr. Howard, of Tennes see, offered a resolution, "that the Presi dent of this Convention direct the sergeant-at-arms to issue tickets of admission to the delegates of the Convention, as originally constituted and organized at Charleston." Thus the vitally important question was distinctly presented. It soon, however, became manifest that no such resolution could prevail. In the absence of the delegates who had withdrawn at Charleston, the friends of Mr. Douglas constituted a controlling majority. At the

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threshold they resisted the admission of the original delegates, and contended that by withdrawing they had irrevocably resigned their seats. In support of this position, they relied upon the language of the resolution adjourning the Convention to Baltimore, which, as we have seen, recommended to the Democratic party of the several States to make provision for supplying all vacancies in their respective delegations to this Convention, when it shall reassemble." On the other hand, the advocates of their readmission contended that simple withdrawal of the delegates was not a final renunciation of their seats, but they were still entitled to reoccupy them, whenever, in their judgment, this course would be best calculated to restore the harmony and promote the success of the Democratic party; that the Convention had no right to interpose between them and the Democracy of their respective States; that being directly responsible to this Democracy, it alone could accept their resignation; that no such resignation had ever been made, and their authority therefore continued in full force, and this, too, with the approbation of their constituents.

In the mean time, after the adjournment from Charleston to Baltimore, the friends of Mr. Douglas, in several of these States, had proceeded to elect delegates to take the place of those who had withdrawn from the Convention. Indeed, it was manifest at the time, and has since been clearly proved by the event, that these delegates represented but a small minority of the party in their respective States. These new delegates, nevertheless, appeared and demanded seats. *

After a long and ardent debate, the Convention adopted a resolution, offered by Mr. Church, of New York, and modified on motion of Mr. Gilmore, of Pennsylvania, as a substitute for that of Mr. Howard, to refer "the credentials of all persons claiming seats in this Convention, made vacant by the secession of delegates at Charleston, to the Committee on Credentials." They thus prejudged the question, by deciding that the seats of these delegates had been made and were still vacant. The Committee on Credentials had been originally composed of one delegate from each of the thirty-three States, but the number was now reduced to twenty-five, in consequence of the exclusion of eight of its members from the States of Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Florida. The committee, therefore, now stood 16 to 9 in favor of the nomination of Mr. Douglas, instead of 17 to 16 against it, according to its original organization. *From Mr. Buchanan's Administration on the eve of

the Rebellion, published by D. Appleton & Co., 1866.

The committee, through their chairman, Mr. Krum, of Missouri, made their report on the 21st June, and Governor Stevens, of Oregon, at the same time presented a minority report, signed by himself and eight other members.

It is unnecessary to give in detail these conflicting reports. It is sufficient to state that whilst the report of the majority maintained that the delegates, by withdrawing at Charleston, had resigned their seats, and these were still vacant; that of the minority, on the contrary, asserted the right of these delegates to resume their seats in the Convention, by virtue of their original appointment.

On the next day (June 22), the important decision was made between the conflicting reports. Mr. Stevens moved to substitute the minority report for that of the majority, and his motion was rejected by a vote of 100 to 150. Of course no vote was given from any of the excluded States, except one half vote from each of the parties in Arkansas.

The resolutions of the majority were then adopted in succession. Among other motions of similar character, a motion had been made by a delegate in the majority to reconsider the vote by.which the Convention had adopted the minority report, as a substitute for that of the majority, and to lay his own motion on the table. This is a common mode resorted to, according to parliamentary tactics, of defeating every hope of a reconsideration of the pending question, and rendering the first decision final.

Mr. Cessna with this view called for a vote on laying the motion to reconsider on the table. Should this be negatived, then the question of reconsideration would be open. The President stated the question to be first "on laying on the table the motion to reconsider the vote by which the Convention refused to amend the majority report of the Committee on Credentials by substituting the report of the minority." On this question New York, for the first time since the meeting at Baltimore, voted with the minority and changed it into a majority. "When New York was called,"; says the report of the proceedings, “and responded thirty-five votes" (in the negative) "the response was greeted with loud cheers and applause." The result of the vote was 113 to 1384-"so the Convention refused to lay on the table the motion to reconsider the minority report." The Convention then adjourned until evening, on motion of Mr. Cochrane, of New York, amidst great excitement and confusion.

This vote of New York, appearing to indicate a purpose to harmonize the party by admitting the original delegates from the eight absent States, was not altogether unexpected. Although voting as a unit, it

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was known that her delegation were greatly | performance of his duties, stated that notdivided among themselves. The exact withstanding the retirement of the delegastrength of the minority was afterwards tions of several of the States at Charleston, stated by Mr. Bartlett, one of its members, in his solicitude to maintain the harmony in the Breckinridge Convention. He said: and union of the Democratic party, he "Upon all questions and especially upon had continued in his post of labor. the adoption of the majority report on cre- that end and in that sense," said he, "I dentials, in which we had a long contest, had the honor to meet you, gentlemen, here the line was strictly drawn, and there were at Baltimore. But circumstances have thirty on one side and forty on the other." since transpired which compel me to pause. The position of New York casting an un- The delegations of a majority of the States divided vote of thirty-five, with Dean Rich- have, either in whole or in part, in one mond at their head, had been a controlling form or another, ceased to participate in power from the commencement. the deliberations of the Convention. In the present circumstances, I deem

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Strong expectations were, therefore, now entertained that after the New York dele-it a duty of self-respect, and I deem it gation had recorded their vote against a still more a duty to this Convention, as at motion which would have killed the mi- present organized, * to resign my nority report beyond hope of revival, they seat as President of this Convention, in would now follow this up by taking the order to take my place on the floor as a next step in advance and voting for its re- member of the delegation from Massachuconsideration and adoption. On the even-setts. * I deem this above all a ing of the very same day, however, they duty which I owe to the members of this reversed their course and voted against its Convention, as to whom no longer would reconsideration. They were then cheered my action represent the will of a majority by the opposite party from that which had of the Convention." cheered them in the morning. Thus the action of the Convention in favor of the majority report became final and conclusive.

Governor Tod, of Ohio, one of the VicePresidents, then took the vacant chair, and was greeted with hearty and long-continued cheers and applause from members of the Convention.

Mr. Cessna, of Pennsylvania, at once moved "that the Convention do now pro- Mr. Butler, of Massachusetts, now anceed to nominate candidates for President nounced that a portion of the Massachuand Vice-President of the United States." setts delegation desired to retire, but was Mr. Russell rose and stated, "It has be- interrupted by cries of "No," ""No," come my duty now, by direction of a large "Call the roll." Mr. Cessna called for the majority of the delegation from Virginia, original question, to wit, that the Convenrespectfully to inform you and this body, tion now proceed to a nomination for Presthat it is not consistent with their convic-ident and Vice-President. tions of duty to participate longer in its deliberations."

Mr. Lander next stated "that it became his duty, as one of the delegates from North Carolina, to say that a very large majority of the delegation from that State were compelled to retire permanently from this Convention, on account, as he conceived, of the unjust course that had been pursued toward some of their fellow-citizens of the South. The South had heretofore relied upon the Northern Democracy to give them the rights which were justly due them; but the vote to-day had satisfied the majority of the North Carolina delegation that these rights were now refused them, and, this being the case, they could no longer remain in the Convention."

The President here ordered the Secretary to call the States. Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont were called, and they gave an unbroken vote for Stephen A. Douglas. When Massachusetts was called, Mr. Butler rose and said he had a respectful paper in his hand which he would desire the President to have read. A scene of great confusion thereupon ensued, cries of "I object" being heard upon all sides Mr. Butler, not to be baffled, contended for his right at this stage to make remarks pertinent to the matter, and cited in his support the practice of the Conventions at Baltimore in 1848 and 1852, and at Cincinnati in 1856. He finally prevailed, and was permitted to procee l. He then said he "would now withdra v from the ConThen followed in succession the with-vention, upon the ground that there had drawal of the delegations from Tennessee, been a withdrawal, in who. e or in part, of Kentucky, Maryland, California, Oregon, and Arkansas. The Convention now adjourned at half-past-ten o'clock until the next morning at ten.

Soon after the assembling of the Convention, the President, Mr. Cushing, whilst tendering his thanks to its members for their candid and honorable support in the

a majority of the States; and further, which was a matter more personal to himself, he could not sit in a convention where the African slave trade, which was piracy according to the laws of his country, was openly advocated."

Mr. Butler then retired, followed by General Cushing and four others of the

Massachusetts delegation. All of these | States of the Union, for the purpose of had voted with the South and against nominating candidates of the Democratic Douglas.

party for the offices of President and VicePresident of the United States, for the purpose of announcing the principles of the party, and for the purpose of continuing and re-establishing that party upon the firm foundations of the Constitution, the Union, and the coequal rights of the several States."

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Mr. Avery, of North Carolina, who had reported the majority resolutions Charleston, now reported the same from the committee of this body, and they "were adopted unanimously, amid great applause."

The balloting now proceeded. Mr. Douglas received 173 votes; Mr. Guthrie 9; Mr. Breckinridge 6; Mr. Bocock and Mr. Seymour each 1; and Mr. Dickerson and Mr. Wise each half a vote. On the next and last ballot Mr. Douglas received 181 votes, eight of those in the minority having changed their votes in his favor. To account for this number, it is proper to state that a few delegates from five of the eight States which had withdrawn still remained in the Convention. On the last ballot Mr. Douglas received all of their votes, to wit: 3 of the 15 votes of Virginia, The Convention then proceeded to select 1 of the 10 votes of North Carolina, 1 of their candidates. Mr. Loring, on behalf the 3 votes of Arkansas, 3 of the 12 votes of the delegates from Massachusetts, who of Tennessee, 3 of the 12 votes of Ken- with. Mr. Butler had retired from the tucky, and 2 of the 8 votes of Maryland, Douglas Convention, nominated John C. making in the aggregate 14 votes. To Breckinridge, of Kentucky, which Mr. this number may be added the 9 votes of Dent, representing the Pennsylvania delethe new delegates from Alabama and the gation present, "most heartily seconded." 6 from Louisiana, which had been admitted Mr. Ward, from the Alabama delegation, to the exclusion of the original dele-nominated R. M. T. Hunter, of Virginia; gates.

Mr. Douglas. was accordingly declared to be the regular nominee of the Democratic party of the Union, upon the motion of Mr. Church, of New York, when, according to the report of the proceedings, "The whole body rose to its feet, hats were waved in the air, and many tossed aloft; shouts, screams, and yells, and every boisterous mode of expressing approbation and unanimity, were resorted to."

Senator Fitzpatrick, of Alabama, was then unanimously nominated as the candidate for Vice-President; and the Convention adjourned sine die on the 23d June, the sixth and last day of its session. On the same day, but after the adjournment, Mr. Fitzpatrick declined the nomination, and it was immediately conferred on Mr. Herschel V. Johnson, of Georgia, by the Executive Committee. Thus ended the Douglas Convention.

But another Convention assembled at Baltimore on the same 23d June, styling itself the "National Democratic Convention." It was composed chiefly of the delegates who had just withdrawn from the Douglas Convention, and the original delegates from Alabama and Louisiana. One of their first acts was to abrogate the two-third rule, as had been done by the Douglas Convention. Both acted under the same necessity, because the preservation of this rule would have prevented a nomination by either.

Mr. Cushing was elected and took the chair as President. In his opening address he said: "Gentlemen of the Convention, we assemble here, delegates to the National Democratic Convention, duly accredited thereto from more than twenty

Mr. Ewing, from that of Tennessee, nominated Mr. Dickinson, of New York; and Mr. Stevens, from Oregon, nominated General Joseph Lane. Eventually all these names were withdrawn except that of Mr. Breckinridge, and he received the nomination by a unanimous vote. The whole number of votes cast in his favor from twenty States was 103.

General Lane was unanimously nomiInated as the candidate for Vice-President. Thus terminated the Breckinridge Convention.

The Chicago Republican Convention.

The Republicans had named May 16th, 1860, as the date and Chicago as the place for holding their second National Convention. They had been greatly encouraged by the vote for Fremont and Dayton, and, what had now become apparent as an irreconcilable division of the Democracy, encouraged them in the belief that they could elect their candidates. Those of the great West were especially enthusiastic, and had contributed freely to the erection of an immense "Wigwam," capable of holding ten thousand people, at Chicago. All the Northern States were fully represented, and there were besides partial de legations from Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, Missouri and Virginia, with occasional delegates from other Slave States, there being none, however, from the Gulf States. David Wilmot, of Penna., author of the Wilmot proviso, was made tempo rary chairman, and George Ashman, of Mass., permanent President. No differences were excited by the report of the committee on platform, and the proceedings

The principles involved in the controversy are given at length in the Book of Platforms, and were briefly these: The Republican party asserted that slavery should not be extended to the territories; that it could exist only by virtue of local and positive law; that freedom was national; that slavery was morally wrong, and the nation should at least anticipate its gradual extinction. The Douglas wing of the Democratic party adhered to the doctrine of popular sovereignty, and claimed that in its exercise in the territories they were indifferent whether slavery was voted up or down. The Breckinridge wing of the Democratic party asserted both the moral and legal right to hold slaves, and to carry them to the territories, and that no power save the national constitution could prohibit or interfere with it outside of State lines. The Americans supporting Bell, adhered to their peculiar doctrines touching emigration and naturalization, but had abandoned, in most of the

throughout were characterized by great | vote being 1,866,452; electoral vote, 180. harmony, though there was a somewhat Douglas was next in the popular estimate, sharp contest for the Presidential nomina- receiving 1,375,157 votes, with but 12 election. The prominent candidates were Wm. tors. Breckinridge had 847,953 votes, with H. Seward, of New York; Abraham Lin- 76 electors; Bell, with 570,631 votes, had coln, of Illinois; Salmon P. Chase, of 39 electors. Ohio; Simon Cameron, of Pennsylvania, and Edward Bates, of Missouri. There were three ballots, Mr. Lincoln receiving in the last 354 out of 446 votes. Mr. Seward led the vote at the beginning, but he was strongly opposed by gentlemen in his own State as prominent as Horace Greeley and Thurlow Weed, and his nomination was thought to be inexpedient.. Lincoln's successful debate with Douglas was still fresh in the minds of the delegates, and every addition to his vote so heightened the enthusiasm that the convention was finally carried "off its feet," the delegations rapidly changing on the last ballot. Lincoln had been a known candidate but a month or two before, while Seward's name had been everywhere canvassed, and where opposed in the Eastern and Middle States, it was mainly because of the belief that his views on slavery were too radical. He was more strongly favored by the Abolition branch of the party than any other candididate. When the news of his success was first conveyed to Mr. Lincoln he was sit-States, the secrecy and oaths of the Knowing in the office of the State Journal, at Springfield, which was connected by a telegraph wire with the Wigwam. On the close of the third ballot a despatch was handed Mr. Lincoln. He read it in silence, Secession, up to this time, had not been and then announcing the result said: regarded as treasonable in all sections and "There is a little woman down at our at all times. As shown in many previous house would like to hear this-I'll go down pages, it had been threatened by the Hartand tell her," and he started amid the ford Convention; certainly by some of the shouts of personal admirers. Hannibal people of New England who opposed the Hamlin, of Maine, was nominated for Vice-war of 1812. Some of the more extreme President with much unanimity, and the Chicago Convention closed its work in a single day.

The American Convention.

Nothing order. They were evasive and non-committal on the slavery question.

Preparing for Secession.

Abolitionists had favored a division of the sections. The South, particularly the Gulf States, had encouraged a secret organization, known as the "Order of the Lone Star," previous to and at the time of the A "Constitutional Union," really an annexation of Texas. One of its objects American Convention, had met at Balti-was to acquire Cuba, so as to extend slave more on the 9th of May. Twenty States territory. The Gulf States needed more were represented, and John Bell, of Ten- slaves, and though the law made particinessee, and Edward Everett, of Massachu-pancy in the slave trade piracy, many carsetts, were named for the Presidency and Vice-Presidency. Their friends, though known to be less in number than either those of Douglas, Lincoln or Breckinridge, yet made a vigorous canvass in the hope that the election would be thrown into the House, and that there a compromise in the vote by States would naturally turn toward their candidates. The result of the great contest is elsewhere given in our Tabulated History of Politics.

THE PRINCIPLES INVOLVED.

Lincoln received large majorities in nearly all of the free States, his popular

goes had been landed in parts of the Gulf without protest or prosecution, just prior to the election of 1860. Calhoun had threatened, thirty years before, nullification, and before that again, secession in the event of the passage of the Public Land Bill. Jefferson and Madison had indicated that doctrine of State Rights on which secession was based in the Kentucky and Virginia resolutions of 1798, facts which were daily discussed by the people of the South during this most exciting of all Presidential campaigns.

The leaders in the South had anticipated defeat at the election, and many of them

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