ADVERTISEMENT. THE single end of this book is the presentation, in a compact and convenient form, of the more important facts, votes, resolves, letters, speeches, reports and other documents, which elucidate the political contest now agitating this country. It has been our aim to let every candidate and other important personage speak for himself, make his own platform, and vindicate (if he may) his own consistency and the soundness of his views on the great questions which underlie our current politics. Of course, such a work can have but a comparative merit. Make it ever so large, and still many things must be omitted that the compiler would wish to insert; and every critic will plausibly ask, "Why insert this and omit that? Why give so much of A. and so little of B. ?" Beside, it is not always possible to remember, or, if remembered, to find, all that would be valued in a work like this. We can only say that we have done our best: let him do better who can. Inaccuracy of citation is one of the chief vices of our political discussions. You can hardly listen to a set speech, even from a well-informed and truthful canvasser, which is not marred by some misapprehension or unconscious misstatement of the position and views of this or that prominent statesman. Documents, heedlessly read and long since lost or mislaid, are quoted from with fluency and confidence, as though with indubitable accuracy, when the citations so made do gross injustice to their author, and tend to mislead the hearer. We believe the documents collected in this work are so printed that their general accuracy may be safely relied on. By canvassers of all parties, we trust ar Text-Book will be found convenient, not to say indispensable. But those who only listen, and read, and reflect, will also find it a manifest help to a clear understanding of the issues and contentions of the day. They will be interested in comparing the actual positions taken by Mr. Lincoln, or Mr. Douglas, or Gen. Cass, or Mr. Everett, as faithfully set forth in this work, with those confidently attributed to that statesman in the firent harangue of some political opponent, who is intent on blazoning his inconsistency or proving his insincerity. To verify and correct H the citations of a frothy declaimer is sometimes the easiest and most convincing refutation of his speech. If a trace of partisan bias is betrayed in the thread of narrative which partially unites the successive reports, bills, votes, etc., presented in this work, the error is unintentional and regretted. Our purpose was to compile a record acceptable and convenient to men of all parties, and which might be consulted and trusted by all. Whatever is original herein is regarded as of no use or merit, save as a necessary elucidation of the residue. Without apology, therefore, or further explanation, the Text-Book is commended to the favor of the American public. NEW-YORK, August 1st, 1860. CONTENTS. PAGE ABOLITION CONV. at Warsaw, N. Y., 1839. 12 President Buffalo Convention, 1848; Nominee of ADAMS, GOVERNOR, of South Carolina, recommends in a Message the reopening of the African Slave-Trade... ADAMS, JOHN, of Massachusetts, chosen ALLEN, CHARLES, of Massachusetts, offers ANTI-SLAVERY ORDINANCE of 1784.... BATES, EDWARD, of Missouri, President Candidate for President before Republican Con- Letter to the Missouri delegates to the Republi can Convention.. 17 9 BONHAM, MILLIDGE L., of South Carolina, for Dissolution.... 172 24 208 10 15 Liberty Party candidate for President in 1844.. BOYD, LINN, of Kentucky, defeated for Vice-President by Democratic Convention, 1856.. BRECKINRIDGE, JOHN C., of Kentucky, nominated Vice-President by Democratic Convention, 1856.. 24 23 Elected Vice-President 1856.. 22 23 10 Fourth Democratic National Convention, 1844.. Fifth Democratic National Convention, 1848. Sixth Democratic National Convention, 1852. Seventh Democratic National Convention, 1856. Eighth Democratic National Convention, 1860. Mr. Avery's (N. C.) Majority Report, from Committee on Platform; Mr. H. B. Payne's Minority Report from Committee on Platform; Senator Wm. Bigler's Compromise proposition Mr. Avery's amended Majority Report; Mr. Avery's remarks in favor of same; Mr. H. B. Payne of Ohio in reply His extracts from Breckinridge, Orr, and Stephens; Mr. Samuels's (of Iowa) Minority Report... Minority Report adopted, 165 to 188; Alabama protests and withdraws. Mississippi withdraws South Carolina, Florida, and Texas withdraws.. Arkansas retires. Georgia retires.. Louisiana withdraws; Speech of Wm. B. Gaulden of Georgia in favor of the Slave-Trade Fruitless ballots (57) for President; Adjournment to Baltimore; The Seceders at Charleston; Senator Bayard, of Delaware, Chairman; They adopt the Avery Platform They adjourn to Richmond; They meet at Richmond June 11; They finally adopt Breckinridge and Lane; The adjourned Convention at timore; Gen. Cushing's opening Speech. Mr. Howard, of Tennessee, moves admission of original Delegates; Mr. Kavanagh, of Minnesota, moves to lay on table; Previous question defeated.. PAGE 9 9 Proposition of Mr. S. E. Church, of New-York; Report of Committee on Credentials Minority Report of do.; Admission of Douglas Delegates from Louisiana and Alabama Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Maryland and California withdraw. Delaware, and part of Kentucky, and Missouri withdraw; Gen. Cushing resigns the Chair; Gen. Butler, of Massachusetts, offers a protest.... 44 40 4€ CLINTON, DE WITT, defeated for President CLINTON, GEORGE, chosen Vice-President, 1804.. CUSHING, Gen. CALEB, of Massachusetts, President of Democratic National Convention, 1860..... Retires from the chair at Baltimore.... Presides over the Seceders' Convention at Baltimore.. DALLAS, GEORGE M., of Pennsylvania, nominated for and elected Vice-President, 1844.. DAVIS, GARRETT, of Kentucky, defeated for President in the American National Convention... DAVIS JEFFERSON, of Mississippi, supported, 1860, for President in National Democratic Convention His resolutions as they passed the Senate..... DAVIS, JOHN, of Massachusetts, defeated for Vice-President in Whig National Convention, 1844. DAVIS, JOHN W., of Indiana, President Democratic National Convention, 1852..................... DAYTON, WILLIAM L., of New-Jersey, Republican nominee for Vice-President, 1856; defeated therefor.... DEJARNETTE, DANIEL C., of Virginia, for Dis solution DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM (Davis's Resolutions), adopted by the United States Senate, affirming the duty of Congress to establish a Slave Code in the Territories 47 9 10 194 172 Mr. Douglas' reply to Lincoln at Freeport..... Mr. Douglas' "Harper" Essay on Popular Sovereignty in the Territories... 180 132 Also in 1849 201 .......... Speech at Springfield, Ill., June 12, 1857. 154 Speech on the John Brown raid, July 16, 1860, proposing a Sedition Law... 159 He tells what Popular Sovereignty has done for DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTIONS.-First Slavery.. 159 at Baltimore in 1882. 10 Accepts Nomination for Presidency.. 212 Second at Baltimore in 1885 11 Extract from Speech in favor of Missouri Com Third Democratic National Convention, 1840 215 ..... Congress, 1859. 242 Renounces the Democratic party in the U. S. Senate.. 209 211 218 ...... ........... 247 12 228 241 18 216 240 248 231 ......... 244 238 Ohio vote for President... 66 "Governor, 1859... Oregon vote for Congress, 1859........... Pennsylvania vote for President.. 66 66 Congress, 1858. Governor, 1860.. South Carolina chooses Electors and Governor Congress, 1859........................................ Vermoxt vote for President.. 66 Governor, 1859. 66 Virginia vote for President.. Accepts nomination for Vice-President.. 245 HARRISON, Gen. WILLIAM H., of Ohio, nominated and defeated for President in 1886. Nominated for President at Harrisburg, December, 1839; elected President in 1840. HICKMAN, JOHN, of Pennsylvania, supported for Vice-President in Republican Convention, 1860.. HOUSTON, Gen. SAM, of Texas, supported for President in Union Convention, 1860.. 248 HUNTER, ROBERT M. T., of Virginia, supported for President by Democratic National Convention, 1860.... 241 ILLINOIS DECLARES FOR FREE TERRITORIES 217 240 226 99 41 66 Governor, 1859. Wisconsin vote for President... Governor, 1859. FILLMORE, MILLARD, of New-York, defeated . |