PROCEEDINGS OF THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION, HELD AT BALTIMORE, JUNE 1-5, 1852, FOR THE NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. WASHINGTON: PRINTED BY ROBERT ARMSTRONG. 1852. PROCEEDINGS OF THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION, HELD AT BALTIMORE, JUNE 1-5, 1852. TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 1852. The delegates elect to the Democratic National Convention assembled in the hall of the Maryland Institute, in Baltimore, which had been prepared for their reception by a Committee of Arrangements appointed by the democrats of Baltimore, to whom the convention were indebted, throughout the session, for their voluntary contributions and untiring exertions, through their committees and the persons employed by them, for the accommodations which were furnished, to the fullest extent, in the most liberal and convenient manner possible, for so large an assemblage. Neither pains nor expense were spared by the people of Baltimore to promote the comfort and facilitate the proceedings of the convention. The delegation of each State was attended by pages from the public schools, who had volunteered their services. At 12 o'clock precisely, Hon. B. F. HALLETT, of Massachusetts, took the chair, and said: Gentlemen Delegates elect to the Democratic National Convention: It has been assigned to me, as chairman of the Democratic National Committee, appointed by the last convention, to call this convention to order. Is it your pleasure that the convention do now come to order? Cries of "aye!" "aye!" Mr. HALLETT. Gentlemen, I am requested by the Committee of Arrangements, who have provided this hall for us, to state that their necessities have required that they should so arrange the seats upon this platform as to correspond, for each State, to the number of its electoral members in the electoral college; and they request, as a means of forwarding the order and deliberations of this convention, and arriving at that result of harmony and co-operation which we so earnestly desire, that those States whose delegates are here in larger numbers than their congressional votes, will have the kindness to make a selection, or designation, in such manner as to leave upon the platform the number of persons corresponding to their electoral votes; and those who exceed that number, whether as delegates or alternates, will be accommodated with seats below the platform. The members of the State conventions, and those who are not delegates, except those who have been assigned seats upon this platform, are also requested to take their seats below. Gentlemen, if you will give me your attention, I will proceed, as a matter of form, to read the call which was made for this convention. is as follows: To the Democratic Party throughout the Union. WASHINGTON, January 1, 1852. It A concentration of opinion from all the States, as far as practicable, upon some time and place for holding the next National Democratic Con. vention, is indispensable to the union and organization of the party for the presidential canvass of 1852. With this view the "Democratic National Committee," consisting of one from each State, appointed by the Democratic National Convention of 1848, "to promote the democratic cause," and with the power to fill vacancies, assembled in this city, in pursuance of a well-considered call for that purpose; at which meeting, on the 29th and 30th of December, 1851, and the 1st of January, 1852, the thirty-one States of the Union were represented. And, upon conference with democratic members of Congress, and consulting the action of State conventions, as far as they have expressed any wishes on the subject, the committee, with entire unanimity, have arrived at a conclusion, which they respectfully submit for your ratification. The Democratic National Committee accordingly recommend that a convention of the democratic party throughout the Union, by delegates duly appointed by the democrats of the several States, be held in the city of Baltimore, on Tuesday, the first day of June, 1852, (at 12 m.,) to nominate candidates for President and Vice President of the United States, to be supported by the democratic party at the election on Tuesday, the 2d day of November, 1852. The national convention of 1848 adopted the following recommendation as to the number of delegates to be chosen in each State: "Resolved That it be recommended that hereafter each State be entitled to as many delegates in future Democratic National Conventions as it has in the electoral college, and no more. By order of the Democratic National Committee. B. F. HALLETT, Chairman. W. F. RITCHIE and R. H. STANTON, Secretaries. Gentlemen, in pursuance of this call, you are now assembled from all parts and sections of this vast country, and the organization of this convention, and the object for which it has come together, is now before you, to take such action as you may think proper. That object is to restore the democratic party to power, and, with it, to bring back concord between the different sections of the Union; and I only desire to suggest to you that, as members of this great convention, meeting one another in this spirit and for this purpose, we resolve that we will stand here together, and sustain the position that the party, whose representatives we are, now occupies before the people, and which the result of this convention will consummate of the union of the democratic party throughout the Union, to preserve and maintain the Union. It now only remains for me, in this preliminary capacity, to call for the nomination of a president, pro tem., to preside over you in your organization. |