Official proceedings of the National Democratic convention, held at New York, July 4-9, 1868.: Reported by George Wakeman, official reporter of the Convention.

OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF THE
wishes to have any further interpretation of these resolutions, I beg the Convention will act upon this matter now. It is exceedingly important after a
vote has been taken, where it is possible that the decisions of the Chair might
be held to help or hurt a candidate,- it is exceedingly important that he
should make no decisions which are not in accordance with the clear sense of
this Convention. The Chair should not have thrown upon it the responsibility of any duty so delicate. If all the delegates to this Convention shall
vote when we nominate a candidate, no difficulties can arise. But if all should
not vote, the question would come up, should two-thirds of all the members
of this Convention, or should two-thirds of those who voted, make the
nomination? I, therefore, ask upon this subject that the Convention shall
instruct the Chair as to the right interpretation of that resolution.
Mr. RICHARDSON, of Illinois. - Mr. President, I desire to submit a resolution, that two-thirds of all the votes cast shall decide the question. I want
to say another thing. I shall not now move to repeal this two-thirds rule,
but, after we have nominated a candidate, I shall move its repeal for all future
Conventions. It is the most mischievous rule ever adopted by the Democratic
party. As soon as we nominate a candidate I shall deem it my duty to bring
forward the resolution, so as to prevent its obtaining in all future Conventions.
A majority of the party should control the party. I want to get out of the
wilderness. (Laughter.) I want to safely land. I want to, stand upon the
Constitution of our country, and the supreme law of the land.
The Secretary read the resolution, for information, as follows,
That two-thirds of all the votes cast shall be required to nominate a candidate for President, and Vice-President of the United States.
Mr. KERNAN, of New York. - I believe, Mr. President, and I hope that no
real issue will arise in this Convention in reference to the subject-matter of
this resolution. Not only do we want to get out of the wilderness, but, for
the sake of the country, we want to win in the coming contest. (Great
cheering.) Our Convention being, as I rejoice to know, composed of representatives from the Democratic Conservative men of every State in the
Union (Applause), I desire that we may act in unison, and that we shall
nominate no man in this important contest who does not command the best
judgment of two-thirds of the representatives here. (Cheers.) It is, therefore, sir, in no other sense that I rise to ask this Convention not to change
the rule which has hitherto prevailed, and not to adopt the resolution of my
respected friend from Illinois. I believe, sir, that we should not place ourselves in such a position that the representatives of any one State should
affect the result of our deliberations by refusing to act for their constituents
ill this important contest. Let the delegates from every State give up, not
their feelings nor their prejudices, but their judgment in reference to the man
who is to be our standard-bearer. (Cheers.) I do not want my judgment to
prevail if I find that two-thirds of the gentlemen of the Convention are
opposed to my judgment, nor do I want the judgment of others to prevail
except they shall succeed in satisfying two-thirds of all the delegates from all
the States that the man they select is the one best calculated to lead us on
to victory, and rescue us from the misrule of Radical faetion. (Great applause.) Therefore I submit that we should adhere to the rule that has
hitherto prevailed, vote down the resolution, and go into the ballot like
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