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
the House of Representatives as they existed in 1860. That preserves us
from any erroneous rules with which persons on this floor are not acquainted;
but I cannot accept the amendment of the gentleman from New York, sec onded by the gentleman from New York, whose face is quite familiar to peo ple from Ohio (Mr. Cox). I accept the amendment of the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Richardson).
Mr. REEVE, of Indiana. - If this motion would directly or indirectly abro gate the two-thirds rule, then I warn gentlemen to be careful before they vote.
The CHMARMAN.- The Chair will state the position of the question as lihe
understands it. The gentleman from Ohio offered a resolution which pro vides for the adoption of the rules of the House of Representatives to govern
the Convention until otherwise ordered. The gentleman from New York
(Mr. Brooks) proposes an amendment, which the Chair does not understand
has been withdrawn.
Mr. ERASTUS BROOKS, of New York.- I withdraw the amendment, and ac cept the amendment moved by Mr. Cox, of New York. (Applause.)
The CrAIRMAN.-The Chair understands, the amendment of the gentleman
from New York being withdrawn, that the amendment of the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Richardson) will be in order.
A VOICE. - It has been accepted by the mover.
General McCOOK. -I accept the amendment of Mr. Richardson.
The CHAIRMAN. - The question will then recur upon the amendment
offered by the gentleman from New York. Is the Convention ready for the
question?
Mr. KERNAN, of New York.- I desire to inquire of the mover whether,
if we adopt his motion, we do not abolish, without any consideration,
the two-thirds rule, which has prevailed generally in Democratic Conventions?
General McCooK. -If the two-thirds rule ever applied in a Democratic
Convention, except on a vote on the nomination for President, the delegates from Ohio hear it now for the first time.
Mr. KERNAN.- We desired to know what was the understanding.
General McCOOK. - This resolution provides for the temporary organization and government of the Convention, until it shall otherwise provide,
which will be done by a Committee on Rules and on Permanent Organization Monday morning.
Mr. RICIHARDSON. -There is no difficulty about this question if we understand ourselves. We all agree that this is to govern us while we are
in temporary existence. The Committee on Permanent Organization considers the question referred to by the gentlemen from New York, and we
are cut off from nothing. We are doing nothing more than we have done
at every Democratic Convention for the last twenty-four years.
Mr. STEELE, of California. -I rise to ask whether the amendment which
we are asked to vote for at the present time is the amendment offered by
the gentleman from New York, that the rules of the last Convention are
to govern us until the permanent organization of this Convention?
The CHAIRMAN. - The resolution of the gentleman from Ohio, as it now
stands, is as follows, -
Pesolved, - That, until the Convention shall otherwise provide, the rules
of the House of Representatives, prior to 1860, shall be the rules to govern
this Convention.
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