Official proceedings of the National Democratic convention, held in Cincinnati, June 2-6, 1856. Pub. by order of the Convention:

NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.
stolen to their silent resting place, filled with years and honors, mourned by
political friends and political foes.
"How sleep the brave, who sink to rest
With all their countries' honors blest,
When Splring, with dewey fingers cold,
Returns to deck their hallowed mold,
She there shall find a sweeter sod
Than Fancy's feet have ever trod.
There Honor comes, a pilgrim gray,
To deck the mold that wraps their clay;
And Freedom for a while repair
To dwell a weeping hermit there."
Many of that noble party who still survive are with us to-day. They are
with us in our deliberations, and they are prepared to go forth with us to
battle in behalf of the Constitution and the Union. Why, why, then, gentlemen of the Convention, with this party passed away. and these issues settled,
why are we environed with difficulties, and surrounded with dangers before
unknown? Our land is convulsed with factions. The one, recreant to the
Constitution, would build a wall around our country, and give a home to the
exile who seeks our shores, only on condition that he renounce all the privileges which are dear to freemen; a party which, in the pride of power,
assumes to dictate to the consciences of men, and which would allow no man
to be fit to serve his country who bowed not with them at the same altar.
The other faction-more dangerous only because it is more numeroushas liberty emblazoned on its banners and deadly treason festering in its
heart. It is engaged in an unholy crusade against the Constitution, which
has so long maintained its hold on the affections of the people, in the fond
hope that they may involve in one common ruin all the glorious recollections
of the past, and all our proud anticipations of the future. Insignificant and
contemptible in itself, it is formidable only for its tendency to unite with all
other factions in their opposition to a party which makes no concessions,
courts no alliances, asks no affiliations.
From the shores of the Pacific, from the mountains of the North, from the
plains of the South, from the valleys of the West, delegates have come up today to present a platform and to select a standard bearer in the great contest against these factions. Uniting as a band of brothers around the altar
of our common country, let us lay upon that altar, as a willing sacrifice, our
personal aspirations, our sectional prejudices, and above and beyond all, our
private friendships.
With an abiding confidence that the kindness which has summoned me to
this place, will sustain me in the performance of its duties, and will generously pardon my errors, I assume the trust committed to me.
The Vice Presidents and Secretaries were then invited to take seats
on the stand.
Mr. J. A. Bayard, of Delaware, submitted the following:
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON CREDENTIALS.
Your Committee proceeded yesterday, after the adjournment of the
Convention, in the performance of the duty assigned to them, and find
that all the States of the Union, except the State of New York, are
represented in the Convention by delegates duly elected in the several
States, by State or District organizations of the Democratic party, and
they append to this report, as part thereof, full lists of the delegates
so elected.
There were contesting claimants of the seats held by the delegation
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