Page:Official Proceedings of the National Democratic Convention Held in Baltimore, July 9, 1872.pdf/7

Rh ties of this nation, and that the Constitution, the organic law of this nation, may endure as long as the sun and the moon shall endure. Hear us in a heavenly and merciful acceptance, give us, in Thine own good time, a quiet hour to meet death in, and, through infinite riches and mercy and grace in the Mediator, give us a house sanctified in Christ. Amen.

Temporary Organization

Mr., of Massachusetts, was unanimously chosen temporary Secretary.

On motion of Mr., of Maine, E. O. Perrin, of New York, was elected temporary Reading Secretary.

Mr., of Kentucky, offered the following resolution:

Resolved, That this Convention, in receiving the announcement of the retirement of the Hon. August Belmont from the Democratic National Executive Committee, of which he has been Chairman for the past twelve years, desire to express their sense of his long, able and efficient services in that most responsible and difficult position, and confidently rely upon his wise counsel and cordial aid for the future as in the past.

The Chair ruled the resolution out of order, pending proceedings for perfecting the temporary organization.

Mr., of Pennsylvania, offered the following resolution:

Resolved, That the States be now called, in order that the chairman of each delegation may report the names of the members from each State on each of the several committees, and that the names of any contesting delegates be also reported to the Convention

Mr., of New York. — Mr. Chairman, before the question is put, I desire to offer a motion which should take precedence, and I hope that will be withdrawn until I offer the customary resolution, to wit: "That the rules adopted by the last Democratic Convention be the rules for the government of this body until otherwise ordered;" for as yet we are without rules.

Mr., of Pennsylvania. — The resolution I have offered is almost identical with the one adopted by the last Democratic Convention. How can we adopt rules until we see whether the states are all represented here? The first thing is the call of the States.

Mr., of New York. — Mr. Chairman, I offer the customary resoltion.

. — The question must be put upon the resolution already offered by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Lamberton).