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Missouri, and Iowa, and Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, still linger behind, but it may be hoped that their hearts are with us in the great work we have to do.
Gentlemen, the eyes of the whole country are turned to this assembly, in expectation and hope. I trust that you may prove yourselves worthy of the great occasion. Our ancestors, probably, committed a blunder in not having fixed upon every fifth decade for a call of a general convention to amend and reform the Constitution. On the contrary, they have made the difficulties next to insurmountable to accomplish amendments to an instrument which was perfect for five millions of people, but not wholly so as to thirty millions. Your patriotism will surmount the difficulties, however great, if you will but accomplish one triumph in advance, and that is, a triumph over party. And what is party, when compared to the work of rescuing one's country from danger? Do that, and one long, loud shout of joy and gladness will resound throughout the land.
Mr. EWING:--I move that the remaining portion of the report of the Committee on Organization be postponed until to-morrow.
The motion of Mr. EWING was agreed to.
Mr. WICKLIFFE. I offer the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Conference shall be opened with prayer, and that the clergymen of the city of Washington be requested to perform that service.
The resolution offered by Mr. WICKLIFFE was adopted, and prayer was then offered by the Rev. Dr. P.D. GURLEY, of Washington.
The PRESIDENT:--I have received a communication from the Messrs. Willard, placing the Hall in which the Conference is now sitting at the service of the Conference, while its sessions may continue; also, a communication from the Mayor and Common Council of the City of Washington, offering police officers to attend our sittings.
It was moved, and agreed to, that these offers be severally accepted.
Mr. JOHNSON, of Maryland:--I move that the President of the Conference be requested to furnish a copy of his address to the Conference upon taking the Chair, that it be entered upon the journal as a part of this day's proceedings, and that the same be published.
Which motion was unanimously agreed to.
Mr. GRIMES, of Iowa:--I have received from the Governor of the State of Iowa a communication, requesting myself and my colleague in the Senate of the United States, and also the members representing that State in the House of Representatives, to represent the State of Iowa here. I desire to present his communication, that it may be referred to the Committee on Credentials.
The communication was so referred, and on motion of Mr. WRIGHT, of Ohio, the Conference adjourned.
THIRD DAY.
WASHINGTON, WEDNESDAY, February 6th, 1861.
The Conference met at twelve o'clock, at noon, and was called to order by the PRESIDENT.
The Journal of yesterday was read, and after amendment, was approved.
Mr. SUMMERS:--I am instructed by the Committee on Credentials to make a report. That committee has examined the credentials which have been submitted to it, and finds the following-named gentlemen duly accredited as members of this Conference:
New Hampshire.--Amos Tuck, Levi Chamberlain, Asa Fowler.
Vermont.--Hiland Hall, Lucius E. Chittenden, Levi Underwood, H. Henry Baxter, B.D. Harris.
Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.--Samuel Ames, Alexander Duncan, William W. Hoppin, George H. Browne, Samuel G. Arnold.
Connecticut.--Roger S. Baldwin, Chauncey F. Cleveland, Charles J. McCurdy, James T. Pratt, Robbins Battell, Amos S. Treat.
New Jersey.--Charles S. Olden, Peter D. Vroom, Robert F. Stockton, Benjamin Williamson, Joseph F. Randolph, Frederick T. Frelinghuysen, Rodman M. Price, William C. Alexander, Thomas J. Stryker.
Pennsylvania.--Thomas White, James Pollock, William M. Meredith, David Wilmot, A.W. Loomis, Thomas E. Franklin, William McKennan.
Delaware.--George B. Rodney, Daniel M. Bates, Henry Ridgely, John W. Houston, William Cannon.
Maryland.--John F. Dent, Reverdy Johnson, John W. Crisfield, Augustus W. Bradford, William T. Goldsborough, J. Dixon Roman, Benjamin C. Howard.
Virginia.--John Tyler, William C. Rives, John W. Brockenbrough, George W. Summers, James A. Seddon.